Is what is being said rude & hateful or do you have a misunderstanding on truth

Many comments here are rude and full of disdain. Is what is in your hearts and mouths hatred? Then how can you speak truth in love? Is your truth the truth, but you speak like this about others? 


A:  First, there needs to be clarity on the definition of Hate, and on what is Truth.

1. Defining & discussing hate http://snsanswers.blogspot.com/2023/06/do-christians-hate.html

2. Truth matters  http://longertweets.blogspot.com/2022/10/truth.html


Q: What about Peter 3:15 speaking of gentleness? 

Specifically, in reference to comments that have been made by some of the "Christians" here.

1 Peter 3:15 calls for gentleness and respect with regards to people such as lgbt+.


A: This verse is about the Gospel, and from a biblical perspective that would still include Truth of Scripture overall. It is in reaching people and reasoning with them. Scripture says All humans are sinners, all are made in His image and we are to reach everyone with the Gospel so others can be saved and receive the righteous new nature of Christ. This verse is about having gospel convos and in speaking with them & in a defense for the truth in Scripture.

I do see areas where Scripture tells us how to speak and treat others and this one notes gentleness and respect (towards another human). Others as the link discussed noted say to "reason with people". But when they refuse to obey God, as the link notes, (and the below), we move on.

Same similarly in the church, we are not to fellowship with those living like the unsaved world, and we are to toss out unrepentant believers from churches [but it is in hope they will repent, return and be restored in fellowship]. 

In sharing the gospel, even the Apostles were told:

"If anyone/any place will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them." Mark 6:11, Matthew 10:14, Luke 9:5 

Acts 13:51 - "So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium."

In all of these verses, the instruction to shake the dust off one's feet is given as a symbolic gesture of leaving behind the rejection of the gospel message and moving on to the next opportunity to share it.

Prophets, John the Baptist and Jesus had confronted and gave stern words to the false teachers back then, and the NT truths are still valid today, and always will be. 

Examples:

The religious leaders of Jesus' time who were hypocritical and self-righteous were confronted byJohn the Baptist 

"But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, 'You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?'" Matthew 3:7

The phrase "brood of vipers" is a powerful metaphor intended to convey the idea that these religious leaders were not truly righteous, but rather deceptive and dangerous like a nest of poisonous snakes. John the Baptist used this phrase to challenge their hypocrisy and warn them of the coming judgment.






Looking at the topic of how to reason with and love on lgbt+ folks this has great insights and helps
http://snsanswers.blogspot.com/2022/10/identity-crisis.html


Like yourself, some have questioned commenters speech/responses here, and my reply is: i havent seen most and idk the tone nor intention they have. God knows. But we need to also be gracious to them because 1. they might not actually be saved, or 2. they might not have grown enough in the faith to grasp those things yet.

> We can come along side and lovingly correct and point to Scripture, and they can then try their best to correct course and speak as godly as they can, while at the same time we know some in the NT were called sons of thunder, and some people are gruff, they will eventually find better ways to say something, so what they present glorifies God and draws people to Christ. 


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