Church's 'Jesus Loves Osama' sign criticized

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/02/01/wosama101.xml

The slogan, a reference to Osama bin Laden, the al-Qa'eda leader, has provoked a storm of controversy across the country despite its apparently Christian message of forgiveness.

Small print at the bottom of the sign urges churchgoers to "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you", a quotation from Matthew 5:44.

But John Howard, the prime minister, said that the church should have chosen a less offensive way of spreading its message.

"I understand the Christian motivation of the Baptist church," he said.

"But I hope they will understand that a lot of Australians, including many Australian Christians, will think that the prayer priority of the church on this occasion could have been elsewhere."

Peter Jensen, the Anglican archbishop of Sydney, said that the sign - which has been put up outside several churches in the city - was confusing and potentially offensive.

"There is a truth in it," he said. "But, "what we've got to say is, 'Jesus doesn't approve of Osama.' It makes it sounds like, 'Oh, Osama's doing the right thing'."

A spokesman for the Central Baptist Church told the Australian Daily Telegraph that it was merely "sharing the gospel".

He said: "Osama is the head of terrorism. We are saying that Jesus Christ loves everyone in the world, even this man. ... All we are doing is sharing the gospel."

Good for them.

Jordan

Psalm 5:5 says God hates Osama!

Psalm 5:5 says God hates Osama!

Osama is a fool, I don't doubt that. We are to pray for him, however. He is not Satan, still has a soul, and as our enemy, we are to pray for him as Jesus said. For are we not all sinners? I don't believe God hates Osama anymore than John Doe over there who rebels. His hate doesn't work like our hate.

Jordan

For are we not all sinners? I don't believe God hates Osama anymore than John Doe over there who rebels. His hate doesn't work like our hate.

If God hated me, He wouldn't have died for me. If God hated Adam, He wouldn't have told Him to put a skin (covering) on. If God hated you, you wouldn't be alive right now. (He has ultimate power) Hate is a strong word. God's love is endless, the gospel is GOOD news, not bad. That He wants to wipe away EVERYONE's sin.

If God hated us, His desire would to be just the opposite.

well we should pray for usama, imagine nine aclock news Usama converts to Christianity!
and if he dosent...God will do right....

If God hated me, He wouldn't have died for me. If God hated Adam, He wouldn't have told Him to put a skin (covering) on. If God hated you, you wouldn't be alive right now. (He has ultimate power) Hate is a strong word. God's love is endless, the gospel is GOOD news, not bad. That He wants to wipe away EVERYONE's sin.

Sigh, I don't think you saw that I was trying to emphasize that God's hate = not our hate, and thus it's difficult to compare the two.

God loves those who come to him in submission. He hates rebellion.

Let that be said.

That doesn't mean, however, that he has not open arms for the rebellious. But that doesn't mean he's ooey-gooey with the rebellious either.

Really, it's a balance! Jesus loves everyone, yes! But He also hates, or is angry with may be a better term, those who rebel against His Father everyday. That doesn't mean he doesn't love them though, he also loves them, and is angry with them, I suppose you could say.

Remember, God has prepared a place of eternal fire for those who die in their rebellion. I must make mention of that, because it's the keystone of understanding God's love/hate dynamicness. He also has placed eternal heaven for those who submit to him in love.

Let God not be made in our own image... he is what He is, and the Bible says how that image is, all throughout.

Jordan

My prayer is that God would save Osama and that he would be used by God to spread the gospel of Christ to this world.

It is not my position to say whether or not God hates a particular person, but we do know that God hates workers of iniquity.

and lets remember Gods hatred , and wrath is not like the most hate we meet, most of the hatred we run into or feel ourselves are evil, Gods holy wrath and hatred are GOOD....

i can see where this sign would cause controversy with non-Christians, or with Christians more nationalistic than Christ-like, but we saints know what John 3:16 says ...

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that [b]whosever[/b] shall believe in Him might not perish but have everlasting life" ...

God may hate the evil that Osama is doing, but until Osama closes his eyes in death without becoming a [b]whosever[/b], even he's not made God's "official" hate list yet ...

Rev.20
[11] And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
[12] And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
[15] And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Blessings in Christ Jesus! ...

Yes pray for him. And let your motivation be "so that you can be like your Father in heaven." For God's glory alone.

I'm reminded of when Corrie Ten Boom had the opportunity to forgive one of her concentration camp captors... I think since we are in the midst of this war it is difficult for us to see that some day we may have the opportunity to meet these men and invite them into the kingdom.

All of mankind, Osama included, have opportunity to come to Christ and repent of sins of ANY magnitude during their lives. He will accept & love them all...criminals, prostitutes etc. etc. He died for them all. However, if death comes along and Christ has not been recognised as Lord of their lives, God's judgment will fall and all deeds will be accounted for.

Basically...Osama is human and will face the same eternal standard God uses for every human.

Love in Christ,
Ruth

Forgot to add:

Just because he may've done some things that are extremely abhorrent doesn't mean he gets special treatment or a different set of rules. God finds all sin abhorrent (e.g. angry thoughts = murder, lustful look = adultery)
Saying 'Jesus loves Osama' is just the same as saying 'Jesus loves Johnny (your unsaved nextdoor neighbour)'. He is overjoyed to accept anyone into his Kingdom, out of the darkness and into the light.