So I just saw this article on MSNBC about that extreme Baptist church in Kansas which protests the funerals of soldiers and AIDS victims, all in the name of God. These people (including their children) can be seen carrying signs that say “Thank God for Dead Soldiers,” “God is America’s Terrorist” and “God Hates Fags.” These people are disgusting, but particularly to me as a Christian. Their argument is that God hates homosexuality (which the Bible does clearly state is a sinful lifestyle), America is becoming too tolerant of homosexuality (a sign of America becoming more sinful), and that God is now attacking America as punishment for this degradation through war, disease and natural disasters (an argument that commits the post hoc ergo propter hoc logical fallacy).

Now first of all, I’ll admit that America’s (or perhaps I should say the media’s) fascination with the gay lifestyle bothers me. It is a sign that this country has become more openly tolerant of sin. I feel the same about the way we joke about pornography and other sinful sexual behavior, or our rampant hedonism in general. But what these people in Kansas are doing not only gives Christians a bad name; it couldn’t be a more un-Christian response to these problems.

True, the Bible does refer to homosexual behavior as an “abomination” (Leviticus 18:22) and lists homosexuals along with idolaters, adulterers, thieves, etc. as people who will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). But the message of 1 Corinthians is not one of condemnation, but of forgiveness. Verse 11 of the same passage says this: “such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God” (NASV). In other words, we’re all guilty of a variety of sins and don’t deserve salvation. But for those who accept Jesus Christ as their savior, God offers forgiveness and sanctification.

I’m not sure what Bible this Baptist “pastor” is reading, but it’s not mine. He should be ashamed for trampling on the noble sacrifice of these soldiers and for preaching hatred in the name of Christ. I hope he’s too busy paying off this $11 million to even think about organizing another of these protests. This is exactly the kind of “Christianity” that feeds the perception that we’re a bunch of judgmental wackos, and it sickens me.