I found this image in a New York Times article on an exhibit in Florida in which several artists re-thought Norman Rockwell’s “Four Freedoms” wartime paintings.What idiots we are as Christians when we think that our freedom of speech and religion in this country, and the freedom we have in Christ, gives us license to hate others. What part of "May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else" allows for hate-mongering? (1 Thessalonians 3:12)
When I read through the Bible at the people Jesus got upset with, it was the Pharisees and Scribes (whom he called snakes and vipers) and the Lawyers (because they were taking God's law and adding to it their own rules). He certainly met up with many Gentiles, but he never said he hated them. In fact, he had very little negative to say to them at all. Rather, he told them to repent and follow him and by and large they did -- leaving the Pharisees, Scribes and Lawyers unrepenting in their wake.
I've been discussing the topic of generalization lately with a couple of people lately. Specifically I've expressed my exasperation with the generalization of Christians by the media. Just as with any organized group be it Democrats, Republicans, Muslims, Boston Celtic basketball fans, the membership is quite diverse in terms of ideology.
ReplyDeleteJust like many Muslims don't feel the obligation to apologize on behalf of the Muslim extremist (IE. terrorist) because they don't feel it is reasonable to associate the two factions, so say I regarding Christians such that are pictured in the image you attached here.
I've talked to some Christians whom agree with what the guy is doing the image and their rationale is that the Bible has verses which speak to hating sin. For example Hebrews 1:9 ("You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness..."). There is a hard line stance among some Christians (of a particular nameless faith) that states we (Christians) are required to hate sin lest we condone or even more horrific become parties to a particular sin.
So personally I don't condone hate speech, which is what is depicted in the image, and further I'm not willing to believe that this sort of activity is supported by the Christian masses as the media would have the masses believe.
How many Christians might not walk around with those same signs, but they'd still think that in their hearts?
ReplyDeleteAnd how many Christians might not think that about homosexuals necessarily, but they think it about anyone that's not a Republican (I face that in my church. They've had to back off on the "hate" part of it, but they certainly have a hard time reconciling the fact that they know I'm a Christian with the fact that I'm not a Republican. It's enough to make even the most talkative go completely silent.) or anyone that cares about the environment (I face that one too, wretched tree hugger that I am.) or anyone that allows interpretive dance in worship, or who would elect a woman to a position of authority in the church (other than being in charge of the Children's classes)....