it makes me sad when i read about stuff like when the members of that church group went to the funerals of those soldiers, claiming God had punished them for defending a country that allows homosexuality.
 
God isnt punishing anybody. not for that, or any other of the multitude of sins we commit every day. not according to the Bible.
 
the Bible says anything not of faith is sin, in romans 14:23.
 
people of a religious mind always seem to think that God rewards us for doing right and punishes us for doing wrong. they often mistake the results of sin being in the world as punishment.
 
but let me tell you what the Bible says about that. romans 5:12 says by one man sin entered into the world, and death came with it, and that death reigned over man (vs 14). romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death.
 
God isnt the one paying the wages. God came with a free gift to offer any one who wants it. the gift sets is free.
 
in john 16:11 Jesus says, when He (the Holy Spirit) is come, He will reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and "of judgement, because the prince of this world is judged". judgement has already been passed on sin and on the prince of this world.
 
God isnt going to judge any one for sinning. in the end, sin will get its judgement dealt out, and any one that hasnt let go and received the free gift of redemption will go with it. it will be their own choice.
 
im sorry if those ‘church’ members made you think God is like that. He’s not. He just wants you to be free and have what He has. its already paid for. God doesnt hate anyone. He hates sin, because of what it does. if He hated sinners, we’d all be in serious trouble, and He never would have paid for the gift, let alone offer it to us.
 
i hope you choose the gift. but no one is going to make you. and i wont judge you over your choices. i’ll just hope you see in me the benefits of receiving His gift, and membership into His family.
 
membership does have its privalidges!