Unidiversal Editorial - Hateful Comments

Hateful Comments - 9/22/06

let the only one who knows the heart be the judge

Unidiversal Comments:

This letter is published here, with permission of the writer, to share a response to other hate-filled letters against homosexuals (link at end of letter). There are plenty of people who really care but the most hate-filled and vocal tend to get the media's focus. Homosexuality has probably been used as the most devisive of all subjects by traditional Christians who seek to condemn and destroy people.

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Hateful Comments

09-22-2006

Editor, Times-Union, Warsaw Indiana USA

http://www.timeswrsw.com/M060922.HTM#Hateful%20Comments

I am truly sad about the hateful comments concerning Wal-Mart's so called promotion of the "sodomite agenda." It is a letter full of judgment and intolerance. And the fact that it comes from someone who reads the Bible makes me feel even more sad.

First, I am sure that should anyone go to Meijer or most any store they will find movies about murder, violence, sex of all kinds, child abuse, and it goes on because that is what our society has become accepting of. If we are truly to boycott only stores who carry these kinds of movies, we would be boycotting all but the stores carrying only religious materials, and even then there would be someone who disapproves of something there.

I am saddened that people of homosexual orientation are still viewed in the way the writer of that letter has made them appear. And I have to wonder why it is that people take only certain parts of the Bible and use it to defend there own judgments and prejudices. The most basic advice in the bible is "love one another." I see no love in that letter. And what about "judge not." The Bible says we are ALL sinners and states we all fall short. There will always be something about all of us that someone will find wrong or sinful.

And it has only been recently in my life that I have had gay friends, who I have to say are some of the most loving and accepting people I have ever known and I thank God for them everyday. And to my gay friends I want to say thank you for loving me and accepting me, heterosexual sinner that I am. You have made my life full of joy.

Launda Ewell

Pierceton

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This letter was in response to a 09-14-2006 Letter:

Wal-Mart Marketing

Editor, Times-Union, Warsaw Indiana USA

Wal-Mart has joined the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

http://www.timeswrsw.com/M060914.HTM#Wal-Mart%20Marketing

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Unidiversal Response

A response to Launda Ewell's letter was posted in the Times-Union on 10/02/2006 by the writer of the original letter.

Title: Judging Intolerance

It can be read at: http://www.timeswrsw.com/M061002.HTM#Judging%20Intolerance

Unidiversal Response to the original writer's response (submitted 10/03/2006, not yet posted)

Illumination or Rejection (published as "Pharasees")

10-05-2006

Editor, Times-Union, Warsaw Indiana USA

http://www.timeswrsw.com/M061005.HTM#Pharisees

Notice the first line of Mr. Hite’s response in the Editorial “Judging Intolerance” on 10/02/2006 (responding to “Hateful Comments” on 09/22/2006): “In response to Ms. Ewell's letter who is intolerant of intolerance and judges people for judging.”

He is claiming his intolerance and judgment and faulting someone else for the same. Contradictory? Ms. Ewell is following the example of Jesus, Mr. Hite is not. Jesus was intolerant of those who were intolerant. The Pharisees (Matthew 23:13-29, Luke 11:44) could have tolerated a lot of people (questionable), but they did not tolerate those who were poor (Mark 12, Luke 21), in need of the grace of God (Luke 19:7), or knew they couldn’t live up to God’s or others expectations (John 8:7). He was even intolerant of anyone who ignored their own unworthiness to the point of thinking anyone else’s life was less tolerable than their own. Jesus was never tolerant of the religious who put their self-righteousness above others, whether the others were believers or not. He non-violently went after the Pharisees with vengeance, laid out the “spiritual elite” with fervor, and called the self-righteous to the carpet. They were all left speechless.

So what’s the problem today? People keep supporting the Pharisees, the “spiritual elite”, and the self-righteous so they can keep talking. As people we tend to hate change. But guess what, that’s exactly what is needed when these three kinds of people keep spewing their un-Christ-like condemnation. Admittedly, plenty of people demanding tolerance deserve retribution. But that’s something God reserved to Himself (only God knows the heart-James 4:12), and if we have true faith then we will trust God to do as He will when and “if” He chooses. When and if we choose to have that level of faith then the love of God and the fruit of His Spirit can be seen in us.

I am the curator of www.unidiversal.com and was also involved in two other Times-Union Letters to the Editor along the same lines as this one: Bible No Rejection 8/16/2006 and Judgment & Salvation 2/26/2006 (which lists several other letters related to this subject). “The light of salvation isn’t for illuminating other people’s sin!” Jesus didn’t even call fisher’s of men to cook the fish when or “if” God chooses to clean them. It’s time to stop cooking and cleaning and go fishing without throwing the fish back that we might deem worthless. All fish are valuable in God’s eyes.

Robbie Ousley

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