Don't even think about suggesting that I'm being ridiculous. I'm being every bit as "ridiculous" as Christ Crucified: " unto the Jews indeed a stumblingblock, and unto the Gentiles foolishness".
do you honestly believe that He would ask us to stand by passively
Try to read what I wrote. Really. I neither said that, nor implied that. For you to suggest otherwise borders on slander.
love the monster that is killing the most innocent of His creations
Matthew 5: 43You have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thy enemy. 44But I say to you, Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you: 45That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven, who maketh his sun to rise upon the good, and bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust. 46For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? do not even the publicans this? 47And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? do not also the heathens this?
Is anyone more my enemy than an abortionist? Does Jesus leave any wiggle room there?
It is for this very reason that I pray for the conversion of the abortionists; Jesus instructs that I must love them. One definition of "love", in theology, is to desire the good of another. I this case, the good I desire for them is conversion. That so-called "monster" is, in fact, a human being, created in the image and likeness of God ... but in whom that image is grossly distorted by both original and actual sin. He is a sinner in need of a Saviour.
That is a totally different issue than the real evil that is being perpetrated through the abomination of abortion.
I agree that abortion is an abomination. So is the fornication, adultery, and (failed) contraception that leads to abortion. Is the woman who seeks abortion innocent? Are the family and "friends" who pressure her to abort, innocent? Hardly. There is abomination enough to go around.
Matthew 7 1Judge not, that you may not be judged, 2For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3Any why seest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye; and seest not the beam that is in thy own eye? 4Or how sayest thou to thy brother: Let me cast the mote out of thy eye; and behold a beam is in thy own eye? 5Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam in thy own eye, and then shalt thou see to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
Are you any less a sinner in need of a saviour than the abortionist? I certainly am not. God has saved me, and continues to save me, from the perdition my sins surely merit. What, then: Am I to wish perdition on some others, or pray that they too may be saved?
I calls ‘em as I sees ‘em. The fact that you angrily and forcefully deny the assertion doesn't have the power of lessening it.
“Try to read what I wrote. Really. I neither said that, nor implied that. For you to suggest otherwise borders on slander.”
I read what you wrote, which was why I had the reaction I did. Love and pray for your enemy? Regardless of circumstances? Does that not imply inactivity and a kind of “hopey/changey” attitude as millions are being slaughtered? Slander...hardly! Maybe you meant to say something in addition to your brief sound byte that you forgot?
“Matthew 5:....”
And did Matthew say: “Love and pray for your enemy that is holding a knife to the throat of your son/daughter/wife, with imminent murder in mind.” Don't think so. Would Jesus not condone, lacking other alternatives to save your loved one, shooting first and asking questions later?
“That so-called ‘monster’ is, in fact, a human being, created in the image and likeness of God ...”
No, I take strong issue with that statement. Yes, we were formed in God's image from the time of conception, released from original sin through the sacrament of Baptism. Then, as we grow, our free will kicks in, and we make decisions that will either allow us to walk in the path of Jesus or to allow our lives to be given over to Satan. For most of us, it is somewhere in-between those polar opposites....allowing for redemption if chosen. Many, however, cross the line, and are taken over by evil. They have made the choice, and they are among the damned! There is a difference between sick behavior and evil behavior...the sick or mentally ill person often no longer has the power of choice. The evil person does, and carries on purposefully. Where you seem to have trouble is in acknowledging the existence and the power of real evil.
“I agree that abortion is an abomination. So is the fornication, adultery, and (failed) contraception that leads to abortion. Is the woman who seeks abortion innocent? Are the family and “friends” who pressure her to abort, innocent? Hardly. There is abomination enough to go around.”
A pretty simplistic argument for a smart person like you! Of course there is enough sin to go around. I don't equate fornication with murder anymore than I would equate shoplifting with child abduction. With most sin, there is the chance for absolution, for the person is capable of seeing the error of their ways and changing their lives. This is why Jesus died for us. With evil, actual evil, there is no absolution. That is why there is a hell.
“Matthew 7 1Judge not, that you may not be judged...”
Hmmmmm....I guess that's why we have Judges, eh? Are you saying that criminals and those who don't obey the laws of the land, or of God, should simply be loved and prayed for? Somehow I don't think that's what Matthew had in mind.
“Are you any less a sinner in need of a saviour than the abortionist?”
I fully acknowledge my sinfulness and the need for my Savior, Jesus Christ. That said, I would never equate my sinful condition with that of the evil inherent in choosing to be an abortionist.
By the way, you didn't state an opinion as to how Ecclesiastes 3:8 fits into the argument... Militant