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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Because we have let the Christian Right take over the narrative of what being Christian in America means. What part of the golden rule makes it okay to shun the LGBT community? Personally I believe that God loves everyone and who am I to make all these rules about other people whose activities do not affect me at all? Our church’s (Episcopalian) focus is on feeding people and all are welcome at God’s table. I don’t make myself feel good about myself by putting other people down. What good is served on Earth by diminishing other human beings? Members of our congregation feel the same way - when making the decision on whether to perform same-sex marriages there were listening and discernment sessions and there was way less discussion or debate than anyone expected.

And the Christian right kids themselves that the “doctrine” is divinely inspired. They’re going to say that we can’t pick and choose but if you’re not attending the Holy Mother Catholic Church, you already failed at that. [/quote]

It’s interesting that a post that starts with a back-handed insult about the “Christian Right” then goes onto say “I don’t make myself feel good by putting other people down.”   Sure you do — they might not be putting down LGBT people, but you absolutely consider yourself morally superior to other people — “those” people on the “Christian Right.”   And yes, people on the Christian Right do the same thing — they are often times smug and consider themselves superior to other people.   It runs in both directions.

It is only the true Gospel that takes away your superiority complex.   When you believe that you are a sinner saved by grace, then you cannot believe you are morally superior to anyone else.

The “golden rule” is fine, but it’s not the Gospel.  And in fact we can not follow the golden rule.   Try doing it for just a few hours.   Wait until someone annoys you or ticks you off and then immediately treat them the way you would want to be treated.   See how hard it is.

The fact that we are imperfect and cannot follow the golden rule — that is why we need Jesus.  It is through his substitutionary atonement that we are made right with God.  The Bible is abundantly clear about this.

You might not believe this, but this is what Christianity and the Bible actually says.  If you dont believe it, then you are belonging to a group, but its actual true Christianity.   [/quote]

I see a lot of Pharisee in the Christian right. They’re all welcome in my church. But again, unless you are Catholic, you have broken the chain from Jesus to St. Peter so you’re also just picking and choosing what you want. And picking judgment over fellow humans isn’t an appealing look. Worry about your own soul.[/quote]

I don’t just “pick and choose”’ what I want.   I look to scripture as the source of authority.   There is nothing at all in the Bible about some “chain” from Jesus to Peter to Leo today.  In fact, when you read what Paul writes in his letters, and compare them to what the Catholic Church practices today, it is impossible to reconcile the two.

There is no blanket rule in the Bible that we never judge other people.   If you’re friend or family or someone you love is cheating, lying, stealing, committing violence — of course you would not approve.   It would not be loving just to allow them to continue to do what they are doing.   One of the greatest moments in the entire Bible is when Nathan confronts King David over his blatant sin.

And before anyone jumps to it — the “judge not lest ye be judged” verse is grossly misinterpreted.    The Greek word is “krino” which really means “condemn” — Jesus was talking about the Pharisees who were harsh in how they condemned sinners; instead he urges us to practice humility and self reflection in how we approach people who may need help.

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