Baptists stand by 'Jesus loves Osama' sign

[bowerbird]

A number of churches in New South Wales have displayed the sign that also quotes the Bible saying "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you".

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/02/01/1838230.htm

[SpringRain]

Well those are at least the kind of christians I can grudgingly respect. They are walking the walk and talking the talk. I can live with that better than the hypocrisy usually displayed.

[Ethos]

Interesting, and wholly appropriate.

Ethos

[Riddley]

Until we hear the contrary from Jesus, we must assume that it is true.

[Soren]

I agree. I wouldn't want to be in OBL's place when he is judged, but this is nevertheless true.

[burntgorilla]

Wow, people actually following the Bible. I'm impressed. A few of our members here could do with reading that Bible passage...

[Izdaari]

"[Jesus] said we should love our enemies as controversial as that may be," he said.

"The bottom line to me is we're all sinners.

"He loves us all, no matter who we are or what we may've done."
That's all true, but I'm not sure why they chose to make an issue of this one... though it might help if bin Laden hears about it and it leads him to repentance. I hope it does, and I look forward to his public announcement that he renounces radical Islam and terrorism, and has accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. That's a long shot of course, but with God all things are possible.

[serenity]

That's all true, but I'm not sure why they chose to make an issue of this one... though it might help if bin Laden hears about it and it leads him to repentance. I hope it does, and I look forward to his public announcement that he renounces radical Islam and terrorism, and has accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. That's a long shot of course, but with God all things are possible.


Well, whatever. This should all be totally irrelevant to the fact of the love, to the promise of unconditonal love for everybody which is supposed to exist.

And aren't Christians demanded to love OBL as well?

[steveksux]

On the other hand, you can love someone and smite them all at the same time.... :angel: It says turn your other cheek, not turn your back on him as well.

Randy

[Cedars]

That's all true, but I'm not sure why they chose to make an issue of this one... though it might help if bin Laden hears about it and it leads him to repentance. I hope it does, and I look forward to his public announcement that he renounces radical Islam and terrorism, and has accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. That's a long shot of course, but with God all things are possible.
I imagine they chose to make an issue of it in order to remind us that as Christians we are called to love, not hate. Yes, with God, all things are possible. No matter how sinful a person is (and this includes ourselves -- not just others!), it is never too late to pray for them and hope they turn to God. After all, even the thief on the cross next to Jesus repented in his last hours.

[Atticus]

Well, whatever. This should all be totally irrelevant to the fact of the love, to the promise of unconditonal love for everybody which is supposed to exist.

And aren't Christians demanded to love OBL as well?Yes...

[AgentM]

Well those are at least the kind of christians I can grudgingly respect. They are walking the walk and talking the talk. I can live with that better than the hypocrisy usually displayed.

I agree.

[Izdaari]

Well, whatever. This should all be totally irrelevant to the fact of the love, to the promise of unconditonal love for everybody which is supposed to exist.

And aren't Christians demanded to love OBL as well?
Let me explain why it's not irrelevant. :flowers:

We are all of us sinners to varying degrees, OBL to a much greater degree than most of us, yet God loves us all. But though He loves us, He is holy and cannot tolerate sin in His presence. So, God has something of a dilemma here: He loves us and wants our company for eternity, yet we aren't good enough, not even the best of us, for that to work. So God provided a solution, a way for our sins to be not only forgiven but also forgotten. All we have to do is avail ourselves of it. Because God loves us so much, He wants us all, including OBL, to do that, but we have free will and many of us choose not to do so.

And yes, of course Christians are to love OBL, who is our neighbor, though an exceedingly difficult one, against whom we must defend ourselves. Because I love him, I don't want him to spend eternity cold and lonely, forever separated from God. So I hope he'll choose to avail himself of the means of reconciliation God has provided. Failing that, I at least hope he'll stop attacking us so we won't have to hurt him. Then he'd at least have more time to reconsider his relationship with God.

I imagine they chose to make an issue of it in order to remind us that as Christians we are called to love, not hate. Yes, with God, all things are possible. No matter how sinful a person is (and this includes ourselves -- not just others!), it is never too late to pray for them and hope they turn to God. After all, even the thief on the cross next to Jesus repented in his last hours.
Exactly so! :angel:

[serenity]

And yes, of course Christians are to love OBL, who is our neighbor, though an exceedingly difficult one, against whom we must defend ourselves. Because I love him, I don't want him to spend eternity cold and lonely, forever separated from God. So I hope he'll choose to avail himself of the means of reconciliation God has provided. Failing that, I at least hope he'll stop attacking us so we won't have to hurt him. Then he'd at least have more time to reconsider his relationship with God.


I can't see any problem with, true enough.

[Demon of Light]

I'm waiting for the more controversial "Don't Resist Osama" sign citing Matthew 5:35.