I think it is rotten, and the farthest thing from being "Godly." Jesus would NEVER turn a person away from God.
I find this to be the case with a lot of "churches" though. Aside from not preaching violence, they really aren't much different than your typical mosque in the Middle East, teaching hatred and intolerance.
Of course, we all know their decisions are based upon donations by their parishioners, so they have to keep the hateful ones happy too.
Um... I don't think so... We had a guy who gave tons of money to the church, but was cheating on his wife. We kicked him out. Adultery is a sin too. We don't treat it any different.
I'm always confused by this. Years ago, I decided I wanted volunteer at a charity, and one that I particularly liked, and donated money too, was a battered women's shelter.
Well of course they turned me down. I was oblivious to why, and was kind of put off by it.
They sent me a letter and explained... Duh... these were women who were abused by men. They want to feel safe with other women, and no men are allowed there. (and of course there are other reasons as well).
Did they 'hate me'? Were these Christians (it was a christian run shelter), pushing me away from G-d? Should I have been sending them letters saying "Jesus would NEVER turn a person away!"?
Of course not. They didn't hate me. I just didn't fit with their plan. Their organization had a doctrine that excluded me.
If I eat meat every day (which I do), I can't join PETA. They won't accept me. I don't play golf. I can't join the US Golf team. None of these people HATE me. I just don't fit with their doctrine, or requirements.
My Church has a set of beliefs. One of those beliefs, is Romans 1:18-32, which states very clearly that Homosexuality is a sin. So what do we do with members engaging in clearly defined sin? 1 Corinthians 5:1-5.
We remove them. Which is again, a clearly defined Biblical action.
You people seem to have a made up 'jesus' that doesn't exist, that never talked harshly, never required anyone to do anything, never had standards that people had to meet to be accepted by him.
That's not the real Jesus. Jesus talked very harshly to people, and if they didn't repent, he didn't accept them. Have none of you read the parables? Take the wedding banquet in Matthew 22:1-14
Those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together as many as they found, both bad and good. The wedding was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who didn't have on wedding clothing, and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here not wearing wedding clothing?' He was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness; there is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.' For many are called, but few chosen.
That's Jesus talking. What's he saying? You have to repent! Many called to repent, and those that do, will be forgiven and accepted.
But if you think that because you are invited, that you can come without repenting, you will be like the guy who showed up in his rags, not ready for the wedding feast. He was tossed out.
People..... you are invited to follow Christ. And I promise you, if you repent of your evil, no matter what it is... you WILL be forgiven and accepted by Christ, and you are more than welcome at our church, and most Christian churches. Not all... there are some that hold it over your head, but forget those people.
But on the other hand, if you are not going to repent "and you should love me regardless, because you ought to!" and "nothing I do is wrong, and this is my choice, my life style, my blaw blaw blaw".... No. Thanks for stopping by. Have a nice life. Good luck with that. Don't hate you.... just not what our Church stands for.
