Turned away

Turned away

“An aged man, whom Abraham hospitality invited to his tent, refused to join him in prayer to the one spiritual God.  Learning that he was a fire-worshipper.   Abraham drove him from his door.  That night God appeared to Abraham in a vision and said: ‘I have borne with that ignorant man for seventy years: could you not have patiently suffered him one night?”
                                                                                                     The Talmud
I listened the other day to some Christian evangelist. At least he called himself a Christian evangelist. I wondered however if he was Christian.
This man was so negative. He was screaming at all the ills of the world. He particularly took aim at the gay community. When he did my heart sank.
Now I’m not gay. Far from it. But over the years I’ve know some very nice lesbian and gay men and women. Most of them have at one point in their life have struggled with their sexuality.  Ultimately however they have made the decision to accept who they are.
These men and women at one point in their lives were also turned of by people calling themselves Christians.
When I heard this man yammering on about the evils of homosexuality it hurt even me. Were he to say it in Canada it may have even fallen under hate speech.
He made being gay out to be some special sin. There is no special sin. That evangelist has sin in his life as much as anyone be they gay or strait.
Paul makes it clear in his letter to the Romans,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
                                                                          Romans 3:23
I think such men and women shouldn’t be given a microphone. By saying what at times was outrageous statements this man showed his ignorance and lack of love.
In an article entitled “Too hot for the Pulpit.” Published in Seven a magazine published by Promise Keepers Mark Hughes. Notes that here in Canada Revenue Canada has quietly put in place rules that forbid clergymen speaking out on political issues.
He noted that “We can still speak on the hot button issues of our culture, but the day of hellfire and condemnation is long over. We need a more gracious approach.” going on to say,
“Recently I ran into an old school friend that had been living in Winnipeg’s homosexual community for years. He knew I was a pastor and made this statement, “I guess your church would never welcome someone like me?” I answered, “of course we would, your homosexual sin is no worse than my heterosexual sin. The day you are not welcome, is the day no one is welcome.” 
Over the decades especially here in North America it seems the church has got away from Love and salvation. Many preachers have it seems forgotten the words of Jesus who said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16,17
We cannot show love if we are preaching Hellfire and condemnation on people. We I believe will turn more people away from Christ than too Him.
As Christians we are called to reach out with the love of Christ to all men and women irrespective of who they are or their lifestyle.
We need to show compassion without prejudice.
When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well in John Chapter four he didn’t care who she was. He witnessed to her offering her eternal life.
This is how we should be as believers in Christ. We should administer the word of God in love as the opportunities arises.
Neither Jesus or his apostles ever preached hell fire or condemnation. Jesus did speak words of correction to the Jewish religious leaders of his day. But then he was a Jew and as such had the right to do so.
Still he never condemned the secular civil authorities of Rome.
Paul preaching in Athens with all the paganism that was there, never once preached against the practices and lifestyles of the Athenians.
He presented the salvation of Christ saying simply this is what I believe it is up to you to make your own mind up.
While we can and must win souls for Christ outside the walls of the church. Our churches must be inclusive.
That’s not to say we are to relinquish our core values. Far from it we should be ministering the word of God in a positive loving unadulterated way.
In a way that will give all people irrespective of who they are pause to think.
If God loves the world and sent Jesus into the world to save the world then we must do the same.
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” 
                         C.S. Lewis
The apostle James wrote,
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,  
because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement!” 
James 2:12,13.
Our church congregations  need to be inclusive and welcoming to all, so that the pure word of God can be ministered to all who enter.
Think about it.