Truth is love. If you avoid one, you also avoid the other. If you are unwilling to embrace the truth as preserved in Scripture and not the lies about gays as found outside of it, then what do you think that says about your love towards your brother, especially if you claim to be a Christian? Jesus immortalized the command to love your brother AS YOU WOULD YOURSELF.
***Why would you want to commit sin? Why would you want your brother to do so? Loving your brother as you would yourself means doing all that you can to tell him that his behavior might cost him the eternal pains of hell. And you do all that you can to love him, show him love and compassion in all of the ways that will nourish his soul toward the light. It is not to tell him, “whatever makes you feel good is alright…because you are my brother and I do not want to upset you by telling you what Jesus said about your sin, and the loss of your immortal soul”.
There is no love in witholding the truth. There is no love in trying to change the truth to suit your purposes. It is impossible to change the TRUTH!!!
There are a number of places in the NT where Jesus went against something that others “felt” was good for themselves. He went against popular opinion…because HE is the Truth, Way and Life. And He came to bring us to Life by teaching us the Truth about the Way.
That is love. And that is what Jesus commanded us to do. You cannot change it simply by saying that I am wrong and you are right. The Catholic Church…which can show written geneology all the way back to Jesus…is there to tell us which of us is correct***.
He even regarded it as one of the two laws from which all the others rely. As a result, I am more compassionate towards the rights of individuals to live lives that are not stigmatized and misrepresented than the right of the “legitmate theological opinion”, to stigmatize, misrepresent, and lie about the lives of others. To do so, “classically” even, as you admit, behind the guise of religion and within the face of scriptural truths is indeed “hate”.
***Telling the TRUTH in a loving and compassionate way is never hate. It is not hate to tell a child that he cannot run in the street or he may get hit by a car. Yet, if the child wants to run out in the street, and I say this to him, he may consider what I say to be hateful. But, would that be the TRUTH?
It is the same thing as with homosexual actions, stealing, fornicating, abortion…anything that someone wants to do that is sinning.
And the world today would say that I am filled with hate toward homosexuals.
Nothing could be farther from the truth!
I am filled with love for those who are haunted by something sinful. And I feel the need to tell them the TRUTH so that they do not lose their souls.
For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose his soul?
Many people, to keep themselves from sin, must lead celibate lives. That’s the way it goes. And there are ways to help a person to do that so that it is easier. Don’t go to places where there will be many homosexuals around.
I am celibate. I was forced into a divorce, and I refuse to get an annullment because I don’t believe that when people take a vow, that it should be something that they can break.
So, I am forced into celibacy. Therefore, to keep myself from being tempted to fall into temptation, I do not go around places where there will be single people. You won’t find me in a bar. You won’t find me in a singles gathering at Church. I have a couple of people that I am close to, and it allows me to love many people and not be isolated…yet to not fall into temptation.
It is something you must train yourself to do. Just like when you walk into a convenience store that sells pornography behind the counter. You train your eyes to look away. When I see a gorgous man, I look away and make myself think of something totally different.
We all have to do that with all that we are tempted by. Homosexuality is no different.
They just want to treat it differently, and are demanding that we do the same thing.
Are they more lonely than I am? Well, I don’t have someone special to talk to as I wind down my day/ I don’t have someone to share my bed. I don’t have someone to cuddle with. I don’t have anyone to know in an intimate way. I don’t have anyone to love.
So, no, I am no different.
Actually, there is one difference between myself and those who cry for more acceptance of their lifestyle. I do not do that. I am accepting who and what I am, and I am living with it as best I can. Do I ever slip…YES!!! Do I want to consider that slip not a sin, or make others believe that it is good, and not a sin? NO!!!
That is the difference.
And sadly, too many “Christians” are blinded by it.