GuySmiley said:
So you wouldn't mind calling someone a homo if they truly are a homo.
I wouldn't put it in exactly those terms, lol. I personally believe in showing the Christ in me first. I have dealt with homosexuals before, and have worked with them. You can attract more flies with honey then vinegar. I let people that I am around know that I am a Christian, even the homo's. I think that it is better to form the friendship first, and then ease into the fact of what the bible states regarding their lifestyle. If you jump right in and say, hey fag, your going to hell, they will lose interest real quick
I don't want to be rude, but let the love of Christ show through me if at all possible. If when you are talking to these people, if you can keep in mind a picture of them screaming in torment in an eternal hell, the love will manifest, especially if you have become friends with them. I find their lifestyle repulsive, but the bondage a real heart breaker.
Thats all true, but we aren't talking about salvation here. Should homosexuality be a crime? You could say all the same stuff above and replace it with murder and it'd all be true. But would you argue that murder should not be a crime?
I don't see homosexuality as a crime, but a sin of the flesh. Murder I see as a crime as you are taking someone elses life. I know that some would argue that homo's are killing "straights" off with aides, but that isn't true. The straights are getting it because they can't keep their butts in one bed, and have had usually more then one sexual encounter. It's a chain reaction that has taken place.
This could be like tennis, it doesn't, but it also doesn't demand that murderers be put to death. So would you argue that we should just love murderers and hope they see the error of their ways? Lets just abolish our criminal justice system altogether.
Heavens no, we need the criminal justice system. God said to obey the laws of the land, so apparently it was His idea that we have laws to obey. Murderers would take supernatural love, and I have never encountered a murderer to see if I could love them. I know that I am in total shock when I hear of someone murdering their wife and kids. I pray that murderers see the error of their ways and repent!!
I just watched a program a few months ago where this man murdered this Christian woman's son. He went to prison, and this woman wanted his death in the worst way. She said that she could honestly say that she hated him in the beginning, and it was making her sick. She said that she told God, I can't live with this hate, so I'm going to turn this hate over to you so I can be healed emotionally and Spiritually. She stepped out in faith and started writing to this murderer, and then started visiting him. To show the mercy and love of God, this man was saved through this woman's forgiveness....so, it isn't an impossibility to love a murderer.
Do you always without fail love the lost? I don't. I try to, but sometimes I get really sick of them. I'm not perfect. Do I lose my salvation everytime I lose patience with an atheist here on TOL? You don't always love the lost either, regardless of how you answer. But you still think your salvation is dependant on loving the lost?
Not always. I believe that God will have people cross your path in life that He will give you a burden for, and love manifests. I have a burden for the homosexuals, and they need a lot of prayer. I think that if we aren't witnessing to people like homosexuals, then we as Christians aren't doing our jobs that we were put here for...James 5:19-20 ~ Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
20 Let him know, that he which
converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Yes, I do believe that our salvation is dependent on loving the lost because God loves the lost which we were. Most people who say that they love God don't. Matt 5:43-48 ~ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you,
Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to
rise on the evil and on the good,
and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you,
what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Matt 22:37-39 ~ Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second
is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself....what if your neighbour is a homosexual??? Some of my neighbours are heathen, lol, and two homo's live two doors away.
I don't on purpose either, but I still don't think you believe that loving the lost is required for salvation. Otherwise, you better hope you don't slip when some atheist really makes you mad. Maybe you don't get mad either.
Oh, I have slipped. Thank God for repentence!!! Clete has made me angry more then once, lol.
I do too. But with the Holy Spirit living in us, we ought to bear the fruit of the Spirit. But I don't think any of us does that perfectly, which is why I am SOOOO glad that salvation is not dependant on loving the lost! I haven't learned to constantly walk in perfect love.
None of us are walking in perfect love, even though Gods says to be ye perfect as I am perfect. We should all have that target in mind though.