I'll remember that LM.Cool thing here @ LGM is I think most folks realize I'm not into disrespecting them.
No offense meant either,but I was wondering the same thing as MoC mentions;it looks like you take umbrage @ CHRISTians' conduct but a free pass to others.
Steel sharpens steel;worse case is we have grace.Others may not have that and benefit from having their feet held to the fire(about lifestyle aspects.)
There used to be a poem(?) about someone facing the hellfire because nobody spoke truth to them.Have to see if I can find/post.
Thanks for hearing me out. And yes, while the folks of LGM all know that you wouldn't disrespect us, there are a lot of lurkers or even folks that might do a Google search and end up on this thread... and some of them might be gay and struggling, backsliders, suicidal, whatever. So for you to say that they don't want the love of God, it could feel disrespectful or even hateful to them. And worse, they could take that as further proof that Christians are hypocritical. So yes, we who are here know your heart and can believe you when you explain what you meant, others may just take it at face value. That's all I'm saying... words are weapons and we gotta choose 'em carefully, especially when we put them online for all the world to see.
I do take umbrage at Christians who demonstrate hate in their actions and words (not saying you did, I'm just speaking about Christians in general). It makes it harder for the rest of us to reach the lost when the lost are so accustomed to being hated and/or looked down on by Christians. A lot of it is in our attitudes and behaviors, even if we don't say it aloud. I don't give a 'free pass' to anyone, but I do hold the saints to a higher standard because I expect us to be holy. As my pastor says, I expect sinners to sin, so it doesn't surprise me or make me uncomfortable when they do. But I expect better from the saints. I expect us to watch our words and keep our flesh under subjection. I expect us to be humble and not boastful, arrogant or prideful. I expect us to be loving and not hateful. I think we focus so much on what gay people are doing, and forget our own responsibility. Sinners aren't supposed to live holy. WE are. Sin is sin, and all sin is wrong (ALLLLLLLLLL sin). I've never said anything contrary to that. I just won't focus on one sin because even though extremists will tell us that one sin will ruin the whole world, I know that all sin brings reproach to a nation. Before I start preaching on homosexuality, I will preach on ALL sin: gossip, meanness, lying, hatred, racism, theft, malice, self-righteousness, poor stewardship, fornication, adultery.... all of it.
We've been down this road before, you and I, so we both know how the other feels about evangelism. Your approach is different from mine, and as always, I refer you to I Cor 12. It takes all parts of the body to make it function properly. We tend to fish the way we were caught. Those who were scared into salvation tend to preach fire and brimstone, and that's fine. Those who were drawn with lovingkindness tend to draw others the same way, and that's fine too. Those who were compelled by the harsh-truth approach tend to use that approach, and that's fine as well. He who wins souls is wise. Use whatever God gave you to win souls, and I shall do the same. I can't speak for anyone on LGM or elsewhere, but I know that on that great day, my record will show how many gay people came to Christ through me and my ministry. I can give you names and numbers if you'd like to verify. What I'm doing works. And if what you're doing yields results as well, then by all means, keep up the great work. It's all about glorifying GOD, not making ourselves feel righteous because we are heterosexual and married to gorgeous/handsome spouses. It's all about Jesus, and we all need to remember that.
