Hi Compliments...
"God loves the sinner but He hates the sin". That is such a stupid statement that if God had physical guts, He'd vomit.
The sin and the sinner are interwoven. To the homosexual mindset, God hates him when we say that God loves the sinner but hates the sin. Because he sees homosexuality as himself, therefore God hates him. So when we say the above statement, we are condemning the homosexual or anyone for that matter. Trust me on this matter, I know what I am talking about.
I'm not certain that I quite follow you hear. God does indeed love the sinner. Each of us are sinners, and while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Again in Matthew 15:13-14, Jesus said that "
[i]Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.[/i]." Interestingly, we know that Christ laid down his life BEFORE we belonged to Him. In fact, "
[i]For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved[/i]" (John 3:16-17). God's love for fallen man is the reason God Himself came from Heaven to Earth and took upon Himself the penalty for sin.
God does not, however, condone sin. I agree that our message should not simply be "[i]God loves the sinner but hates the sin[/i]." It should be this AND "[i]Flee from the wrath to come[/i]..." (Matthew 3:7) and "...[i]Now go and sin no more[/i]" (John 8:11). As long as this sort of "whole counsel" type of message is included, I don't have a problem with the aforementioned cliché.
The problem with these believers (outside of their apparently proud and hate-filled demonstrations) is that they are fulfilling the words of Christ from Luke chapter 18 regarding the Pharisee and the tax collector:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
These protestors are literally parading their self-righteousness in a cemetary while pointing the finger of prideful condemnation at young men that they cannot possibly know the spiritual condition of. I fear that this sincere but flawed group of protestors might find abasement rather than rewards for their behavior.
These protestors claim that the deaths in Iraq are due to "God's judgment on America because of gays." Since when did God pour out His judgment upon the innocent for the sins of the guilty? Jesus spoke to the measure of ignorance in the disciples when they asked about the young man who was born blind in John 9:1-5:
2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
...and in Luke 18:1-9 regarding understanding the judgment of God:
2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
As flawed human beings not completely familiar with the righteous judgment of God, we have a limited perspective on God's justice and His mercy. We view homosexuality as one of the great sins of the modern world. It is. But is it any less vile in the eyes of God as a cynical old gossip who stirs up dissention amongst the brethren? Is it any more damnable than the seven things that God "hates" (from Proverbs 6:16-19? In this passage, we learn that...
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Homosexuality is indeed a disgusting and immoral sin that rebels both against God and the laws of nature itself. Yet God still created us with a free will -- to either serve Him or serve ourselves and this world. Perhaps our message should target the root of sin rather than its branches?
What good would come out of this spectacle that this group is playing? Are they bringing a necessary statement to the families of these fallen soldiers, or are they bringing reproach to the Name of Christ? Sadly, this group of protestors feels that they are "doing God a favor" by spewing their hate (by the way, neither this soldier nor anyone in his family were homosexuals). They also feel that they are being "persecuted" for sharing their beliefs and what they feel to be true. Interestingly, there were some believers present at this young man's funeral. But like most divisive believers, they felt the obligation to inform those believers that they are misled and actually on their way to Hell.
Ironically, I am just as disgusted by the actions of this group of protestors as I am with the sin in which those protestors call out.
:-(
