I am always saddened to read a post such as this. How can anyone claim to be living as a Christian when their entire lifestyle is based around activity that the Bible has declared sin? And how is someone living in hteir sin going to preach to others the truth that Christ came to deliver us FROM our sin? It is the same as if someone was engaged in an ongoing adulterous affair, or was regularly stealing from their employer, and then tried to claim the authority to shepherd other souls to Christ, leading by their example.
Sin is sin, and God doesn’t change His mind about it just because we become more “tolerant” or “enlightened”. Christ came to free us from our sin, but this author and her friend are celebrating their sin, and leading others astray, hiding from them the truth of God’s love and deliverance. I fear that they will be held to account for their actions without true repentance and restoration. I will pray for them.
If they simply want to try to guide people in what they believe are proper morals, then by all means feel free, but please don’t try to place the label of Christian on it in order to try to gain some semblance of respectability and authority.

Hi,
I am really glad you said people should read the Bible if they are Christians. It is discouraging how many churches/religions do NOT believe the Bible is the inspired word of God. It is the source of the information we have about Jesus Christ. Therefore, if you discount it, it would only be rational for you to create your own religion out of your own belief system and label it with some name other than “Christian.”
Secondly, your open-ness toward people who disagree with your underlying philosophical core is very heartening and, from what I have been able to observe, exceptionally rare among professed “liberals.”
However, here comes the part you will not like, I am forced – by the Bible and by Christianity – to disagree with many of your beliefs. First and foremost, Christians are to “in the world, not of the world.” Therefore, faith not only exists apart from what we call the world, it flourishes there. As a matter of fact, it is our being stuck in this fallen world that is the cause of the continual internal conflict that undermines and challenges our faith on a daily basis.
Beyond this, I can only skim over the obvious – because I am no Biblical expert and can say no more – but it is generally understood that one can NOT be an unrepentant homosexual and be a Christian. I understand this is a debate for the ages and best undertaken by people much better versed in Biblical ideas than myself. I only bring it up because I think it’s part and parcel of this whole problem we have of defining Christianity and of people calling themselves Christian and not adhering to any Christian principles. Look, anyone is free to believe as they wish. And no one need judge or anything else. But, for something to exist it must have parameters, I mean, something is either Christian, or it is not. I think it’s important to establish that or we will continue with “religion” and conflicts that could and should be avoided. And, I think that is exactly the situation you are finding yourself in with respect to people who you are telling to read the Bible and immerse themselves in the words of Christ if they are in fact Christians.
I am hoping you are not hurt or feeling attacked by this. Unfortunately, when people disagree to the core, I’m afraid they are always insulted by each other’s opinions and I have no solution set for that.

Wish I could say I’m surprised by the lack off acceptance by the posters above, who claim to be Christian, because the writer of this Blog happens to be homosexual. Does this mean that they don’t feel that voters should “read the Bible and pray for their enemies?” Sounds very Christian to me.
From what I learned in my 17 years of experience as a Christian (before deciding it wasn’t for me) was that Christianity is a religion of love and acceptance. Non acceptance of homosexuality, which BTW is the way people are born just like heterosexuals are born, to me is “unChristian”. That non-acceptance is based on many translations of a book written by men, to push an agenda, and reflects whatever period it was being rewritten in. It probably bears no resemblance to what it was in it’s original form….which was influenced to push that agenda. So to base an entire belief system on it…not reliable. It is full of contradictions. Which contradiction does one believe? And where does it say that homosexuality is wrong?

Although I agree with the first writer — especially the 2nd and 3rd paragraphs — I also believe Christ was clear in that we should not judge one another. I struggle every day with this. But I have just finished Chuck Swindoll’s book The Grace Awakening and realize that the grace Christ gave us we are to give to one another. Regardless of occupation, lifestyle, looks, behavior, even what we consider to be very sinful, others should feel our love and acceptance just as we, as every day sinners, are unconditionally loved by Christ through His endless grace. Love the person even if you hate the behavior. And Christ also said first take the plank out of your eye before you judge others.
As far as being a Christian or not I agree there must be some parameters. But consider also that every single Christian is a sinner — it is our human nature derived from Adam’s fall. A Christian pastor is not expected to lead a sinless life. Pastors are also human and I have personally seen some pastors struggle with many aspects of life, not always thinking or acting perfectly according to Christ’s teachings.
Diane is absolutely spot on when she suggests avoiding TV during the elections. Just about everything broadcast in politics is focused on tit-for-tat sniping among candidates, lead-ins to news stories such as “What Obama said about John McCain’s ad blasting him for being a celebrity,” and interviews with people who have something scathing about a candidate. Also, the deception is enormous. We need to all remember that TV has evolved into a serious competition for eyeballs. This has pushed some networks to new methods of grabbing attention, often using sex or the suggestion of it, controversy real or created, and fake excitement accompanied by hyperbole.

I came across this wonderful blog thanks to Jeffrey the blogmeister at DMN religion blog… Regarding the above comments, I’d like to suggest that tolerance isn’t only helpful in these matters, it’s essential. I know the “T word” isn’t popular amongst many conservatives, but it is biblical. Even if you take the verses in the OT literally that suggest the appropriate response to homosexuality is capital punishment, how do you avoid the clear message of the NT (and Jesus himself) that teaches we should “judge not lest we be judged”? Or that not only is God defined by the characteristic of “love,” but that we as Christians will be identified with Christ in as much as we show the same kind of love to other human beings? What is ironic to me these days is how zealous Christians attempting to use the Bible like a book of law in every aspect of life almost always end up looking a lot more like the Pharisees of the gospels than Jesus himself. So that ought to tell you something about the perils of this kind of biblical application.

As Christians, we are to love everyone. To me, one of the most loving things you can do for someone is to point out when they are in danger, and try to help them. Who among us would not stop our children from walking in front of a bus? Here the danger is to our immortal souls. When someone is living a lifestyle defined by their sin, they are endangering their souls. The love of Christ compels me to reach out to them and plead with them to be reconciled to God through Christ. That requires repentance from sin, and turning away from that sin.
We can certainly be “tolerant” in the sense of accepting that everyone has free will, and will make their own choices, and we should not hate or disparage anyone. However, tolerance does not include accepting sin to be called righteousness. If I don’t call sin what the Bible calls sin, then I am deceiving myself and others. To be like Chist is to love the sinner, but hate the sin because it seperates us from God.
To pagansister, you asked where the Bible says homosexuality is wrong. It appears in both the Old and New Testaments. In 1 Cor. 6, Paul states:
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”
So Paul does not single it out as some ultimate sin, bigger than all the rest, but includes it in a list of sins common to us all. But he points out that we can be forgiven and set free from all of our sins.

Thank you all for keeping me in your prayers. Let me ask readers: what do you think is the most positive thing Christians can do in an election year?

What is the most positive thing Christians can do in an election year? Do everything we can to separate ourselves from the religious right and their politics of fear, greed, selfishness, and sanctimony.

As Christians in America, we are blessed to be able to participate in the selection of our leaders. While I may not believe your choice of lifestyle is Biblically correct, I do agree with your statement that Christians need to pray and read their Bible during this period and before deciding who to support. We need to seek the “whole counsel of God”, not just those portions tht support our political positions. We need to see what the Bible says about helping the poor (is the the government’s responsibility, or the church’s?), about the sanctity of human life (abortion, euthanasia, death penalty), etc., and then select the candidate that most closely supports those policies that line up with Biblical principles.

I’m disappointed. I was hoping for a progressive voice from this forum’s readers (since this is called “progressive revival”), but in this very first post, comments have been posted attacking the blogger’s faith, intimating that she is on a short road to hell, exhibiting homophobic and intolerant attitudes towards gay people, and everyone here seems to be doing just what the religious right would have them do, such as “select(ing) the candidate that most closely supports those policies that line up with Biblical principles.” And what is rib1961′s big progressive suggestion for this campaign year? Consider above all the bible’s stance against abortion and against government giving free handouts to the poor!
These are not progressive ideas or attitudes.

Well, James, I gues that depends upon whetehr you are a progresive first, or a Christian first. I’m a Christian first, politics comes further down the list.

Hmm… I guess I’m a progressive across the board – religion, politics, etc.

That’s fair enough – you can certainly be religous without being a Christian, and to some, progressive politics can BE a religion. However, a Christian has to be a Christian first and all other things after that.

Your view of what a Christian is or is not is just that – your view. In my view, you don’t act much like what a Christian ought to be – (you seem more like a Pharisee from the little I’ve heard out of you) – but you haven’t heard me insinuate that you may not be a Christian. When I say that I’m a progressive, I mean it – I believe that conservatism is failing, and that Christianity is still stuck in the dark ages. I also believe that conservative Christianity through the religious right has directly contributed to the deep divide we see today in our country, and that the religious right doesn’t have the answer for how to live in a diverse, secular society like America, nor will they provide an answer to future generations. I say that from a very educated and studied perspective, too. So you can save your condescension for someone else.

It’s not about you – I think that anyone who would subordinate what the Bible teaches to their political views is lacking in their Christian walk. Christianity is not a mere philosophy, where you can choose bits and pieces that fit your fancy. When you become a Christian, Jesus is Lord and Savior. That means He is the final authority. He gave us His Word to guide our lives. If we choose to ignore that in favor of our own beliefs about how things should be, we certainly have that right, but it calls into question the authenticity of our claim to be a Christian.

No, I don’t worship the Bible – I worship the God of the Bible. It just so happens that the way He has chosen to convey His Word to us is through the Person of Christ and through the books of the Bible. If we don’t believe that, which is one of the foundational truths of Chrstianity, then how can we call ourselves Christian?
Do I always live 100% of the time according to the commands of the Bible? No. I’m human and a sinner saved by grace. I still fail at times and fall into sin, and when I do, God is faithful to forgive me if I come to him in sincere repentance. But I strive to live according to the Bible to the best of my ability, and ask for His grace to help me do a better job of living for Him. What I don’t do is try to justify my sin and claim that it is not sin.
Funny, all I’ve done is explain my adherence to traditional Christian teachings, but you seem to be taking it very personally and getting angry. If somthing I have done has offended you, I apologize. However, if you are offended by the Word, I offer no apologies – you’ll have to take that up with Him.

One of the hardest things for me, and for many Christians I know, is Jesus’ disturbing command to pray for your enemies. Not to pray that they become different, or start doing what you want them to do. Not to pray that they will be proved wrong. Just to pray for them.

rib1961, the verse you gave me was obviously written in modern language, which means one of many, many translations. However to you it proves your point. Originally the word “homosexual” wasn’t in the vernacular. So you answered my question, which doesn’t change my mind about accepting homosexuality in people. The Bible(written by human beings) is used to say a lot of things are “bad” and to be accepted by a divine being, one must do as it says. Of course the Bible also said slavery was fine, and that beating your kid is fine too (spare the rod and spoil the child) and war is justified if you want land and my favorite…all of us are sinners! (unless of course you get saved by some invisible being).
What a great book to run your life by! I found that all to be a bit over the top.
So my rule of life is” First do no harm” It works every time.
Politicians need to keep their religion out of my face…I really don’t care if they are Christian, Atheist, Muslim, Pagan, Jewish or whatever. That needs to be separate from running the country. We have seen what the results of the Conservative person who claims to be a “Christian” has done to this country. It’s time to get away from this type of government. Of course it might have been better if “W” had some intelligence too. (and wasn’t a puppet of his best buds).
If I believed in “prayer” as a Christian does…I’d pray this country would forget what religion a candidate is and vote for what that person will do for the country…not whether he/she hits church every Sunday, or Friday or Saturday or whatever day it might be.

rib1961:
You say “all I’ve done is explain my adherence to traditional Christian teachings,” but that’s not really true, is it. You continue to move past the issue at hand, accusing me of at the very least not being a very good Christian and at the very worst not being a Christian at all. So how am I not supposed to take that personally?
It’s also quite ironic that the very method you cite for proper use of scripture is blatantly contradicted in the way you have conducted yourself in this interchange. You focus on passages in scripture that defend your intolerance, and you ignore all those passages from the supposed word of our lord himself that command us to be loving, to not judge, etc. etc., and yet you proclaim that it’s “unchristian” people (like me, I guess) who are the ones who “pick and choose” scripture to live by. And there’s a word for that – it’s called hypocrisy.
I’ll say it again – right wing fundamentalists have ruined our country and are ruining Christianity in America. Jesus was a liberal, and taught tolerance, peace and unity. You’d do good to actually read those parts of the gospels that you so obviously wish weren’t there.

“It’s also quite ironic that the very method you cite for proper use of scripture is blatantly contradicted in the way you have conducted yourself in this interchange. You focus on passages in scripture that defend your intolerance, and you ignore all those passages from the supposed word of our lord himself that command us to be loving, to not judge, etc. etc., and yet you proclaim that it’s “unchristian” people (like me, I guess) who are the ones who “pick and choose” scripture to live by. And there’s a word for that – it’s called hypocrisy.”
It depends upon what you mean by tolerance, I suppose. What the Bible declares is sin is sin. If tolerance means that I am supposed to call sin righteousness, then I am not very tolerant, I suppose. However, if tolerance means to love everyone in spite of their sin, to pray for them and do everything in my power to help them overcome their sin, then I am very tolerant.
And when you speak of not judging, make sure you have that in context. If we are never to judge between sin and righteousness, between right and wrong, then why do we need a Savior? If all actions and behavior are equally moral and righteous, regardless of what the Word of God says, then Christianity itself is a lie and we are deceiving ourselves.

Wonderful blog Sara – you have such a beautiful writing style.
It is true that we are all shaped by what we pay attention to… but this is so easy to forget. We forget that hate creates hate (not love) and fear creates fear (not love) and that sensationalism leads us away from the path we claim to be on (regardless of which side of the political fence we happen to stand on) So I appreciate being reminded to turn off the tv and focus on what I claim to be as opposed to getting caught up in the fear cycle again.
I applaud your fearlessness to face Christ’s words to ‘pray for our enemies’ – not *fix* or change, but simply pray.
Namaste.