It Gets Better: Bob Jones Edition

[lucrezaborgia]

(12-08-2011 05:01 PM)Naomi Wrote:  

(12-08-2011 04:48 PM)pastors wife Wrote:  How does being loving actually work itself out in the real world?

Thank you, PW. And what you've stated above is a big question. It applies to everyone we disagree with, and it's hard to figure out. Anyone got more ideas on how we accomplish that?

When you say loving do you really mean compassion?

[GraceThruFaith]

(12-08-2011 04:02 PM)Naomi Wrote:  

(12-08-2011 03:28 PM)JoeR Wrote:  Here we go again...

Or not. One message we could take from this video, and the It Gets Better movement, is that even if people disagree on this:

(12-08-2011 01:45 PM)GraceThruFaith Wrote:  it does not negate what Scripture clearly states about homosexuality.

We can still be loving and gracious, and treat those around us as we would want to be treated. So, not implying that LGBTQ people are:

(12-08-2011 01:45 PM)GraceThruFaith Wrote:  the worst of the worst that humanity has to offer,

But instead maybe thinking more deeply about how we treat people who are different from us.
"I'm Christian, unless you're gay." http://www.danoah.com/2011/11/im-christi...e-gay.html
Reponses here: http://www.danoah.com/2011/11/powerful-r...-blog.html

How exactly should Christians who disagree on the interpretation of the Bible regarding gay relationships treat each other, and gay people? What does the love of Christ look like in a practical sense, even when you disagree and are not going to convince the other person to take your interpretation?

I am not implying that the worst of the worst that humanity has to offer is homosexuals. I was originally going to type that God loves everyone, including the murderers, rapists, and convicted pedophiles, but didn't in the end. The Apostle Paul called himself the chief of sinners, and he's a better Christian than I'll ever be.

I treat homosexuals no differently than anyone else. There's a homosexual sitting right next to me right now as I'm typing this. I have never mistreated him one time, never condemned him of his homosexuality, or anything. I have heterosexual lusts oozing out of myself much more than he with homosexual lusts. My lusts are just as much sinful as his are.

[Naomi]

(12-08-2011 05:06 PM)lucrezaborgia Wrote:  When you say loving do you really mean compassion?

I mean love, compassion, empathy, I think.

[Naomi]

(12-08-2011 05:14 PM)GraceThruFaith Wrote:  I am not implying that the worst of the worst that humanity has to offer is homosexuals. I was originally going to type that God loves everyone, including the murderers, rapists, and convicted pedophiles, but didn't in the end. The Apostle Paul called himself the chief of sinners, and he's a better Christian than I'll ever be.

I treat homosexuals no differently than anyone else. There's a homosexual sitting right next to me right now as I'm typing this. I have never mistreated him one time, never condemned him of his homosexuality, or anything. I have heterosexual lusts oozing out of myself much more than he with homosexual lusts. My lusts are just as much sinful as his are.

Thanks for explaining! I appreciate it.

[pastor's wife]

(12-08-2011 05:06 PM)lucrezaborgia Wrote:  When you say loving do you really mean compassion?

I do mean compassion but also all of what 1 Corinthians 13 describes love as.

[elfdream]

First thing is not to caterogize people into subgroups. When you look at them you should see a human being who simply by the virtue of being a human being should be given all due respect. There should be no gays over here, blacks over there or atheists in the corner. We are made in the image of God and He takes that seriously. We are all alike on the most basic level and that is more important than differences. Focus on that.

I know that is a hard thing to do when first coming out of fundyland and it does take practise. We also don't automatically love someone just because we are supposed to. That also takes practise.

And you can feel free to explain yoursef and where you have come from. People can be compassionate when it comes to things like leaving cult like atmospheres.

[JordanMaria]

I never liked pegging people based on sexual preference. When you think about it, that's downright creepy. Saying "Here comes the homosexual." or "So-and-so's a homosexual" is like saying "So-and-so is a missionary-position-only." or "See that girl over there? She loves purple vibrators."

If we flippantly labeled everyone based on what they do in bed, things would get really really weird.

[Elijah Craig]

(12-08-2011 04:40 PM)lucrezaborgia Wrote:  We should treat people how they want to be treated...not how we think we would want to be treated and then apply it to them.

Terrible idea. You think it's OK to treat a pesrson with low self-esteem the way they want to be treated? OK to treat a narcissist the way they want to be treated?

[lucrezaborgia]

(12-09-2011 08:34 AM)Elijah Craig Wrote:  

(12-08-2011 04:40 PM)lucrezaborgia Wrote:  We should treat people how they want to be treated...not how we think we would want to be treated and then apply it to them.

Terrible idea. You think it's OK to treat a pesrson with low self-esteem the way they want to be treated? OK to treat a narcissist the way they want to be treated?

People with low self-esteem still want to be treated with respect and dignity. Low self-esteem does not automatically equate to wanting to be treated badly. They put up with the bad treatment because they hope dearly for the good. A narcissist has a mental health issue and cannot always control how they act. Should I treat them just like a person who can always control themselves? It's not impossible to have compassion and treat people how they want to be treated while at the same time not agreeing with them. You also don't have to do something you don't want to do either and it certainly does not mean absolving them of the consequences of their behavior.

[Elijah Craig]

Should I treat an alcoholic the way he wants to be treated? Give him more booze?

I try to do right by people. How they feel about it isn't something I get too worked up about.