Rev Barry Lynn

Rev Barry Lynn, President of Americans United has written, “The goals of Christ and the goals of the Religious Right seem to have little in common. Christ did not spend his time trying to forge a faith-based government. He did not obsess over the sexual habits of people. Were he here today, I find it inconceivable that Christ would parade in front of abortion clinics screaming at teenage girls or picket a gay man’s funeral hoisting a sign with a hateful homophobic message.”

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  1. “Here, here!” I’d almost be tempted to go back to church if only more ministers would think like this. Our current state is sad indeed.

  2. When I identify myself as a Christian these days I have to quickly say, “But not THAT type of a Christian”. As far as I can tell, Christ did not tell us to go forth and judge others. Good grief!

  3. When I read or hear about the Westboro Baptist Church and Mr Phelps (I’m not going to even call him Pastor) my blood boils. But maybe that’s our lesson in life. To forgive and accept those who cannot forgive or accept us. (still makes me bloody mad though!)
    xx

  4. Amen! and AMEN!

  5. No. But The Lord might say, “Go, and sin no more.” We live in, really, a terrible world where human potential is no where close to being realized. Every human brain contains possibly thousands of years of memory capacity. Let’s consider that potential when children are dying of neglect, and malnutrition, and war. And when people are destroying themselves through ‘sinful’ behavior.

    • What keeps coming to mind as I follow this thread is a fundamental detail that many of the “Christians” who’ve replied seem to be forgetting/missing.

      The Scriptures also point out that Jesus said the (s)he who is without sin should cast the first stone. And, yes, he held the woman at the well accountable. But he was able to, since he was without sin.

      The rest of us should be occupying ourselves with the beam in our own eye before giving attention to the mote in our brother/sister’s.

      Just sayin’.

      And I am grateful and encouraged that some, like the Rev. Barry Lynn – regardless of the faith label or spiritual ideology to which they ascribe – do seem to get it. If only more did…

      And those of you who do feel compelled to judge, picket, slander, accuse and condemn, I invite you to consider this:

      The last time you were verbally abused and publicly humiliated, how inclined were you to receive the message being conveyed?

      Again, just sayin’.

  6. Thank you for this. I have often wondered why the problem (for too many) is with those who love, differently.. -I’d think we would be more concerned with hatred.

  7. Amen to Rev. Barry Lynn. I’m heartsick that there is no more compromise in this country. I still think “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” may be simplistic, but it still works…..

    • Sharing the truth with love is not what seems to be the norm today. There always has to be a balance between extending grace and love and loving enough to share the truth. Ignoring what God considers sin is not loving, nor is pounding the truth without love – this only will drive people away.
      To Jen Duncan…go back to church…find one that can do the above – they do still exist. God bless!

  8. liled this quote!!!

  9. Need Ted Turner address. Wanting to send my book to him and Jane Fonda. Am 6th generation Floridian
    and doing all I can to help Children-Animals-Envoirnmental org.’s. Have set up web-site to
    put up links to these non-profits. I am not going
    through big box retailers, to buy A Pelican’s Tale
    one must click on the non-profit link of choice.
    All I do is ship to the non-profits.
    I am asking all giving souls to support all
    non-profits. Make sure you check with “Charity
    Navigator” before donating. CN verifies where
    donations go and what % of $$$ goes where.

    Sincerely,

    Melissa Maxwell

  10. You are right, Jesus would not hold a sign at a gay man’s funeral or picket at an abortion clinic but if he was preaching roming from town to town as he did in the Bible and walked by these events I am sure he would say something wise (I do not presume to know exactly what he would say for I am not him) saying how wrong the protestors are for not loving the person but he would also comment on the sins of the actions of the Sodomite and the actions of the murderer. If someone pointed the Gay man out to him he would probable reference Leviticus and say what an abomination to God the Father it is for a man to sleep with another man and if someone asked about the abortion I am sure he would point out how wrong it is to kill someone that God has “known since you were in your mothers womb.

  11. I couldn’t agree more. Where I live, several churches get members to line both sides of the main highway through town, once each year, to protest abortion.
    This is everyones right, but they give the most horrible signs tn their small children to carry. They are only raising a generation of non thinking hating robots.

  12. There is a passage in scripture that talks about defending the innocent from slaughter:

    “Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter”
    Proverbs 24:11

    I think that Jesus would graciously rescue the minds of those young pregnant teens from being convinced that the only palpable solution is to terminate their pregnancies through abortion. I think, instead, He would lovingly convince and support them to either keep their babies or give them up for adoption so that these innocent children could have a chance of life as their mothers do. Then he would do all He could to support the lives of the children and their mothers (biological or adoptive) by gathering the support of the community, especially through His followers.

    As for the gay man’s funeral, if the gay man had been unrepentant of his lifestyle choice, and did not seek reconciliation with His Maker to receive true sexual healing and restoration, I believe Jesus would of wept over the grave in a show of sorry and mourning, especially if the gay man decided, at the point of death, that he wasn’t willing to turn to Christ and accept Jesus into his heart by faith. I think Jesus does that for everyone that chooses not to believe in Him. He says that he takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. By wicked, I believe He means people who do not accept His Kingdom and His way. I believe that whether a person is hetrosexual or chooses a homosexual lifestyle, they are still accountable to God for their actions and choices. I’ve personally witnessed two gay men that have turned their hearts and lives over to Christ, and were set free from their homosexual lifestyle choices.

    • People quote scriture with such authority it is frightening.

      There is only one absolute authority on scripture, and that is Jesus Christ himself. For anyone to condemn the heart of another based on their opinion of interpretation of scripture is quite wrong and blasphemous, in my opinion.

      John, you imply if the gay man is unrepentant, he will go to hell. I am gay, and I can assure you there is no doubt in my mind that when I die, I will go to heaven. I hope that you have that same peace of mind. I am also sure that God blesses my 20 year homosexual relationship. So, please don’t judge my heart based on your opinion of interpretation of scripture.

      But, to run with your theory of unrepentant, perceived sins…from a literal translation of scripture… then I guess you would assume if someone dies overweight, they will go to hell too? Because the Bible tells us gluttony is a sin. So, if a person dies overweight, they obviously never turned from their perceived sin. Proverbs 23:2, II Peter 1:6, Phillipians 3:19, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, etc…

      Or, what about divorce? I assume you would also say someone that dies divorced, will go to hell, because they never turned form that perceived sin? Matthew 5:32, Matthew 19:19, Luke 16:18, 1 Corinthians 6:9.

      Or, what about the bankrupt, or anyone that has defaulted on a loan? If they do not repay their debt before they die, they have stolen from others without renumeration, and I guess will go to hell too? Romans 13:7-8, Deuteronomy 5:19, Ephesians 4:28, Leviticus 19:11..

      So, do you agree, that if we all go to hell because of unrepentant, perceived sins….surely the obese, bankrupt and divorced go to hell too? Basically, no one will be in heaven. Or, do you just cherry pick which perceived sins you want to condemn…possibly the ones that do not affect you or your friends?

      I think this is the point of Rev. Barry Lynn’s statement….we are not acting like Christ standing in judgement of others. We do not know their heart. You will surely reach more people showing them God’s loving face, than the backhand of your judgement.

      As to your statement, if God came across an abortion clinic, or a gay man’s funeral, etc… I think he would respond like he did at the trial of the adulterous woman…He would tell those standing in judgement, to “let he who is without sin himself, cast the first stone”. John 8:7.

      • I believe that the Bible is very clear on the truth that unless you are born-again, you will not enter the kingdom of God (John 3:3). There is no misinterpretation. Jesus said that no one comes to the Father accept through Him. To die a homosexual, glutton, debtor, adulterer will not make anyone go to hell. To reject Jesus Christ as your personal savior and receive His forgiveness for your sins, that will get you to go to heaven. It’s all about the heart.

        Jesus did say that he came not to save the righteous but to call “sinners” to repentance. A sinner is someone who lives apart from God. If you make him your Lord and savior you will experience the true blessings of being a child of God – and you will have eternal life.

        God bless

  13. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23

  14. I recently extricated myself from mainstream Christianity because their focus on hate campaigns against gays, judging, exercising their “power” by legislating morality, and alliance with the conservative far right is so far from my relationship with Jesus Christ that I couldn’t continue being a part of that.

    As much as I have prayed and been open to sexuality being a choice I cannot make/force/pray myself to believe that gays choose to be gay. It just doesn’t wash. ahem! i also believe in SCIENCE, global warming, health care for all, allowing gays to serve openly in the military. I’m anti-war to boot!!!

    I’m so happy to hear others are open to loving and accepting all of God’s creations and much as Jesus does.

  15. I do believe the bible is clear on saying that you need to be born again to enter the kingdom of God! If you are truly born again you would want to be repentant of your sins. Jesus clearly shows us in the bible what sinning is and if you truly love God and want to live for him you would ask forgiveness and trust god to forgive you . You would not want to keep sinning knowing that it was wrong if you love God! We are not perfect and we as humans are always going to sin its just by being Christians we know we need a savior for help. If you know what you are doing is wrong because it states it in the bible and you do not ask forgiveness you will not be forgiven. God loves everyone and we are all sinners. God is the only one who knows your heart and if you are truly sorry for your sins god knows it and will forgive you and you will enter the kingdom of HEAVEN!

    • Mary, I try hard not to sin and I ask for forgiveness when I do. This aiso could mean that I am a good Jew, Muslim, whatever. All religions ask us not to sin and ask for forgiveness from the almighty when we do Xx

      • Thank you, Jane, for acknowledging that God is bigger than any denominational or religious box we might be able to conjure. As the Christian Bible points out, there are many names for God. I for one, do not believe they are confined to the shortlist approved by any one faith group.

        blessings 🙂

  16. I believe it to be like this. God gave us all free will. It’s each persons personal choice to be homosexual or straight, and I highly doubt like you said god would be out picketing funerals, or roaming about abortion clinics, but gods teachings do teach us that homosexuality is immoral and that abortion is also immoral, like I said though god gives us free will. Do I think that god would hate anyone because we’re homosexual or we have an abortion, absolutely not! When we sin we ask for forgiveness, and our god is all forgiving. I think it’s blatent disrespect to picket a funeral, whether the person was homoesexual or not, that’s just plain out disrespectful and people know better! It’s one thing to take to heart what the bible teaches but they’re taking it to far. A church I used to go to used to stand by abortion clinics and protest abortion, honestly I think it’s to each it’s own, we’re not perfect and I most certainly do not think we were meant to be perfect, who are we to judge, god should be the judge not us.

  17. Rev. Barry Lynn says he can’t perceive of Jesus shouting and making hate statements, but He did; however, show anger and threw out the money changers. He did tell the woman caught in adultery, “go and sin no more”. Do I agree with the people who do those things? Of course not. There is a very fine line between showing Christ’s love and accepting sin. As a Christian, I believe I am not to judge others but to help them lovingly see the Father as a loving Father. The Bible says, “It is the kindness of God that draws men to repentance”. Somewhere along the line many Christians lost sight of that message. I also do not believe we can presume to know what is in the heart of Christ apart from what He shows us in the Bible. The bottom line is that we all sin – each of us whether it is the homosexual act, adultery, stealing, lying and we all need to repent of some things in our lives.The Bible also says, “Let each man work out his own salvation in fear and trembling.” I have to work out mine and you have to work out yours..my job is just to share the gospel of salvation (the Greek meaning of salvation is all encompassing=healing, spiritual, etc).

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