Don't make excuses.
Matthew 7:15- 20
15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."
Do you Christians not claim to speak God's word? That is the meaning of "prophecy": a prophecy was not prediction of future events--though occasionally, your Scriptures state that prophets were given signs to verify their words. A prophet is one who speaks God's words. Yet many of the Christians here claim it is "acceptable" or even the "right thing to do" to speak ill of those they consider sinners.
And just where would any of you Christians be if your God did the same as you do?
Rom 2:1-4
Romans 2:1-4
1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.
2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.
3 So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?
4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?
It was not God's judgement that leads sinners to repentance, but God's kindness.
Every single Christian who voted "Yes" on this poll is a hypocrite, and On Fire--whom I commend, for he did not vote yes--points to your hypocracy. Of his fellow Christians, On Fire said "They're sinners. We're all sinners." If each and every one of you is a sinner drawn to repentance by God's kindness, yet you are willing to cast derision onother sinners, then you "show contempt the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance."
This I know, Christians: if, indeed, your Bible is true and I am sent to hell, before I go, I will stand as witness to your hypocracy. You are greedy, cowardly thieves, who have accepted the grace of God yet use the maliciousness of your hearts to drive others away from that grace, as if it were in short supply and you were hoarding it for yourselves.
It is not the skeptics and Pagans who take God's words and make it into a lie, but yourselves.
Justin