I listen and hear cheering heading my way. Whistles are being blown. There is loud music. There is a lot of bright colour headed towards to me. The Pride march! I had completely forgotten it was on, even though I had been hearing about it all week. I have never been to one before so I wandered over and stood on the pavement, where the march would soon be passing by.
The police came first, blowing whistles, waving, laughing, smiling. Then came a float with cheesy pop music booming out from it. People standing on it, dancing, waving and laughing. More people followed, dressed in rainbow colours, waving, walking their dogs, holding rainbow flags high. It was an assault of noise, colour, laughter and I loved it. I stood on the pavement, grinning and waving back.
In a world that is becoming so dark and backwards with its beliefs; a world that is becoming terrifying in believing it is acceptable to physically assault or kill someone because of their race, creed or sexuality, this march, to me was beautiful. A bright colour and a resistance to the hate and darkness within this world.
However, there was some darkness in this march and it grieves me to say, some of it was from fellow Christians. I feel the eyebrows raising and the inhalation of breath at that statement. I hear the arguments. I should stay quiet and keep my opinion to myself. Who am I to judge others? I am no-one. My life is not free from sin and I continually make mistakes. I know full well that the only way I am getting to heaven is by the grace of God, no other way. However, I am tired of staying quiet and allowing these Christians to speak for me. I am tired of them showing a non Christian attitude. I am tired of the anger and hypocrisy. I will speak out. You do not have to agree with me, and that's ok. You are entitled to your opinion but so am I and here it is.
On the Pride march there were some Christians with signs that said "Prepare to meet thy God". Fair enough, I'll accept that. That can be a message for all of us, those of us who believe need to prepare. Those who don't believe, well some Christians will argue that you need to prepare. I will simply say, you've heard it, you've made a choice and I respect it.
Further down the march were the signs that would state things such as "you will burn in hell" and such like and here is where I get angry. Who are you to judge in such a manner? Who are you to say such things? We (Christians) are followers of Christ. Christian is in fact a nickname given to the early followers and it means 'Little Christ'. We are to emulate Him (Jesus). So tell me, where exactly in the bible does it tell us about Jesus condemning people? Where does it tell us about him spouting hate towards others? Where? Oh, that's right, IT DOES NOT!!! Jesus did not speak hatred and he did not condemn. He lead with love and humility. LOVE AND HUMILITY! Does screaming that someone will burn in hell seem like a loving thing to you? Do you honestly believe Jesus would be stood at a march today holding the exact same sign? Do you?
Let's have a wee look. There are so many examples from the bible, about Jesus' attitude and behaviour towards people I could use but I shall choose just one (so that you won't be reading this for days). The most commonly known example, the woman caught committing adultery.
Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, he sat down and taught them. As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.
"Teacher," they said to Jesus, "this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?"
They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, "All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!" Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.
When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, "Where are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you?"
"No, Lord", she said.
And Jesus said, "Neither do I. Go and sin no more".
John Chapter 8, vs 1-11 (NLT)
So what can we take from this passage? We'll ignore the fact that this whole scene was a set up, that is a discussion for another time. Jesus says "let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone". When you are throwing out these judgements and words you are casting stones. Are you justified in throwing these stones? Are you without sin?
As everyone is sinful they cannot condemn the woman. We are all sinful, so what gives you the right to condemn your fellow human being? What gives you the right to shout hateful things to them and make them feel terrible?
The one who has the right to judge and condemn DOES NOT! He leads with love and humility and wisdom.
The one who has the right to judge and condemn DOES NOT! He leads with love and humility and wisdom.
Do you honestly believe shouting hate at someone is glorifying God? Do you honestly believe you are following Christ's example? Do you believe the way you are treating people will lead them to God? I'm pretty sure it won't. Most of the people I have spoken to who did the march, paraphrasing them more politely was "screw you then". You are not reaching people. You are not glorifying God. You are breeding hatred and intolerance.
Now, I can hear you say "but the bible says homosexuality is a sin" so lets get down to it shall we? Indeed it does. In Leviticus Chapter 18 vs 22 "Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable sin". There it is. How can I argue with that? I cannot and I will not. It is indeed written in the bible. However, I will call out the people who use it. Remember casting the first stone? Continue reading Leviticus. Chapter 19 vs 11 "Do not steal". Have you ever stolen something? No? Are you sure? Did you take a pen from work? Did you have an hour at work where you did not actually do much work, if any? That is stealing my friends and, I hate to say, most of us have done it in one way or another, perhaps without realising it, but we have done it. We have committed this sin.
Moving on in the same passage, vs 16 say "Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people". Ever gossiped? Just passed on a bit of information about someone you know? You could argue that it wasn't slanderous but I'll argue that all gossip is slanderous. It is detrimental to the person being gossiped about and it often makes situations far worse with everyone embellishing their news slightly. Stone = sin. Pot to kettle, colour check.
Moving on, vs 17 "Do not nurse hatred in your heart for any of your relatives. Confront people directly so you will not be held guilty for their sin". Now, I realise that not everyone has experienced this but many have. Arguments within the family, dysfunctional family dynamics are all to common place. For many, even if they have forgiven now, for a time hatred will have been nursed. A sin was still committed.
One of my favourites, whilst reading this, please glance down at your clothing. Now lets read Leviticus chapter 19 vs 19 "....Do not wear clothing woven from two different kinds of thread...". I do not believe that needs any further explanation.
My point with this is yes, the bible says homosexuality is a sin and I do not dispute that. What I do dispute is the judging of each other and the hatred that is bred from this.
Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.
And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, "Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye," when you can't see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye."
Moving on in the same passage, vs 16 say "Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people". Ever gossiped? Just passed on a bit of information about someone you know? You could argue that it wasn't slanderous but I'll argue that all gossip is slanderous. It is detrimental to the person being gossiped about and it often makes situations far worse with everyone embellishing their news slightly. Stone = sin. Pot to kettle, colour check.
Moving on, vs 17 "Do not nurse hatred in your heart for any of your relatives. Confront people directly so you will not be held guilty for their sin". Now, I realise that not everyone has experienced this but many have. Arguments within the family, dysfunctional family dynamics are all to common place. For many, even if they have forgiven now, for a time hatred will have been nursed. A sin was still committed.
One of my favourites, whilst reading this, please glance down at your clothing. Now lets read Leviticus chapter 19 vs 19 "....Do not wear clothing woven from two different kinds of thread...". I do not believe that needs any further explanation.
My point with this is yes, the bible says homosexuality is a sin and I do not dispute that. What I do dispute is the judging of each other and the hatred that is bred from this.
Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.
And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, "Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye," when you can't see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye."
Matthew chapter 7 vs 1-5
Yes, I acknowledge that this blog is judging others and I acknowledge that I am not in a position to. Believe me I know but I am truly tired by people breaking the one commandment Jesus gave us.
"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other."
John chapter 13 vs 34
When you next go to tell someone that they are a sinner, or that they will burn in hell, or that they are an abomination, ask yourself these questions -
Is this how Jesus would love this person?
Is this what Jesus would do?
Is this me loving you as I have been commanded?
Is this glorifying God and making you want to know Him?
There is so much hate in this world. Do not add to it. Lead with love, humility and wisdom.
Love one another, as He loves us....
