Haters

 Just because I disagree with someone on an issue doesn't mean I hate them. Husbands and wives will disagree about issues but still continue to love one another. What has made our country the best place in the world is that we have been able to come together for good of the country even when we don't see eye to eye politically.  I think from what I read in scripture that homosexuality is a sin, it is an ungodly lifestyle.  So is adultery, a sexual sin.  But we don't go around the country hating adulterers. Well maybe in individual cases where it hurt us when it was a spouse. Yet it was the sin that hurt us. Often we still loved that person we just disagreed with their actions. We have a right to protect ourselves. We have a right to distance ourselves from a sinful lifestyle. I have done that in various ways, distance myself, remove myself from an unhealthy relationship. I often want to reply to things I disagree with. I am not going to change that person's mind. Often it just becomes an unhealthy argument. I removed my self, and no longer follow or listen to a contrary voice. It is OK to listen to opposing views and I do often. I had a couple of situations where it seemed everything I wrote about in this blog was critiqued. Never a positive word.  I have a right to remove myself from an unhealthy interaction. I am sure that one or two of the things of the thousands I have written have been correct.  But I am not a hater because I see things differently. I was reading a post of a couple of young men that became conservative in their thinking politically. They grew up thinking they would be hated because of their preference for sexual orientation but found it not to be true.  One said it was harder to come out and say he was a conservative than it was to come out as a gay man.  Now I would disagree with their lifestyle but I find we agree politically.  I don't hate these young men because I disagree with the lifestyle they have chosen, I disagree. I think the Bible still says it is wrong. But are we not to love even our enemies? To do good to even those that despitefully use us?  I just don't think that every time I disagree with someone I automatically become a hater. Over and over in the scriptures, we are challenged to love those that are different than us. The reason we are to be salt and light in this world is that there are those that live a contrary lifestyle. God's way is the best way to live life and we find when we don't live God's way, sin produces trouble in this life. God bless. LVZ.