A sincere, heartfelt apology

In this post, I want to spend some time apologizing. I would like to apologize to those that the church has offended. I want to apologize to the homosexuals who feel like Christians hate them, and I want to tell them, God loves you even though you go against his will, and those who hate you are NOT following Christ's example. I also want to apologize to the people who have been hurt by someone in the church. The Church is not perfect, and a lot of people in the Church aren't Christians in the first place, they're just posers. I'm sorry if your parents used the bible to justify abusing you, the Bible does not support abuse of any kind, it actually abhors abuse, and holds abusers accountable. Jesus even said, "If any one of you would cause one of these little ones to stumble, it would be better if you had a millstone tied around you neck and were thrown in the ocean." God doesn't approve of such behavior. I want to say sorry to those who feel ostracized from the church. To the goths, the metal heads, and the bikers and skaters, I am sorry if the dress code of some churches has kept you from getting to know Jesus. The Bible does not teach an attitude of conformity to any man, person, or Church, only to God and his word, and God made different people with different traits and different interests so that all might be saved. God loves you, your talents, and your interests, JUST THE WAY YOU ARE. I also want to apologize for the way the Church has acted and behaved in certain situations. I want to apologize for the way Christians say one thing, and do something completely different, all the while pretending they're perfect. I want to apologize for the fact that some Christians seem to care more about conversion, and less about you as an individual. I also want to say, to those of you who may have been hurt by the Church, don't let the way Christians behave deter you from seeking God. Christians are not perfect, we are not righteous, we are not without blame or fault. Finally, I want to share a few poems that I have found on the net, that emphasize this point:

DON'T SHOOT THE WOUNDED

(by Chuck Girard)

Don't shoot the wounded, they need us more than ever.

They need our love no matter what it is they've done.

Sometimes we just condemn them, and don't take time to hear their story.

Don't shoot the wounded, someday you might be one.

It's easy to love the people who are standing hard and fast.

Pressing on to meet that higher calling.

But the ones who might be struggling, we tend to judge too harshly, and refuse to try and catch them when they're falling.

We put people into boxes and we draw our hard conclusions, and when they do the things we know they should not do,

we sometimes write them off as hopeless, and we throw them to the dogs.

Our compassion and forgiveness sometimes seem in short supply, so I say...Don't shoot the wounded!

We can love them and forgive them when their sin does not exceed our own. For we too have been down bumpy roads

before but when they commit offenses outside the boundaries we have set,we judge them in a word and we turn them out,

and we close the door. Myself I've been forgiven for so many awful things. I've been cleansed and washed and bathed so

many times that when I see a brother who has fallen from the way I just can't find the license to convict him of his crimes.

So I say... Don't shoot the wounded!

That doesn't mean we turn our heads when we see a brother sin and pretend that what he's doing is all right.

But we must help him see his error, we must lead him to repent. Cry with those who cry, but bring their deeds into the light .

For it's the sick that need the doctor, and it's the lame that need the crutch. It's the prodigal who needs the loving hand. For a

man who's in despair, there should be kindness from his friends. 'Lest he should forsake the fear of Almighty God and turn

away from God and man, So I say...Don't shoot the wounded! ©1982 Sea of Glass Music/ASCAP

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin'."
I'm whispering "I was lost,
Now I 'm found and forgiven."

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
And need His strength to carry on.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
And need God to clean my mess.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible
But, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner
Who received God's good grace, somehow!

By Carol Wimmer

Do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. James 2:1

A man attended a church regularly for several months, but he was always ignored. Because no one knew who he was, and he looked out-of-place with his old and worn-out clothes, no one ever took the time to speak to him. One Sunday as he took a seat in church, he intentionally left his hat on. As the pastor stood on the platform and looked out over the audience, he noticed the man with the hat right away. So he summoned one of the deacons and asked him to tell the man that he forgot to remove his hat. When the deacon spoke to the man, he responded with a big smile and said, "I thought that would do it. I have attended this church for 6 months, and you are the first person who has ever talked to me." There is no place for prejudice or favoritism in the family of God. We who have been born again through faith in Jesus are equals in God's sight. And that equality should be evident in the way we treat other believers. We must be hospitable and courteous to all, regardless of their race, social status, or appearance. When we show favoritism, we sin against people whom God loves and for whom Christ died. Let's be gracious to everyone and be careful to avoid showing partiality. --Richard De Haan

All those who know and love the Lord
Must show by word and deed
That they will not discriminate
But welcome those in need. --D. De Haan

Prejudice builds walls; love breaks them down.