Jim Says: "Check Your Guns at the Door"

Check out: http://www.ccwonline.org/guns.html

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Jim Elliff

Those of us who have a ministry of writing are usually pretty tough folks. Many of us have been in the combat zone for quite a while and can take almost anything that is said by readers of our articles. This short plea to blog and forum participants is more about my embarrassment for all of us who are web-interactive Christians than it is for my own hide. In short, I'm appealing for etiquette characteristic of believers in reader's responses to articles and blog entries.

When reading through responses on various blogs and faith-based forums, I often wonder if those who are outside the faith are looking on. What do they think about the sometimes mean and vindictive words that are used? Or what do new believers think? When they read that tart, angry or demeaning language, are they really being helped toward Christ? If it doesn't smell good to us, it certainly is rancorous to the alert souls looking over our shoulders. At best they find comfort for their own acrimony in our unguarded words; at worst, they reject our beliefs as those which produce little change in a person.

Who Then Is a Bigot?

A bigot is, “a person who is utterly intolerant of any differing creed, belief, or opinion.”

Bigotry is, “stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one's own.”

On a recent visit to a blog, I was reference to being a bigot, because I believe homosexuality is immoral and a sin against God.

As concerning homosexuality, the commenter wrote, “There is nothing immoral about homosexuality. In fact, criminalizing it and denying rights to homosexuals is what is immoral. If you are too bigotted to accept that, it is not the school's responsibility to make allowances for your bigotry.”

Scripture, as per Romans 1 and elsewhere, declares homosexuality is indeed a sin in the eyes of Almighty God, and therefore immoral and evil.

I completely realize that, with the above reference to Scripture, we have two choices:

1. We accept that this is indeed the Word of God, with the authority to judge our thoughts and actions righteously; therefore, we conclude that homosexuality is immoral and a sin. With this, we conclude that we are “stubborn” and “utterly intolerant” toward any idea that homosexuality is moral and acceptable behavior.

2. We deny God and/or reject this to be the Word of God, allowing it to have no authority in judging our thoughts and actions; therefore, we conclude that homosexuality is moral and not a sin. With this, we conclude that we are “stubborn” and “utterly intolerant” toward any idea that homosexuality is immoral and unacceptable behavior.

Do we not notice that both sides (Christian and Atheist) hold strict contradicting views, which are intolerant of the other? It all comes down to faith vs. unbelief, and that is where our security lies.

So, what I would like to say to the Atheist, the next time you wish to call a Christian a bigot, over the topic of homosexuality or any other, you will find that you are no less of one.

The name calling does nothing, but cause a debate/discussion to become personal. It does nothing in reaching an agreement/decision.