‘Christian’ protestors’ behavior
not very Christian-like
Krystle
Raltson
For
those of us who are members of the Chris
tian faith, we know that when Jesus walked the earth, he hung out with people
who are known today as hookers and thieves.
So why are his supposed followers screaming at grieving families who have just
lost their loved ones to the war in Iraq? They scream because they say God
is punishing the soldiers for defending the United States, a country that harbors
homosexuals.
Outside Smyrna United Methodist Church in Smyrna, Tenn., during the funerals
for Staff Sgt. Ashbury Fred Hawn II, 35, and Spc. Gary Reese Jr., 22, members
of the church carried signs and shouted comments such as “God hates you” and “God
hates fags.”
You may have heard the phrase, “He who has not sinned may cast the first
stone.” It comes from a famous story in the Bible that, in a nutshell,
simply states that those who are quick to judge are likely to be the ones needing
to be judged.
There are people everywhere, like myself, who choose to believe in a religion
that provides peace and guidance in everyday life. I have been a Christian
since I was five years old and memorized more scriptures and passages than
you could imagine. I attended Sunday school and sang Bible songs until I was
13.
I know a thing or two about what the words say. The Bible states, very clearly,
that homosexuality is wrong. But what it says directly after is that God does
not give us the right to judge or condemn anyone who lives this lifestyle.
The Bible states in black and white to be their friend and treat them with
respect. I am not saying God is OK with homosexuality. He created man and woman
to reproduce, and such is the way he wants it. But what he doesn’t want
for his followers to look down upon homosexuals with hatred and contempt.
God is omnipotent and pretty much omni-everything else, so leave the deciding
factor up to him.
God himself tells us through the words of his book to educate others about
Christianity, but to do so in a loving and patient manner. Waving signs
printed with hateful words and phrases are the exact opposite of what he wants
us to do.
Referring back to the Bible, all you have to do is open it and read how Jesus
behaved to his best friends and worst enemies. He was strong and kind and never
lost his cool.
Even when people called him hurtful names and treated him terribly, he still
showed nothing but love to all those around him.
And now here we are, 2,000 years later, ridiculing those who grieve over lost
loved ones, claiming they deserved to die because God wanted vengeance. They
say these soldiers died because they chose to fight in a a country that supports
the homosexual lifestyle.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not belittling the bravery to stand up for what
you believe in. I know I struggle with saying what I truly feel almost every
day, especially when it comes to religion, which as we all know is a very sensitive
subject.
But to scream it at the top of your lungs and throw it at people like a 100
mph curveball, especially at a time of tragedy, only causes pain and anger
to those who do not deserve it. This gives religious followers a horrible reputation
for being critical and judgmental to everyone around them.
For those church members, as you scream at those with tears in their eyes because
they lost family members who you claim are burning in hell, take a good look
at your hearts. But wait, you can’t. None of you have one.
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