I have got myself involved with a debate on facebook posted by a friend whom I have known for many many years though have only recently become reacquainted after approx 8yrs. His post was asking people to agree with him that the 'equality' bill, which is currently being formulated, was the worst thing ever to happen to a Christian Society, based on this story by the BBC (a story which I have said I think is appallingly written sensationalism). There have been many comments (over 60), the debate has gone off on tangents of which I have been apart. What I have learnt from this experience is that Facebook is not the best place to have a debate, once one starts it can be very difficult to remove yourself from it. I have found it very difficult to not take offense at comments such as 'have you even read this ....part of the bible', however I have tried very hard to stay loving towards all involved in the debate.
I suppose my real bug bear on the whole debate is the feeling that some Christians appear to believe that they have the right to go around quoting the bible to point out peoples sins. Without context I can not relate to this at all. If I am asked my opinion on whether something is a 'sin' according to the Bible, I will use my Bible knowledge to try and answer them clearly. However if I meet someone, or discover that someone I am know is committing a 'sin' as the bible might interpret it, is it for me to go about asking them if they believe in God and the Bible and whether or not they know/realise that they are sinning? Am I, as I feel some are suggesting, condemning them to Hell for not doing precisely this, withholding (I don't think I actually hold them!) the keys to the Kingdom by what I am not saying?
I often reflect of the miracle of my dramatic conversion which I blogged about a couple of years ago here.
Maybe it is because of knowing a life without God that I can have such compassion on those around me without continually feeling the need to point out their sins. There has been one exception to this and I am still trying to let God deal with that, his ways are however gentle with me.
I hope and pray that I am not causing any person I meet to stumble in their relationship or veer away from God in any way. And if I am then I am truly sorry and will repent before my God!
I suppose my real bug bear on the whole debate is the feeling that some Christians appear to believe that they have the right to go around quoting the bible to point out peoples sins. Without context I can not relate to this at all. If I am asked my opinion on whether something is a 'sin' according to the Bible, I will use my Bible knowledge to try and answer them clearly. However if I meet someone, or discover that someone I am know is committing a 'sin' as the bible might interpret it, is it for me to go about asking them if they believe in God and the Bible and whether or not they know/realise that they are sinning? Am I, as I feel some are suggesting, condemning them to Hell for not doing precisely this, withholding (I don't think I actually hold them!) the keys to the Kingdom by what I am not saying?
I often reflect of the miracle of my dramatic conversion which I blogged about a couple of years ago here.
Maybe it is because of knowing a life without God that I can have such compassion on those around me without continually feeling the need to point out their sins. There has been one exception to this and I am still trying to let God deal with that, his ways are however gentle with me.
I hope and pray that I am not causing any person I meet to stumble in their relationship or veer away from God in any way. And if I am then I am truly sorry and will repent before my God!
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