Thursday, September 30, 2010

God Hates _________ (Fill in blank)





I've been meaning to sit down and write this blog for a long time. I am just not sure how to do it and do it effectively. Today's post isn't going to focus on your sin or my sin. I don't think I'm going to talk about sin at all. Well, maybe just a little. But that is not the purpose of the writing today.
About a month ago, I was talking to my coworker who is a devout Catholic. She goes to mass 7 days a week. She desperately wants her daughters to go to church, she wants them to understand that no matter what, God loves them. One of her daughters agreed to go to church with on Sunday. And coming from the pulpit the preacher proceeded to start a sermon that was titled "God Hates Gays". His sermon went the complete opposite of where this blog is going and proceeded to bash on the homosexual population. My coworker's daughter is gay. And from that day forward, her daughter vowed to never step foot in another church. Gosh, that just killed my heart when I heard that.
A few weeks after my conversation with my coworker, the news hit about the pastor in Florida that wanted to burn the Qu'ran. That absolutely sent me overboard. Excuse me, Mr. Pastor, you want to do what? Oh right, because burning another religion's holy book is totally something God would do. (Enter sarcastic tone here) I'm glad he decided to change his mind. Although, I believe the news said he had decided to postpone it. I'm pretty sure he got a good talking to from God and is not wanting to admit he was in the wrong.
All the time you hear about God hates this, and God hates that. God hates homosexuals. God hates Nazi. God hates homeless people. God hates prostitutes. God hates drug users. Blah, blah, blah. I can't even begin to wrap my head around all of the things I've heard about God hating people.
Okay, let me put the fact out there that God doesn't hate anyone. No matter who they are, what they've done, God doesn't hate people. He loves them all. He hates the actions that make us sin, but never the people doing the sinning. Do you know that in the Bible Jesus hung out with some the most hated people from back in that time? He freely hung out with prostitutes, tax collectors, and adulters. Anyone that you and I would normally shun, Jesus loved to hang out with these people. These were the people who hadn't yet believed in him and God would change their life by healing them in their way needed, then they would believe that no matter what, God loved them.
When I hear about "Christians" bashing other people, people groups, religion, etc. I cringe. I put the word Christian in quotes because are these people really showing a true example of what a Christian is? Is that how I, as a believer in Christ, want to be portrayed? Most definitely not! I sometimes call them "scary Christians". These can include the people who usually stand on street corners screaming about what God is hating this week. I say they are scary Christians because as a Christian myself, they even scare me with their hooting and hollering.
The point is this, God loves you and he loves me. He also loves every other person in this world, we all have a special place in his heart.
"Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything." 1 Peter 4:8, Msg
"Hatred starts fights, but love pulls a quilt over the bickering." Proverbs 10:12, Msg

3 comments:

SaraMarie said...

Of course, we had our conversation weeks ago, when I wrote a similar blog. It really chaps my hide when "Christians" pass judgment. It is not our place. And we are supposed to be a body of one, united in like-mindedness. I feel like the American Church has strayed so far from that. I am becoming disillusioned. I think I need a good healthy dose of reality...one I won't find in a megachurch, in a big city, amongst privileged individuals. I confess now how envious I am that you are going to South Africa. I think if more of the church had those experiences, we would refrain from the "holier than thou" attitudes. And the ones that don't, well, maybe they aren't really Christians after all.

I love you! And I love your heart!

Anonymous said...

Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Mark 2:17 It is sad that most people turn away from God because of his people. I love this post!!! I am a bit envious of your trip too! I'm excited to hear about how God worked through you!

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