F
Farien
Guest
How far do you go in “loving” the sinner? Some people assert that the “love” is not a wishy-washy, “let’s just be tolerant” to the lifestyle of others. They say that “true love” is to help the sinner to give up sin, and if that needs strong, no-holds-barred wording, then so be it. Some even try to justify really hateful words and phrases, like “perverts”, “sickos” etc.
Now I cannot accept that calling someone intentionally hurtful, hateful, derogatory words can be called an expression of “love”. But that may be my fault.
The question is different this time: “if you wish to ‘help’ the sinners, how far do you go in this endeavor?”. Suppose that you encounter some “perverts”, who participate in non-procreative sex (whichever form it takes) and you wish to “help” them to mend their ways. Suppose you talk to them in a kind, friendly fashion, and they simply shrug off your words, maybe not unkindly, but they say that you should mind your own business and leave them alone.
In that case you have several options: 1) leave them alone and pray for them, or 2) keep on pestering them, or 3) may even try to force them (if it would be within your power) or do something else… what would be your decision, and how would you evaluate those who choose a different approach?
There was a good old joke: “The little boyscout comes home and his father asks him what good deeds did he perform today? The boy answers: ‘With the help of five friends I helped an old man cross a busy street’. The father says: ‘very nice… but why did you need your five friends?’. The boy answers: 'Because the old man did not want to cross the street!” I hope you see the point. On what grounds do you interfere with other people’s life (if indeed you do)? And how far do you go with your intent to “help” them, even if they do not wish to be “helped”?
Now I cannot accept that calling someone intentionally hurtful, hateful, derogatory words can be called an expression of “love”. But that may be my fault.
The question is different this time: “if you wish to ‘help’ the sinners, how far do you go in this endeavor?”. Suppose that you encounter some “perverts”, who participate in non-procreative sex (whichever form it takes) and you wish to “help” them to mend their ways. Suppose you talk to them in a kind, friendly fashion, and they simply shrug off your words, maybe not unkindly, but they say that you should mind your own business and leave them alone.
In that case you have several options: 1) leave them alone and pray for them, or 2) keep on pestering them, or 3) may even try to force them (if it would be within your power) or do something else… what would be your decision, and how would you evaluate those who choose a different approach?
There was a good old joke: “The little boyscout comes home and his father asks him what good deeds did he perform today? The boy answers: ‘With the help of five friends I helped an old man cross a busy street’. The father says: ‘very nice… but why did you need your five friends?’. The boy answers: 'Because the old man did not want to cross the street!” I hope you see the point. On what grounds do you interfere with other people’s life (if indeed you do)? And how far do you go with your intent to “help” them, even if they do not wish to be “helped”?