After jumping through the thread and reading a number of semi-random posts and responses, I think I just have one thing to say really:
As I stated before, I am a Christian/follower of Christ/etc., whatever you want to call it. My dad is a pastor and I've grown up in a Christian home my whole life. I may also be a bit naive about certain things, but if you believe that the bible holds any truth and that "truth" can indeed be fact in form, This is the mission of Christ and therefore the mission of those who follow him.
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for
the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Luke ch4 for anyone that cares.
or here's the translation from The Message if you prefer
"God's spirit is on me:
he's chosen me to preach the Message of good news to
the poor,
Sent me to announce pardon to the prisoners and
recovery of sight to the blind,
To set the burdened and battered free,
to announce, "This is God's year to act!"
Nowhere in any of this does it say "to judge and condemn and say 'you're not good enough for My love'." As a follower of Christ, it is my job/obligation/duty/calling...my mission to do what he did(I know, you get the point, stop saying that already, etc.). My first and foremost mission is to express to everybody around me, without prejudice, that my God is a God that Loves fiercely and abundantly and without condition. In His love lies strength, not weakness; hope, and not discrimination.
My mission is to express to all I come into contact with through words and actions that this God is madly and passionately in love with them and is striving and seeking to bring to them the realization of this love. I admit, I really suck at it, but I'm trying.
I would personally like to apologize for my own past behaviors that have not held in accordance with what I've just said. I'm sorry for judging in my mind and in my words. I'm sorry for tearing down instead of building up. I'm sorry for ignoring the poor and the less fortunate. I'm sorry for talking instead of doing.
The truth is, we're in a war, and we have a common enemy. To anybody who would call themselves a Christian(I don't know how many of you are here on this forum, and if this is what you're already doing, Awesome!), this is my challenge. Fight for the things that are truly worth fighting for. Fight against oppression, poverty, tyranny, and hate. Choose your battles. Stop shooting down the people you're supposed to be giving everything to. Jesus said "greater love has none than this, that a man give up his life for his friends" and "now love, as I have loved you". Stop grappling with those who don't know Jesus and start dying to yourself. Start giving up your life for them. Fill your boots, man!
Ok, that's really all that I wanted to say...........um.....thanks for reading?
/end novel