Is it too much to ask for a Christian nation, such as the United States of America, to be more Christian in their judgments of others. I can hear it on the streets and during Gay Pride parades where people are spouting off their "Christian" dogma. "God hates fags," is written on signs and the same is spouted by these people and sometimes their children. "Homosexuals are gonna burn in hell," another Preacher yells.
Sometimes worse sayings are recited by people who claim to be messengers of the gospel of Christ, but as far as my knowledge goes, in regards to the teachings of Jesus Christ, he did not say to speak ill of your neighbors or teach people to hate. Christ told his people, "Love thy neighbor as thyself" and "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me." When we judge and are cruel to one another, it is, as Christ said, as if we do the same to that Christ we claim to believe in and follow.
Love was what Jesus Christ taught. Love unconditional, or charity (the pure love of Christ), is the true requirement of a follower of Christ. I may not have attained perfect love, but I am doing my best. Because, when I meet my maker and his beloved son, I want to stand tall and say that I did my best and know that a merciful God will judge my heart before condemning me to Hell or welcoming me into Heaven.
So, is it too much to ask for all of us (gay/straight, black/white, male/female, Muslim/Jewish/Christian/Buddhist/Hindu etc.) to follow the admonition of a great man and historical figure and love one another, refraining from the negative and unimportant judgments? Because we are all fallible and sin filled people. We will be judged by an infallible, omnipotent, and merciful God. Leave the judgments to the Being that can see into the heart of a person and judge justly. As Jesus said, "Judge not that ye be not judged with the same judgement." And finally, "Love thy neighbor as thyself." So, just love. Is that too much too ask?
Sometimes worse sayings are recited by people who claim to be messengers of the gospel of Christ, but as far as my knowledge goes, in regards to the teachings of Jesus Christ, he did not say to speak ill of your neighbors or teach people to hate. Christ told his people, "Love thy neighbor as thyself" and "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me." When we judge and are cruel to one another, it is, as Christ said, as if we do the same to that Christ we claim to believe in and follow.
Love was what Jesus Christ taught. Love unconditional, or charity (the pure love of Christ), is the true requirement of a follower of Christ. I may not have attained perfect love, but I am doing my best. Because, when I meet my maker and his beloved son, I want to stand tall and say that I did my best and know that a merciful God will judge my heart before condemning me to Hell or welcoming me into Heaven.
So, is it too much to ask for all of us (gay/straight, black/white, male/female, Muslim/Jewish/Christian/Buddhist/Hindu etc.) to follow the admonition of a great man and historical figure and love one another, refraining from the negative and unimportant judgments? Because we are all fallible and sin filled people. We will be judged by an infallible, omnipotent, and merciful God. Leave the judgments to the Being that can see into the heart of a person and judge justly. As Jesus said, "Judge not that ye be not judged with the same judgement." And finally, "Love thy neighbor as thyself." So, just love. Is that too much too ask?
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