Well all have something that has inspired to draw closer to God. Some are sermons, words of a wise parent, or encouraging words of an unexpected friend. Mine, however, was a newspaper artical. I was wiping down tables where I work and I came across this article titled “God Hates Fags”. Shocked, I had no other choice but to read this article. Come to find it It was this pastor you may have heard of, Fred Phelps. He is the minister of a Church in kansas. He and his followers has made it their mission to go around and “warn” people of their sin. He said that “Fags were going to Hell”. I just couldn’t believe it. They have two websites GodhatesFags.com and GodhatesAmerica.com. I went to the website and just cried. Their are people out there who think God hates them, or wont give God a chance because christians like these people are telling them lie’s! It really made me search the Bible and learn what God really thinks about the situation. I later wrote in my blog this conclusion(only sharing a part because it was so long!) :
I guarantee that when jesus was carrying that cross, he didnt think “im am going to die for everyone and give everyone mercy, well except those fags, they can burn for all i care”What about the time when they brought up the adultress to Jesus and they wanted Jesus to condemn her? what did he say? those who are without sin cast your stone. guess what? no one cast a stone that day. because we all sin!
we need a movement of love, not hate. how would you like it if someone followed you around with sign with the sin you struggle the hardest with written on along with your going to hell? do you think jesus would stand outside gay bars are yell obscenitites? no he would love the sinner.
Do you think that putting a bumper sticker on your car or holding a sign saying God hates Fags well really bring them to christ? like they are going to stop and say “God hates me? man i most give my heart to him!”
In Conclusion I think this showed me God’s love. I think it showed me how to be a better witness and more Christ like. I will never pickett a gay pride walk, I will never protest an abortian clinic, only because after reading scripture, I know thats what Jesus wouldn’t do. I don’t agree with homosexuality or abortion, however I don’t agree with gossiping, hatred, and lieing. I am very passionate about this. I know this may seem confusing or vague. I would have wrote more to explain it better but we only were given 500 words and I think I exceeded that. 🙂
Emily,
I think that your approach of following Jesus model, loving others is the right way to go.
Emily,
I think it’s really cool how God used this article to draw you closer to Him. Just as He has revealed to you that He
wouldn’t “picket gay bars” for instance, He’s also laid that on my heart a few times. The bible says that “They will know that we are Christians by our love for oneanother” and what an example of Christ we would be if we could show love to those who are held in bondage and suffering due to their sin. I know that I would want someone to be there for me, and to hold me accountable.
so, I was very thrown off at the beginning of the little essay thing. I was like, oh dear I hope she doesn’t like agree or something crazy. It’s really cool to see that it challenged you and you were motivated to find the answers in God’s word. well,bye
Emily,
I liked this blog. I have been in situations where people (who claim to be Christians) have treated some of my close friends badly because of the way that they choose to live their lives and it’s not right. You are right, God loved each and every one of use, not just some of us!