How I see it...

I guess I'm a little confused... I am a Christian... I'm  not very good at being Christ like but I try, I've given my life to Jesus and while I constantly stumble and fall flat on my face, the fact is I am created in God's image and Jesus stands at Gods side proclaiming himself as my savior. 

The Word of God, aka the Bible, is my instruction manual for life. I choose to believe the words written in the bible regardless of how it was written by imperfect men or how many times it's been translated in the last bazillion years. 

The simple fact of the matter is that the bible is what God gave me to live my life by and God doesn't say "oops" so if the Bible is perfect enough for God to allow as my instruction manual then I will use it accordingly. In the bible, The Word of God, its stated 1 Cor. 6:9-10 "Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God." In this scripture there are numerous "sins" that God specifically states are unacceptable, including but not limited to homosexuality.

Because this is written in the Word of God, I choose to believe it is the truth. Anyone can differently interpret the instruction of this scripture but there is also scripture (Deut. 4:2) where God commands that we not "add to or take away" from his word. It's plainly written. 

I don't see anyway it could be misunderstood or otherwise interpreted. Now with all that being said, here's where I'm confused... this whole thing with Chick-Fil-A "taking a stand" against the act of homosexuality/gay marriage. Initially it was a Christian founded restaurant chain taking a stand against an act that was against their Christian beliefs, then suddenly it became every Christians right through "freedom of speech" to condemn homosexuality/gay marriage; Everyone's right to speak freely about something they believe in, or more so, don't believe in. 

 There suddenly arose a  special "day" where people chose to gather at their area Chick-Fil-A to make a statement, through Free Speech, against something that they don't believe in according to their faith. While I'm all about taking a stand  for God and His Word, I'm confused as to what really took place during this gathering of Christians.

 I saw post after post on FB about those who were at Chick Fil A in support of the Christian belief that homosexuality and Gay Marriage is wrong. In addition I saw post after post that people were supporting their right of free speech.

 I don't have a problem with either of these as I agree with the first according to my faith and believe in latter according my constitutional rights. What I'm confused about is why the focus became about this one, of MANY, acts prohibited by God, in His Word. When did one sin become greater than another?  ALL sins WILL be judged by God. It appears, too, that the focus of the people became more about separating themselves from what they were against instead of using the love of God to embrace those who they believe are lost because of their choices.

 I don't know any scripture in the bible that says it's OK to stand in judgement of others, but isn't that really the message, intended or not, which was being sent out with these gatherings?  I don't know ONE 'gay' who felt God's love from Christian community during the gatherings. These gatherings weren't in effort to show that God's written command as to how men and women should live, love or marry. 

And if in fact that was the intent, everyone one of us Christians missed the mark by miles. 

Gays didn't feel anything but condemnation from the Christian community. And isn't it written that we're not to condemn our brother or judge our brother as we will be judged with the same severity?  Judgement should not be a condemning but an ability to see, believe and know right from wrong based on the Word of God.

 Jesus will judge us as we have others and believe me that's not a judgement that anyone wants to face, and as Christians you should know and feel the severity of that statement as you read it. Not one human being in history or current existence, aside from Christ, has any business judging another. I hope you remembered that stand you took against homosexuality when you got home and cussed your wife, lied to your children, neglected your animals, watched your porn, read your romance novels, watched your TV... should I go on??

I mean seriously... you're condemning people for their CHOICE, a CHOICE afforded to them by the very God you and I "say" we serve. 

I for one do not believe that homosexuality is right in the eyes of God, but there's a laundry list of things that are not right in the eyes of God that I fall subject to on a daily basis so who the heck am I to stand my, full-of-sin-self, in a public place and point my finger?? 

It's one thing to share your faith with others but it's not OK to shove it down their throat and ostracize them because they differ. Jesus said "he who is without sin cast the first stone"... I can't imagine how that could be misinterpreted either. A whore is no worse than a homosexual and a homosexual is no worse than a man who beats his wife. And Jesus walked among the ones who fell short from the word go. 

There might not have been any yelling, pushing, bashing, negativity while everyone was piled up in the area Chick Fil A's, but there was a message that rang loud and clear... and it had nothing to do with God's love, plan for our lives, his desire to have a personal and intimate relationship with each of his children, his ability to heal the sick, rescue the lost, uplift the depressed, or any of the other wonderful miracles and gifts he wants EVERYONE to have and know. 

Really for so many years, decades, centuries, etc the Christian community has really shot themselves in the foot with their actions, words, criticisms and judgments. The focus of God loving everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, etc etc has long been thrown out the window. It's no wonder more and more people run screaming for the hills when a follower of God comes strolling through... I think Ghandi said it best (and yes I'm taking this from a post that was made on fb) "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians".  

Can't say that I blame him. A friend of mine said recently that we all need to remember we're all human, all hungry and all need to be loved. God created us in His image- our God is LOVE, He offers the food each of our souls need - LOVE, He exemplifies and is the epitome of LOVE. People want proof of God's love through proof that you live in and with God's love. 

Try taking a stand on the lack of God's love being shown to EVERYONE, without discrimination. Let's see how many start gathering on that premise.  

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust. (Psalm 103:8-14 NIV)