This is the third of three posts, the first was posted 8/29/05
The editorial board did not give their definition of love. My dictionary has nine definitions of love as a noun with subdivisions within some of those nine definitions. They include "attraction based on sexual desire" to "the score of zero (as in tennis)." I imagine these are not the definition of love that the editorial is referring to. (I'm not sure though.) I am going to guess that the love they mean is "unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another." (all dictionary definitions are from Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth edition; Merriam-Webster, Incorporated; Springfield, Massachusetts; 1995.)
The New Testament is replete with passages referring to love. Some selected quotes include: "the commandments, 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not covet,' and what ever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fullfillment of the law." (Romans 13: 9-10)
I've said this before. If you murder your unborn baby are you doing harm? Yes. If you encourage or support someone to murder her unborn baby, are you doing harm? Yes. If you plead with someone not to murder her unborn baby, are you doing harm? No! If you try to prevent the legal system in a legal manner from allowing the murder of unborn babies, are you doing harm? No! Trying to prevent sin is not doing harm. It is doing exactly what Christians should be doing.
If you don't know that an action is a sin, how can you repent from doing that action or refrain from doing that action? You can't. However, if you do not repent you will be condemned. Therefore, Christians have a responsibility to identify sin, to help prevent sin from occurring, and to help the sinner to repent as each Christian did and continues to do. That is one of our duties in serving GOD.
I Corinthians Chapter 13 is known as the love chapter and was quoted by the editorial board to chastise Christians for their actions--"But the greatest of these is love." However, the editorial board did not quote the whole verse. "And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." In a comparison of faith, hope, and love; the greatest is love. (I Corinthians 13: 13) It is not a comparison of truth and love and can not be since GOD = JESUS =love = truth. Also, the editorial board did not quote I Corinthians 13: 6. "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth." (Christians aren't afraid of truth since GOD, JESUS are truth.) The truth: Is it evil to murder your unborn baby? Yes! Is it evil to live a homosexual lifestyle? Yes! Is it evil to support sin and encourage people to sin? Yes! Yes! Yes!
"This is love for GOD: to obey HIS commandments. And HIS commandments are not burdensome," If you love GOD, you will be obedient to HIS will. Does GOD command you to do things that are harmful? No! Does GOD command you to do things that are evil? No! Does GOD command you not to do things that are evil? Yes! Why? Because evil can not be in GOD'S presence. Therefore, if you do evil and do not repent, you can not be in GOD'S presence. HE wants you to repent and stop doing evil so that you can be with HIM. HE loves us so much HE allowed HIS SON to die for our sins. However, we must repent and receive HIS SON as our LORD and SAVIOR. No repentance; no presence with GOD!
The editorial specifically refers to Christians as hateful, self-righteous, and invloved in cruel and bitter arguments over the murder of unborn babies and homosexual marriage. (I'm hurt by their name calling.) In fact, some of those who call themselves Christian may be doing some of the above. However, I don't place much stock in such criticisms when it comes from an editorial board who believes that women should be able to murder their unborn babies, who believe abortion pills should be available over the counter to anyone who desires to purchase them, who believes that homosexuality is a civil right.
I John 4: 5-6 says "They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from GOD, and whoever knows GOD listens to us; but whoever is not from GOD does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the SPIRIT of truth and the spirit of falsehood." Do you think John wrote this with the editorial board specifically in mind? Okay, I don't. However, it does clearly state that in the world two voices are speaking. One is the voice of GOD'S people and the other is the voice of the (selfish) world. When it comes to the murder of unborn children and recognizing homosexuality as a civil right, which voice is from GOD and which voice is from the world? Which voice is speaking in love--"benevolent concern for the good of another"--and which voice is speaking for the world encouraging selfish sin and disobedience to GOD'S will?
The editorial board did not give their definition of love. My dictionary has nine definitions of love as a noun with subdivisions within some of those nine definitions. They include "attraction based on sexual desire" to "the score of zero (as in tennis)." I imagine these are not the definition of love that the editorial is referring to. (I'm not sure though.) I am going to guess that the love they mean is "unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another." (all dictionary definitions are from Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth edition; Merriam-Webster, Incorporated; Springfield, Massachusetts; 1995.)
The New Testament is replete with passages referring to love. Some selected quotes include: "the commandments, 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not covet,' and what ever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fullfillment of the law." (Romans 13: 9-10)
I've said this before. If you murder your unborn baby are you doing harm? Yes. If you encourage or support someone to murder her unborn baby, are you doing harm? Yes. If you plead with someone not to murder her unborn baby, are you doing harm? No! If you try to prevent the legal system in a legal manner from allowing the murder of unborn babies, are you doing harm? No! Trying to prevent sin is not doing harm. It is doing exactly what Christians should be doing.
If you don't know that an action is a sin, how can you repent from doing that action or refrain from doing that action? You can't. However, if you do not repent you will be condemned. Therefore, Christians have a responsibility to identify sin, to help prevent sin from occurring, and to help the sinner to repent as each Christian did and continues to do. That is one of our duties in serving GOD.
I Corinthians Chapter 13 is known as the love chapter and was quoted by the editorial board to chastise Christians for their actions--"But the greatest of these is love." However, the editorial board did not quote the whole verse. "And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." In a comparison of faith, hope, and love; the greatest is love. (I Corinthians 13: 13) It is not a comparison of truth and love and can not be since GOD = JESUS =love = truth. Also, the editorial board did not quote I Corinthians 13: 6. "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth." (Christians aren't afraid of truth since GOD, JESUS are truth.) The truth: Is it evil to murder your unborn baby? Yes! Is it evil to live a homosexual lifestyle? Yes! Is it evil to support sin and encourage people to sin? Yes! Yes! Yes!
"This is love for GOD: to obey HIS commandments. And HIS commandments are not burdensome," If you love GOD, you will be obedient to HIS will. Does GOD command you to do things that are harmful? No! Does GOD command you to do things that are evil? No! Does GOD command you not to do things that are evil? Yes! Why? Because evil can not be in GOD'S presence. Therefore, if you do evil and do not repent, you can not be in GOD'S presence. HE wants you to repent and stop doing evil so that you can be with HIM. HE loves us so much HE allowed HIS SON to die for our sins. However, we must repent and receive HIS SON as our LORD and SAVIOR. No repentance; no presence with GOD!
The editorial specifically refers to Christians as hateful, self-righteous, and invloved in cruel and bitter arguments over the murder of unborn babies and homosexual marriage. (I'm hurt by their name calling.) In fact, some of those who call themselves Christian may be doing some of the above. However, I don't place much stock in such criticisms when it comes from an editorial board who believes that women should be able to murder their unborn babies, who believe abortion pills should be available over the counter to anyone who desires to purchase them, who believes that homosexuality is a civil right.
I John 4: 5-6 says "They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from GOD, and whoever knows GOD listens to us; but whoever is not from GOD does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the SPIRIT of truth and the spirit of falsehood." Do you think John wrote this with the editorial board specifically in mind? Okay, I don't. However, it does clearly state that in the world two voices are speaking. One is the voice of GOD'S people and the other is the voice of the (selfish) world. When it comes to the murder of unborn children and recognizing homosexuality as a civil right, which voice is from GOD and which voice is from the world? Which voice is speaking in love--"benevolent concern for the good of another"--and which voice is speaking for the world encouraging selfish sin and disobedience to GOD'S will?
posted by Christian Gunslinger at 11:09 PM
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