God's Mercy

God’s Mercy in the twenty-first century.

“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.

I’m going to make a statement here that I hope will at the very least cause Christians to think.
We Christians preach a gospel of mercy and reconciliation to God. Yet there are many out there who are calling us bigots and I think from what I see and here coming out of the mouths of Christian pastors and in the media they seem to be right.
I hear from many Christians the hate the sin but love the sinner. It’s been my experience however that non-Christians don’t see it that way.
They look at it that the Christian hates them not just the sin. They don’t separate the two.
I believe it is not up to us as believers to say what is sin and what is not. Jesus said,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it.” 
Matthew 7:1,2.
Only God knows the heart of men. It is up to the Holy Spirit to convict a person of their sin, not us. Our job is made clear,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 
                                                                    Matthew 28:18-20.
Sadly I hear of men and women claiming to be Christians here in North America calling out to restrict the rights of minorities particularly those in the homosexual community.
I hear of countries in Africa making homosexuality a crime punishable by time in prison. Further more those not reporting homosexual activities could end up in jail also.
To make matters worse I have heard of church’s of so called Christian pastors in those countries applauding such laws.
There are even churches and pastors in North America applauding what is happening in Africa. How sad.
In my mind, to restrict the rights of even one person is an abomination against humanity.
Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society.  Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
Whether we like it or not God has given to mankind a free will. We have the right to choose the way our life is to go. We have the right to choose our lifestyle.
We have no right as a Christian to force our ways and beliefs on anyone. We definitely have no right to call for laws that would restrict the rights of those we disagree with.
I firmly believe we have no right to interfere in the making of laws that enact freedoms for those whom we disagree with, as long as it does not interfere with our rights.
Further more we should be upholding freedom of choice especially when it comes to the right to freedom of speech and to choose our lifestyle and religious preferences.
I believe that to restrict one persons freedom even if we disagreed with them is to potentially restrict the freedom of all people including our own.
Martin Niemoller an anti-Nazi (1892-1984), imprisoned by Hitler’s Nazis  in Sachsenhausen and Dachau concentration camps from 1937 to 1945. Wrote these words,
“When they came for the Communists, I did not stand up, because I was not a Communist. When they came for the Jews, I did not stand up, because I was not Jewish. When they came for the Catholics, I did not stand up, because I was not a Catholic. When they came for me, there was no one left to stand up.”
It should be every Christians desire to save the lost, NOT to restrict the rights of those we disagree with. That is the job of he Holy Spirit. Only he knows the heart of men.
The apostle Paul even when speaking in Athens after seeing what to him was perhaps one of the most pagan places on earth never once spoke out against what they believed. He simply presented the Gospel message to all who would listen.
Jesus 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
Francis of Assisi made things clear writing,
“If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.” 
We Must have compassion on all men everywhere irrespective of what they have done, who they are, their social status or their lifestyle.
Francis of Assisi also wrote,
“We have been called to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen apart, and to bring home those who have lost their way.” 
Jesus who never spoke out against a single secular law. Who sat with those the teachers of the law said were sinners said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” 
                        Matthew 7:12.
We as Christians need to take a careful look at what we are doing and saying. We need to first and foremost be presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We if necessary should even be speaking up for the rights of others, even if we disagree with them for in doing so we might just win someone to Christ.
Think about it.