Dear Atheists,
I have seen many posts from this guy I follow about atheism on my own account as well as this account. It's Shadows writing this.
I do not believe my God, the christian God, is homophobic, I believe he is forgiving. I believe Jesus Christ died on the cross to save us ALL from our sins, regardless of race, religion, sins, sexual preference, etc. I believe gays have an equal chance to be saved and go to heaven as Christians do.
Now here is where I will shock everyone... I do not believe just because you go to church every Sunday you go to heaven. I do not believe it is mandatory for a Christian to go to church every Sunday or even at all.
This is what I believe...
Do not take God's name in vain. Usually we take this to mean don't say such things as "Oh my God" or "Jesus Christ" but I believe there is more to it. I believe that it means that Christians should not go around telling athiests or anyone that they are going to Hell regardless. I have heard Christians tell gays they'll go to Hell. Tell self-harmers they'll go to Hell. Tell suicidals they'll go to Hell. Tell nonbelievers they'll go to Hell. Tell people with tattoos they'll go to Hell. I believe that in a way, this is taking God's name in vain and I do not believe this is right. Christians who do that are running God's name through the dirt. Our God is forgiving and loving.
A friend of mine was molested at such a young age... And for so long she believed she'd go to Hell because she allowed it to happen, even though she didn't know better. Because Christians all around have said things like that. I was a suicidal and self harmer and I believed God may damn me to Hell for so long becuase of that. But that is not our God.
Christians have been named one of the most judgemental religions and for that I am sorry. But I swear there are some who do not, who will not judge and I am one.
For the atheists and any other nonbeliever who has come to hate Christians and our God, let me ask you this? Would you hate us less if we weren't so pushy? If we weren't so judgemental? If we were more loving? If we didn't say you were going to Hell because you did something we don't agree with?
Let me ask you this? Do you hate me because I am a Christian even though I have not said you're going to Hell? Even though I apologized for the acts that others have commited? Even though I have tried to be your friend? Even though I accept your beliefs as yours and mine as mine?
Christians are commanded by God to preach the truth. We were told we would be hated for it. We were told we'd be persecuted for it. But we were told to preach the truth and to teach others about God. Can you hate us for doing what our God has told us to do? If you can, then you're not accepting like you think you are. There is a fine line between preaching the truth and harassing others into believing the truth.
I am sorry that my brethren has made you feel condemned, I am sorry they have preached falsely and made my God look merciless. I am sorry that my brethren has fed you lies and stained any hope or any good image of my God you have seen. But I hope I can at least help make my God's name.
And if you hate me for it, so be it but I am doing what I was commanded to do.
~Shadows
I will tag the person I mentioned at the beginning.