Dear editor:
Mr. George Lindholm stated in Sunday's May 24 paper that, "Truth cannot be destroyed by 21st century scholarship, but those who fantasize professing they profess the truth will attack anyone who exposes them to their idolization of religion."
Well, he is using 21st century scholarship to criticize others. He states that, "Christianity is about love, not hate." But you can love people, but hate their ways.
If we follow Jesus' example, does that make us Christians? Jesus had compassion on all, even the rulers, because he wept over them because of what was going to happen to Jerusalem, because they rejected his teachings and crucified Him. The rulers stated that if Jesus continued to teach, that they would lose their place in the nation because all the people were turning to Him. So they devised a plan to have Him put to death. And they still lost their place in the nation because they put Him to death and judgment did come on Jerusalem and they were all scattered abroad to the four corners of the Earth.
Yes, Jesus did love them, but He criticized them. He called Herod, "That Fox." He called the Pharisees and rulers, blind guides, vipers (poisonous snakes) and hypocrites. He said the kingdom shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth fruits thereof. He wanted to save them, but they rebelled and didn't want his ways. So does that mean we hate the rulers because we condemn their evil ways, their greed, their hypocrisy?
Was that hate? Yes, it was the rulers hate for Christ and Christianity. God condemned them because of the way they treated His Son that He sent to save them. Paul said that if (ye Gentiles) don't continue in His goodness, we will be cut off also. And Jesus said that if ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
If we tell the sinner that everything is all right and we love the way they are living, then they won't feel convicted and repent. Jesus said, when the sinner came to Him, "go and sin no more."
If we see someone in danger and fail to warn them, then we do not really love them, so to warn them of their wicked ways is not hate, but compassion. But the world doesn't see that. They want to convict us because of their hate for us and their hate for Christianity. The pot wants to call the kettle black.
The world wants to destroy Christianity by taking God out of everything. Do you think that God will tolerate that because the world hates Him and refuses Him?
I doubt that this will change anyone's opinion, so go ahead and hate me. Jesus said that they who live godly in this present world shall be persecuted, so rejoice and be glad and leap for joy, for great is your reward which is in heaven.
Clyde Edds
Jessieville
Editorial on 05/29/2015