Why I will not be stoning anybody.

There are recordings/YouTube videos of people professing to be “Christian” either celebrating the tragedy in Orlando Sunday (June 12th), where 49 people were killed, or calling for more murders.  I would like it known that I believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I know that God has a better way to live and it is outlined in the New Testament of the Bible.  Please do not quote scripture where “God said..” because invariably you would be taking things out of the context. Now if you would like to study the Bible and learn the whole truth, I’m game.  But if you are just trying to make a point that I’m intolerant because of what you think I believe.  Then look in the intolerance mirror.

“Well it’s all one book!” - Error number one.  It is a collection of 66 books written to different people at different times.  And yet amazingly these people who were miles and years apart, could bring the same basic message.  God is what you need.

“Exodus says to stone homosexuals!” – Yes, it also talks about stoning adulterers, rebellious children and non-believers.  At a time when God was trying to get His people setup for the Promised Land. The children of Abraham repeatedly did not follow God’s word and history is full or what happened because of that.

Jesus Himself had an opportunity to stone an adulteress (John 8:1-30), yet Jesus did not.  Why?

Not only did he not stone her, He forgave her and said “go forth and sin no more.” Here is the real difference between Christianity and most other religions.  Sometime after this, the adulterous woman had her sins paid for by the death of Jesus himself. So God’s justice was served.  A death was offered as penance.  Because of the value of the sacrifice, it was enough in God’s eyes to forgive every sin committed ever.

Through all of history, God’s people had to renounce sin, and commit to a His way.  Symbolized by circumcision in the Old Testament, and baptism in the New Testament.

If people think because I’m a Christian, I believe that the LGBT community should be killed, you are insane and obviously know nothing about me or Christianity specifically. Everything that people blame on religion/God is all because MAN has decided what God said, not what He actually said.
 
God does not need me to commit murder to spread or defend His Gospel.  He needs me to speak His Truth, and live my life as an example of the path God describes.

Every religious war in the last 2000 years, has been because people disagreed on how to serve God.  It has never been about God asking for the death of others.

Thomas Jefferson wrote in a letter to William S. Smith – “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of Patriots and Tyrants. It is its natural manure.”

I will never take up arms against anybody in the name of God.  He does not need my vigor and vim. But based on history, I may need to take up arms to maintain, or recapture the liberty that is the right of every individual.  There is a difference. If you can’t understand that freedom and liberty, the rights given by our Creator, are worth fighting for, then you are already a slave. Bought and paid for by the government you serve.

I will never force you to live a certain way, even if I or God disagrees with it.  I will share what I know if you are willing.  But if you’re not, I can do nothing. Only your willingness and God can change hearts.

Gregor - Back from the brink! From there and back again. A spiritual Hobbits journey.