We envision a thriving Colorado Springs in which all people can reach their full potential as human beings, free from oppression and discrimination. We envision a region where individual rights are honored, and constitutional rights, including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are upheld for all people.
Sounds good doesn't it?
I took 3 words out of there: "including GLBT people"
We envision a thriving Colorado Springs in which all people, including GLBT people, can reach their full potential as human beings, free from oppression and discrimination. We envision a region where individual rights are honored, and constitutional rights, including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are upheld for all people.
Does it make you angry now?
It seriously makes me so upset to see Christians getting so offended and irate about such statements. Is a homosexual somehow less of a person? No!!! Why do so many in the church treat homosexuality as the unpardonable sin? Why do Christians tell gay people they are going to hell instead of just telling them of the grace that covers our sin and theirs? Have we forgotten that we are also sinners? Have we forgotten that the law is the law, and once it's broken it's broken? It doesn't matter if you broke it once or a million times--you broke it!
For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder."Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:10-13
Do we speak and act as those who will be judged by the law of liberty--the law of Moses?
Do we forget that we have cheated, we have lied, we have lusted?
That we have put work, money, dreams & aspirations, relationships, or even sleep before our God?
Why must homosexuality cause so much more uproar than other extramarital sexual relations?
Why does it seem to be so much worse than any other sin?
What about partiality?
The ground at the foot of the cross is level--there is no superiority or inferiority there.
But there is sometimes a lack of humility in the church and some create a pedestal for themselves and a pit for others. I'm guilty of partiality.
Guess what James right before the above verses:
My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, "You sit here in a good place," and say to the poor man, "You stand there," or, "Sit here at my footstool," have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. James 2:1-10.
How often do we, as Christians, create in our minds a whole character just by appearance?
We stereotype. We fit a person into our ideas instead of getting to know them as a brother or sister; a fellow child of God. And we treat them according to our perceptions. What does it matter what one has here on earth. We came into this world with nothing, and so we leave.
Are we treating the "different" as royal heirs to an eternal fortune?
How often do we "love"people to death;
driving them away from our Lord by our so-called love, which is really quite the opposite?
Should we not instead love them to Life?
Can we direct our ways so as to make a person want to have what we have?
So many regard us with disdain on account of our actions.
We make Jesus look terrible!
Brothers and sisters,
I encourage you to live your life in accordance with the gospel.
Let people see by your actions that it really is good news.
call me corny but:
I envision a thriving church in which all people (including GLBT people) can learn their value as human beings, free from partiality and discrimination. I envision a church where individuals are loved, and drawn to Christianity and want to seek true life, liberty and the pursuit of holiness for all their days.
