This is a rant, written by yours truly
Is it so hard to like people?
I don't really understand. I'm Christian. I like the Bible (but haven't read it completely yet). I like people. I love God.
Straight people are people. I like people.
Homosexuals are people. I like people.
Transgenders are people. I like people.
People with disabilities, people who are depressed, people who are suicidal...they're people. I still like people.
Why? I could say it's in my nature, but that's not true. I can hate too, and it's much easier to hate another person than it is to like them.
I could say I'm impressed by what people can do, which is why I like them. That's not true either; a person's worth isn't based on what they can do. A baby can't do much, but I still like them. My uncle, who's stuck in a wheelchair or with a walker much of the time, can do maybe half of what he used to be able to. Doesn't mean I like him half as much.
I like people because I love God, not despite Him. God made people and loves them, no matter what they do. He doesn't love the things they do, but because they are His children He loves and forgives them. Would He have sacrificed His son on the cross otherwise?
So what gives me the right to hate people? Surely, the things they can do are horrendous, despicable, unspeakable, and forgiving somebody who does great wrongs against me would be hard, maybe impossible... But God doesn't hate them for their sins. He doesn't hate me either, when I do wrong. I hurt people too, whether I mean to or not.
Sins are equivalently dirty to Him. Certainly, loving one of the same gender romantically is a sin. So is being prideful. So is being hateful towards others.
He sacrificed His son because we are inseparable from sin. He didn't do it just for the straight people, nor did he do it just for the privileged. Jesus kept company among those with great sin, didn't he? I might not be anywhere near the most informed Christian, but I can say this with all certainty. God does not hate people for their sins. He may hate the things they do, but not His children, whether they accept Him as their Father or not.
Then you can accuse me of being a liar. "You don't know that you feel that way. You might hate a homosexual if you meet them. They hate God." No, I most certainly feel that way. I'm friends with quite a few of them, and they're no less people than anybody else. If you saw any of them without knowing their sexual orientation, you would just see them as people, as you should. And sure, some do hate God, though usually they hate the people who flaunt His name rather than Him directly. Could you blame them for that?
Then you can accuse me of being a false Christian. "You don't know His will! You would support the sinners instead of following the Bible's teachings?" If that's the case, then nobody would be a Christian. How could we know of God's will all the time? He acts in strange ways. And true, I've never read the entire Bible- just bits and pieces at a time during service- and I'm well aware that I'm not very strong in my love of God. But where in the Bible did it say to hate sinners? Should I hate myself?
I'm prideful. People assume I don't talk in class because I'm shy; that's partially true, but I hate being incorrect and embarrass easily when I am. I get jealous. My friends are great artists, dancers, scholars, socialites...I'm merely average in most of those fields. Those are deadly sins, right there. I can't help it, though I pray for humility and am aware God loves me as I am. They don't mean I should hate myself.
Then another argument. "Once you read the Bible and absorb it, you'll understand." No, I don't think I will. Let me ask a question in return. Is a murderer worse than a homosexual? The resounding answer (I should hope) would be yes. Alright then. So if God hates homosexuals, God most definitely hates murderers. But didn't the Bible say to forgive all who trespass against you? So you would forgive the murderer who killed your child or sibling or parent, but you wouldn't forgive somebody for loving somebody of the same gender? Somebody who has most likely done nothing to do with you?
I would say the same to those judging anybody. Love people for being people. You don't have to love what they do or what they say. Doesn't a parent love their child despite the tantrums they throw?
Of the verses in the Bible I am familiar with, this is one of my favorites. "You hypocrite! First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye" (Matthew 7:5). Judge against others when you yourself have no sins. Don't throw stones if you've ever sinned.
So, for those of you toting the "God hates gays" signs, please stop. You're giving Christianity a terrible name as a hateful, narrow community. For those hurt by that community, please don't hate Christianity or God for it. It might be hard as well, but there are churches who would welcome you with open arms.
I know I've left holes in my arguments, and debaters more skilled than myself could probably tear it to shreds. It doesn't matter. I love God, and so I should love people as He does. I'm no mindless puppet with chains of Christianity (though a true Christian should know that loving God is not a chain at all), and I'm no liberal anarchist out to destroy traditional marriage. I'm just another person in the world tired of hateful bigotry coming from the wrong direction.