Re: BC June 6, 2006- Twice as Wrong as Usual

On Fri, 09 Jun 2006 02:25:26 +0000, Bruce Y sez:

You are
free to pursue happiness however you like, I just wish you would grant
others the same, You know, the golden rule, something Bush, Falwell, and
the whole anti-gay crowd can't extend to others.

Did I say or do something to prevent you from pursuing happiness? My bad;
I guess "they" didn't get my memo. Don't worry, heads will roll for this.

Just because I'm feeling a little hungry tonight, though, I'll go ahead
and take your bait. First off, you seem to be under the impression that
"the whole anti-gay crowd" has no deeper motives than to suppress
happiness. Look, Christians of every flavor have responses to
homosexuality running the gamut from people who think God wants us to be
gay to people who... well, let's just use Fred Phelps as the extreme
opposite end of the spectrum. I'll readily admit, there's way too much
Phelps in a lot of what I hear, and that includes stuff that has come from
Falwell; the mistake these people are making is that they picked one or
two words out of 1 Corinthians 6:9 and conveniently gloss over everything
else that it says God doesn't like. Do I think God disapproves of
homosexual *activity*? Well, yes, I do, but no more or less than He
disapproves of "thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor
swindlers" - not to mention adulterers, which would probably cover half
the Bible-thumpers in the country right there. Other passages make it
clear that I'm no better when I gloat over a Scrabble victory or shout
"WHO DA MAN???" when I solve a technical support issue that stumped my
colleagues. Bottom line, if I believe God says it's bad, it's my duty to
at least try to kick the habit myself, and by "speaking the truth in love"
help my brothers and sisters in this world get the same message.

Which brings me to your second comment about "do unto others". You're
darn tootin' that's what we are supposed to be doing, but you don't fully
appreciate that includes the occasional correction. I could get so
wrapped up in enjoying something that riles God that I need someone to
bring me back to the flock. So if I tell you in all sincerity that I'm
worried you're next in line for a bolt of lightning because of what you're
doing, I expect no less from you when I'm the one making like a lightning
rod. The key, which all of us Bible-thumpers fail to remember far too
often, is to act out of love, not condemnation. That means no mockery, no
punitive acts, no misquoting God's word to include stuff not on the menu
("It says right there in Phlebotomy 1:16 that God hates Communists!")...
you get the idea. Look at where Jesus lost his temper - not at the
thieves, murderers, adulterers... no, he saved the real wrath for the
hypocrites in the church who put on a show of piety in the temple while
mocking all that was important to God.

Where was I going with this? Oh yes... so if you catch me violating my
own principles, and I probably will, go right ahead and call me on it.
Because I certainly wouldn't do unto you any differently than I would have
you do unto me.

--
Peter B. Steiger
Cheyenne, WY
If you must reply by email, you can reach me by placing zeroes
where you see stars: wypbs_**3 at bornagain.com.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Is there a war going on in heaven
    ... as If it had been really important God would have made ... Recent studies on the distribution of human happiness find that it is ... the New Testament back to the Old Testament, ... cure disease, ...
    (uk.religion.christian)
  • Re: Deconversion
    ... I'd agree that is the case within the bounds of how you would define moral goodness in the context of what a God could create, but of course I don't agree with that definition :-) ... But it sounds to me as if that is saying amounts to - in effect - that a supremely good omnipotent being would never create any lifeforms that are capable of seeing evil or bad in anything around them. ... that in some way reflected his own nature. ... In particular, for happiness, you probably need to read some kind of inner peace: The term 'happiness' is a broad one and probably covers some states of mind - eg. satisfaction at having exacted revenge on someone - that I don't intend. ...
    (uk.religion.christian)
  • Letter to a Gay Girl in the US, her Hopes, Fears and her religion.
    ... The universe behaves and looks EXACTLY as it would if there was no god, ... except people's happiness and freedom from social stigma. ... fun and exciting and a whole lot more ...
    (alt.religion.christian)
  • Re: GLBT Dr.Who Fans ?
    ... I have no problem with you not believing in the afterlife, ... argument has just shifted the question from the existence of God to ... claim to be the only ones who know what Christianity is really about. ... Of course there's still happiness. ...
    (rec.arts.drwho)
  • Re: What is at the root of mans Discontent and Malaise?
    ... and their tampering with the life which I the Lord their God have given unto ... 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: ...
    (talk.origins)