It is interesting to note that the sins Jesus called people on the hardest were those who were simply blind to their own sin. Many of his parables were geared towards getting people to see the areas they were previously blind to.

Homosexuality and the like are hardly sins people are blind to. Homosexuals know they are homosexuals. Granted, they might not admit they are sinful, but they know they are homosexuals.

But those who violate the "weigthier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness" tend not to see their breaches in morality at all. They fail to see that they commited an act of injustice. They fail to see they were unmerciful. They fail to see they were faithless. Such self-righteous people are blind to their own sins, and for it, deserve the greater condemnation. To those blind to their own sins, Jesus spoke very harshly. To those caught in the act of adultery, he showed mercy. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

As awful as homosexuality is, frankly, there are much worse sins out there. It has become an easy sin to attack for Christians simply because there are so few out there that are, especially within our congregations.

Dear God, imagine if we preached against second marriages and divorce, or not being a clock watching toad who sucks his company dry, or being lazy on the job (issues of faithfulness). Imagine if we preached against parents who are too strict on their children of preachers who show no charity to the poor, or slammed homosexuals (issues of mercy). Imagine if we preached against showing favoritism to your children, or those of your particular social standing, segregated congregations (issues of justice). These are the weightier matters of the law, and the greatest sins. Yet your average preacher, including street preachers, will never dare mention these things... lest they indicte themselves.

_________________
Jimmy H

Jesse said

There is a wise way of doing things, I for one would not have burst out with "the kingdom of God is at hand", when the Kingdom of God has already come in us. But in all honesty, I am quite sure that Christ would have walked right past the parade and carried on His work. Mary would be following, but Martha would be out trying to get people saved or trying to get people to see her way of doing things. I am appalled to see believers being so crazy in their so called faith and attributing that to being zealous for the LORD. We turn the world upside down only because of the name of Jesus and the message that is invested in that name.

I am saying all this, not to condemn your actions, but rather consider this. What state is the church in your city, town or village? Would you say like all of us, that it is not like it should be, or its in poor condition.

If that is your answer, then why try to recruit others into something that is sick. Why not turn our attention to the body and build one another up in our most holy faith and strenghten that which remains and then add more to the structure.

I know most of you will disagree with this, but the world needs to see the church of Jesus Christ love one another, "that the world may know that you have love one toward another". The world is looking for answers, and they have turned to the church, and they have walked away laughing, because we have been found naked, we have nothing to offer them, we are powerless. They will confess, "you are no different then us, you are like us".

And we want to invite more people into this type of an atmosphere?

If God is leading you to speak salvation to some dear soul, do it. But if you are doing it because you think you have to, I feel sorry for you and the people that you are trying to win over. I have seen both motives and one who hears from God has greater results then the one who thinks he is doing God a favour.

Warmly
Karl