Well the rhetoric sounds nice. But there are real world implications for those that are on the receiving end of such allegations for causing world decadence or whatever drummed up charge for their alleged sinful ways. (By the way, wouldn’t that technically be bearing false witness against a fellow man? Declaring them to be causing world destruction without evidence I mean.)
Well, according to scripture, we are all on notice down here that this world cannot survive its human mismanagement for much longer. It was never intended to last indefinitely. It was God's way of allowing all of his free willed children to choose which 'god' they were going to obey. At the conclusion of the allotted time (now, as world events indicate that it is drawing to its close) all accountable humans will have made a choice about who they are and what they believe. By the way they have lived their lives, they will have demonstrated their true identity from the Creator's standpoint. He sees the whole person...thoughts actions and motivations. Nothing is hidden from God.
Hebrews 4:13...
"And there is not a creation that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and openly exposed to the eyes of the one to whom we must give an account."
Whether we believe in him or not....we are still accountable.
I think this preacher went too far and so faced a fine.
Hate speech that incites others to hate or violence is never going to be approved by God. His own have been on the receiving end of that kind of treatment for thousands of years. Its how we respond to the hate speech and whether we "return evil for evil" that determines our identity as Christians.
Romans 12:17-21...
"Return evil for evil to no one. Take into consideration what is fine from the viewpoint of all men. 18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, be peaceable with all men. 19 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but yield place to the wrath; for it is written: “‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay,’ says Jehovah.” 20 But “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by doing this you will heap fiery coals on his head.” 21 Do not let yourself be conquered by the evil, but keep conquering the evil with the good."
That is the best advice IMO. Those who can implement this, and cop it on the chin without retaliation, are the real McCoy.
It’s one thing to be like, homosexuality is a sin for the Bible tells me so and I believe it is the word of God.
I would disagree personally, but I would not interfere with such a preacher.
(Though I would be inclined to check in on any homosexual youth within that congregation to see if they’re okay.)
It’s another to fire up your followers by laying blame upon a vulnerable minority and hide behind freedom of speech. Those followers could be incentivised to shun or otherwise abuse whatever “sinner” was on the receiving end of such rhetoric.
The Christian Congregation is no place for willful sinners. Their presence was not to be tolerated.
1 Corinthians 5:19...
"In my letter I wrote you to stop keeping company with sexually immoral people, 10 not meaning entirely with the sexually immoral people of this world or the greedy people or extortioners or idolaters. Otherwise, you would actually have to get out of the world. 11 But now I am writing you to stop keeping company with anyone called a brother who is sexually immoral or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner not even eating with such a man. 12 For what do I have to do with judging those outside? Do you not judge those inside, 13 while God judges those outside? “Remove the wicked person from among yourselves.”
This is about "brothers" who are guilty of such wrongdoing, (in full knowledge of God's laws) not those who may be seeking help for such problems.
It did not involve abuse of any kind, (verbal or physical) just a withdrawing of your company because that person is no longer obedient to the Christ. Their influence could have a morally negative effect on others. (1 Corinthians 15:33) Maintaining friendships with such ones is strongly discouraged for that reason.
But in clarifying that statement, it is important to note that all in that congregation were in no position to judge any person's standing with God. Appointed shepherds were however to judge those "inside" the congregations. whilst God judged those "outside". (Hebrews 13:17)
