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To Hell With Intentions
I have been thinking a lot about the last entry I put up about the guys who were arrested because they were protesting a gay parade in Philadelphia by reading scripture out loud (of course, speaking out against homosexuality). The article of course focused on the fact that the guys were arrested for their actions (I just found out from my brother that they were acquitted by the way).
My problem with this whole situation is not that their rights were taken away. Really, I could care less about that whole part of the story. The argument about free speech is an important argument, but my whole problem is with what these guys thought they were accomplishing by being there. It is clear they thought they were in the ?will of God? by doing this. It is also probably safe to say they had ?good intentions? in doing this as well. Despite their good intentions, I cannot think they, despite their intentions, they were honoring the example and teachings of Jesus. One does not have to look too hard to see how Jesus treated people who were on the fringes of society in his day (I think, correct me if I am wrong, that the gay community would be considered a fringe group. They are undergoing a lot of persecution, mostly from the hands of the church never-the-less, and I believe this makes them a fringe group in my mind. Of course, one might say that Jesus was not so ?kind? to all people (i.e. the Pharisees) so it was okay that they protested this way. My question then is this, which category do these guys fit into better. That of the self-righteous Pharisee or the woman, child, tax-collector, etc?
Back to the ?good intentions? thing. I have heard time and time again the annoying clich? , ?the road to hell is paved with good intentions.? Us Christians say that when we talk about why we think ?other religious groups? or other people who don?t believe in Jesus are going to hell. Regardless of whether we think this is true or not, it seems like we never use this same clich? with other Christians. For example, we often say that other Christians like these guys are okay because, well hey, they mean well. We say, I don?t think I would do it this way, but they have good intentions. So it can?t be all that bad. Why can?t we use the same thinking of intentions with Christians and non. Why can?t we have some nerve and say ?hey. Despite these guys? intentions, they are doing a terrible thing to the gay community and the name of Christ because their actions are inspired by hate rather than love.? Let?s call it what it is. Its seems like over and over again we are so much nicer to ?Christians? than other people.
Matt said...
101/9/05 11:20 AM | Comment Link |
I have been back and forth on this one. On one hand they definitely weren’t exactly being very loving in what they were doing.
But did they deserve to get arrested for it?
I think there was wrong done on both sides.
Todd said...
201/9/05 12:33 PM | Comment Link |
Matt, definately right. wrong on both sides. but i guess i am more concerned about the actions of those who were representing Christ…
come on over to my new blog..i am no longer posting on this one and this entry is over there too…
toddhiestand.blogspot.com
Holly said...
302/9/05 2:41 PM | Comment Link |
How do you know what they did that day didn’t have an affect in any way, it is the word of God, is it not? And what about the word of God going out and not returning void? And how do you know Jesus would not have stood on that same corner? You don’t, it sounds to me like you are the self-righteous one….you could care less about their rights of free speech??? Are you kidding me? Would you have made that same statement if it were the people marching in the parade that were arrested? What about their free speech?
toddhiestand » Blog Archive » oh my… said...
402/13/05 12:14 AM | Comment Link |
[...] guess it was only a matter of time… well intentioned to be sure…but you know my thoughts on that…
This entry was posted
on S [...]
toddhiestand » Blog Archive » oh my… said...
502/13/05 12:16 AM | Comment Link |
[...] guess it was only a matter of time… well intentioned to be sure…but you know my thoughts on that…
This entry was posted
on S [...]
Holly said...
602/15/05 8:11 AM | Comment Link |
What exactly are your intentions Todd? Aside of course, from being a blessing to the world. And how exactly are you doing that again?
Hello?? said...
702/15/05 11:27 AM | Comment Link |
Please someone clarify for me… Doesn’t God hate sin? Isn’t homosexuality a sin?
…I cannot believe what I’m reading.
First of all, the only thing that these Christians were doing is reading THE WORD OF GOD. The Bible says the homosexuality is a sin. If you think by calling sin out you are hating… Then you have a problem with THE WORD OF GOD not the people who had the audacity to read it out loud.
Second, gay Americans are not the fringes of society. One only has to turn on the TV to realize that. Ask yourself this: How many gay characters are represented vs. Christian characters? ….or if you want to be P.C. how many homosexuals are represented vs. African American, Asian or Latino characters?
To quote: “Us Christians say that when we talk about why we think other religious groups or other people who don’t believe in Jesus are going to hell. Regardless of whether we think this is true or not, it seems like we never use this same cliché with other Christians.” Todd, isn’t the whole point of being a Christian believing that without Jesus, you are going to hell? Todd, is this not what the bible says? Probably the reason we don’t use the cliché in reference to other Christians is because they are not going to hell and people who don’t ARE GOING TO HELL.
Please tell me what it is that these so called “haters” did that was so terrible to the gay community? Why are you more concerned with how this is affecting the gay community rather than your own Christian community?
Let’s not forget these are 4 people were arrested for reading the bible… in America that is huge!