A Christian Response to the Syria Crisis

The crisis in Syria is mounting. The potential for military intervention is increasingly likely. The main reason why military intervention has not already happened seems to be 'due process'. If military intervention does happen. It is highly possible the whole region becomes destabilised.

How should we as Christians respond? Should we urge military intervention? Should we keep out of it, having burned our fingers in Iraq and Afghanistan? Surely something must be done to halt the appalling atrocities.

It seems to me, the best thing we as Christian must do is to pray. We must pray. 

1) Pray that the Assad regime and rebel forces repent of their atrocities.

2) Pray for wisdom for our government and the Lord's sovereign lead in public opinion.

3) Pray for relief to come quickly to the misplaced and suffering people of Syria.

4) Give generously to Tear Fund and other relief agencies.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, it would be easy for us to criticise and form opinions, it could be easy to ignore the crisis and just get on with our lives. But many people are experiencing terrible suffering. Let us not fail to do what we can, we can pray, we should pray, we must pray.

Three Lies of Christian Convey

Whenever I speak to ordinary people about the Christian faith, almost invariably I find - to my own disappointment, frustration and dismay, they have believed three common lies about the church. To add insult to injury it seems it is Christians that have conveyed and impressed these lies on people. Now as if that is not bad enough, worst of all I am afraid that I myself may have been party to perpetuating these lies. So, what are these lies and what is the truth.

Three Lies

1) Rules and Regulations
Don't do this! Don't do that! 'Do's' and 'don'ts'. The Christians seem to have convinced people that Christianity is about a set of rules. But the Apostle Paul wrote ...

Colossians 2

[20] Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: [21] “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? [22] These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings.

The Apostle Paul is saying the dead opposite to what people have come to believe. He is clear, being a Christian is not about a load of 'do's' and 'don'ts'. In fact he argues that rules and regulations, 'do's' and don'ts' are the "basic principles of this world" - something Christians should have "died to". He also says in Galatians

[5:1] It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.

And again He writes in 2 Corinthians

2 [17] Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Of course we can debate the meaning of freedom - I'll do a blog on that some time, but whatever it means, it does not mean living a life bound by external rules and regulations.  The New Testament couldn't be clearer ... 

Romans 6:14

For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law but under grace.

2) Judging and Condemning

Another lie we Christians have conveyed is that, Christianity is about judging people and condemning them. That's what Christians do. But again the Bible teaches the exact opposite ...

Romans 

[2:1] You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.

Jesus said ...

Luke 6 [37] “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

3) Christianity is for the Good and Religious
Christians have also given the impression that Christianity is for religious people and good people. 

But Jesus said in The Gospel of Mark ...

[16] When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners'?”

 [17] On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

The 'teachers of the Law' / Pharisees were the religious leaders of the day, they were very religious and thought of themselves as very 'righteous'. Notice though, Jesus is hanging out with ordinary people, sinners - that is people who know they are not so good, They know that when it comes to 'standards', they fail their own - let alone Gods! The average person in Jesus' day - due to life's demands and poverty, was not able to fulfil the meticulous demands set by the religious - they were busy trying to survive - so they were not religious, they were so-called "sinners".

In fact Jesus hung out with so-called 'sinners' so much that he got the nick-name 'Friend of sinners'. 

Matthew 11 [19] The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.”' But wisdom is proved right by her actions.”

In fact the most scandalous thing about God, is, again as the Apostle Paul put it ...

Romans 4:5

However, to the man who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.

The word 'work' in the phrase "does not work" refers to the notion that we win God's favour by doing good works. But God justifies the ungodly - not the religious, not the 'good', but sinners. Now I am not proud of being a sinner at all. Sin is selfishness. It is always sin that spoils.  But admitting I am a sinner is what makes me a 'Grace-case'!

So there you have it. If I have ever given anyone the impression that Christianity is about 'do's' and 'don'ts' - I hope I have set that record straight - it is the opposite - it is about freedom - particularly from rules and regulations!

If I have ever given the impression that Christianity is about judging people - it is not - the last thing a Christian should do is judge people.

If ever I gave the impression that Christianity is for good and religious people - and especially if I have given the impression that I think I am a good and religious person - I am sorry. The truth is, Jesus is a friend of sinners - and on that basis I am very proud to say, He is a friend of mine! 

The Royals

Whatever you think about the Royal family, they are becoming increasingly popular. It is debatable whether they bring more money into the country than they cost, so I guess that means we're not talking big profits or losses ... So who cares?

I'm not a huge fan of the monarchy. But on the whole, I am glad they are there. Apart from the Olympics being here in the UK, there is not a lot that gets the nation out of their houses, onto the streets in joyful celebration - I think anything that does that is a pretty good thing and I'd rather pay a little and have it than not. Life in the UK would be a bit more bland without the Royals - there's little doubt about that.

It also strikes me as ironic, that our unelected monarchy, we can safely say, is loved by thousands, if not millions of Brits. But our elected politicians, David Cameron, Nick Clegg and the rest of the shady culprits - who loves them? Once you get past their own mothers  - well, in rolls the tumbleweed!

I think this is because the very reason politicians get elected is because of 'lowest common denominator politics'. In other words, they appeal to the widest number of voters because they are bland in policies, bland in character, bland because of political correctness and, well, just bland. When it comes to hi-def colour TV, well we may as well go back to black and white when it comes to politics, shades of grey are more than adequate. Unlike the monarchy!

Added to the irony is the fact that we give the power to our elected politicians who no-one really trusts or loves, or even likes, and we have rendered powerless our monarchy who, at least in the case of the Queen, seem principled and certainly loved by many. I guess it's best that way though.

So what about the Royal baby? Firstly the name? I go for George, quintessentially English.  But is this baby something to get so excited about? Well a new baby is always good news. Standing outside the hospital, Kate and William looked great with their new baby. I reckon that family unit will continue to be the best ambassadors we have. And who knows what this new baby will grow up to do? If His Mum and Dad continue to win the hearts of people, that could put the Royal baby (when he finally ascends the throne) in a very powerful position - especially if politics continues as it is, dead, dull, boring. Perhaps we as a nation will prefer a real leader?

My final thought concerning the Royal baby though is that I cannot help make the connection to another Royal baby who caused a very different stir when he was born. There was no bed in the hospital for him - there was no hospital, just a stable, no slick, black four wheel drive and baby seat, just a donkey, no lining of the streets with cheers and waves, no position of power, no advantages at all. This is how King Jesus was born. He lived in obscurity until the age of 30, working as a carpenter. Then from the age of 30 Jesus began His public work which ended three years later in his being tortured and murdered unjustly. That was 2000 years ago. And yet this King still reigns today. 

A monarchy always has the potential to be better than a democracy because a monarch can really rule and lead. If the monarch is benevolent, wise and courageous, a servant of the people, He will be loved and the country will prosper. If not, then it's bad news. That is the problem with a monarchy, it is dangerous because a good successor cannot be guaranteed, a democracy, sadly, is safer. The problem is human sin - it spoils everything!

So, if we could have a wise, benevolent, powerful monarch who is loved by and loves His people, but also who will never be succeeded - that is the answer that would resolve the issue of the inherent danger of a monarchy - that is what Jesus offers. I encourage you all, find out about Him, pledge your allegiance to Him.

Love Letter to a Lesbian

This is a letter by Jackie Hill to all the lesbians out there

Dear ______,

I just want you to know that I understand.

I understand how it feels to be in love with a woman. To want nothing more than to be with her forever. Feeling as if the universe has played a cruel joke on your heart by allowing it to fall into the hands of a creature that looks just like you.

I too was a lesbian. I had same-sex attractions as early as five years old.

As I grew up, those feelings never subsided. They only grew. I would find myself having crushes on my female best friends, but I was far too ashamed to admit it to them—let alone to myself.

At the age of 17, I finally made the decision to pursue these desires. I entered into a relationship with a young lady who became my “first.” The first time we kissed, it felt extremely natural, as if this feeling is what I had been missing all along. After her came another woman and then another woman. Both relationships were very serious, each lasting over a year.

I enjoyed these relationships and loved these women a lot. And it came to the point that I was willing to forsake all, including my soul, to enjoy their love on earth.

In October 2008, at the age of 19, my superficial reality was shaken up by a deeper love—one from the outside, one that I’d heard of before but never experienced.

For the first time, I was convicted of my sin in a way that made me consider everything I loved (idolized), and its consequences. I looked at my life, and saw that I had been in love with everything except God, and these decisions would ultimately be the death of me, eternally.

My eyes were opened, and I began to believe everything God says in his word. I began to believe that what he says about sin, death and hell were completely true.

And amazingly, at the same time that the penalty of my sin became true to me, so did the preciousness of the cross. A vision of God’s Son crucified, bearing the wrath I deserved, and an empty tomb displaying his power over death—all things I had heard before without any interest had become the most glorious revelation of love imaginable.

After realizing all of what I would have to give up, I said to God, “I cannot let these things or people go on my own. I love them too much. But I know you are good and strong enough to help me.”

Now, at the age of 23, I can say with all honesty that God has done just that. He has helped me love him more than anything.

Now why did I just tell you about this?

I gave you a glimpse of my story because I want you to understand that I understand.

But I also want you to know that I understand how it feels to be in love with the Creator of the universe.

To want nothing more than to be with him forever. To feel his grace, the best news ever announced to mankind. To see his forgiveness, that he would take such a wicked heart into his hands of mercy.

But with that in mind, we’re in a culture where stories like mine either seem impossible or hilarious, depending on the audience.

Homosexuality is everywhere—from music, to TV, even sports. If you’d believe all that society had to say about homosexuality, you’d come to the conclusion that it is completely normal, even somewhat admirable.

But that is far from the truth.

God tells us that homosexuality is sinful, abominable and unnatural (Leviticus 18:22, 20:13; Romans 1:18–32; 1 Corinthians 6:9–11; 1 Timothy 1:8–10). But if I were to be honest, sometimes homosexual attractions can seem natural to me.

I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that this may be your dilemma as well.

You see what God has to say about homosexuality, but your heart doesn’t utter the same sentiments. God’s word says it’s sinful; your heart says it feels right. God’s word says it’s abominable; your heart says it’s delightful. God’s word says it’s unnatural; your heart says it’s totally normal.

Do you see that there is a clear divide between what God’s word says and how your heart feels?

So which voice should you believe?

These temptations caused me to doubt God’s word. My temptations and desires began to become more real to me than the truth of the Bible.

As I was praying and meditating on these things, God put this impression on my heart: “Jackie, you have to believe that my word is true even if it contradicts how you feel.”

Wow! This is right. Either I trust in his word or I trust my own feelings. Either I look to him for the pleasure my soul craves or I search for it in lesser things. Either I walk in obedience to what he says or I reject his truth as if it were a lie.

The struggle with homosexuality is a battle of faith. Is God my joy? Is he good enough? Or am I still looking to broken cisterns to quench a thirst only he can satisfy? That is the battle. It is for me, and it is for you.

The choice is yours, my friend. I pray you put your faith in Christ and flee from the lies of our society that coincide with the voices of your heart—a heart that Scripture says is wicked and deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9). Run to Jesus instead.

You were made for him (Romans 11:36). He is ultimately all that you need!

He is good and wise (Psalm 145:9). 

He is the source of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3).

He is kind and patient (2 Peter 3:9). 

He is righteous and faithful (Psalm 33:4).

He is holy and just (1 John 1:9). 

He is our true King (Psalm 47:7).

He is our Savior (Jude 1:25).

And he is inviting you to be not just his servant, but also his friend. If lasting love is what you’re looking for anywhere else, you are chasing the wind, seeking what you will never find, slowly being destroyed by your pursuit.

But in Jesus, there is fullness of joy. In Jesus, there is a relationship worth everything, because he is everything. Run to him.  

If there is an all-powerful God of love, why is there so much suffering in the world?

If God is the all-powerful, loving, just creator, how do we explain this world we live in with all it’s suffering?

This is an important question that most people ask. The Bible does give answers to the general question, but obviously not specific answers to specific questions. So that means, the Bible does tell us why suffering exists, but it does not tell us why particular people suffer in particular ways. This is a really important distinction to make because sometimes people ask the general question, but have particular instances of suffering in mind. So a person may have lost a loved one due to a drunk driver and feels deeply grieved, angry and confused. They ask, "How can a God of love allow suffering", but really they are asking why God allowed their loved one to suffer so unjustly in particular. Answering the specific with the general answer will not help that person.

The General Question

Why Does God Allow Suffering? - THE FACTS

1)There is suffering.

Death, disaster, disease and wickedness are a sad fact of life. All people suffer, some more than others. Many people suffer unbearably.

2) The Bible teaches that 'God is Love'. 

It is Love that's at the very core of God's being.

3) The Bible teaches God is all-powerful. 

This means He could end suffering once for all at any moment. God can intervene.

4) The Bible teaches God is perfectly just and hates all wickedness.

This means he is against all that is wrong and unjust.

5) The Bible teaches God is the sole creator of the world and all people.

God's World

The Bible teaches that when God created everything, he created it all very good. There was no suffering, sickness, disease or evil - nothing at all to cause sadness, hurt or pain.  It was absolute paradise - the perfect home environment for man. God’s world was a world that held together in perfect harmony. That is the world God created and ruled over. That was God's world.

Man's World

God never forces people to obey His rule. Isn’t it better that you can choose to accept or reject God? You don’t have to submit to his rule. He has given you the right to choose - which is why coercion is so wrong. The Bible teaches that the first human couple made their choice, and like the rest of us, chose to reject God as ruler. They wanted to be top-dog. They didn't want someone telling them how to live. They wanted to rule their own world on their own terms.

The Problem with Rejecting God

The problem is, God is entirely good and knows how to rule perfectly well. In rejecting God and His wise and good rule, we rejected the maker of all things, the only one who knows how to rule and reign and keep all things truly good. Man foolishly stuffed up big time. So now we live in man’s world under man’s rule without God’s good, powerful, loving and wise reign. It is the world under Man’s rule that is full of suffering, disease, disaster, evil etc. 

You may well object, “But disaster and disease, that's not Man's fault is it?” Well, when man rejected God, it was like we sacked the one person able to keep all creation in harmony. Without Him, everything is out of order, it’s as if we’ve thrown a spanner in the works. This explains why the world is as it is. but there’s more ...

Powers of Darkness

Most people want peace and love in the world - but everywhere, at every level their is anything but true peace. Instead there is unrest, fear, stress, anxiety and conflict at every level - within marriage right up to wars between nations. who would choose such a world? It is a world built on fear, mistrust and insecurity - that’s why we all have keys for our front door - no-one is safe and we all know it. The world is broken.

The Bible teaches that there is a malevolent spiritual force at work - Satan and demonic beings which are fallen angels. Without God reigning, these are at work in all kinds of ways to bring evil into the world. This is why we see so much suffering. This is the only way to explain war and unbelievably evil atrocities that happen. People who commit terrible atrocities are too often not insane at all. They are possessed and moved by evil.

Why Doesn't God intervene?

Ithe Bible teaches that god does intervene. The problem is, we don't see it. Think of those times you were driving and not paying attention - then just in the Nic of time you looked up and hit the breaks. 

But whatever, If God intervened to rid the world of all evil, he would need to rid the world of the causes of evil too, or the renewed earth would be quickly ruined. The problem is, we are the cause! God would have to get rid of us - He’d have to forever shut us out from His good Kingdom or we’d wreck it too - being shut out forever is what the Bible calls hell. God does not want you to go to hell because He loves you. God knows, as terrible as suffering in this world is, it is on average about 70 years max - it is nothing compared to eternity in hell. This is why God has not intervened in this way ... Yet.

The Great Exchange

But God has intervened. God came into our world, as a man - Jesus. He shared our humanity but unlike us, Jesus never sinned. That means He did nothing to contribute to any of the hurt, pain or ruin in this world. It means He always did what is good and right without exception. Basically, He alone was the perfect man.

The thing about Jesus though, is being perfect - he wasn’t stand-offish at all. Ordinary people loved Jesus and loved hanging out with Him, and he loved them too. Jesus loved to hang out with anyone who would accept Him for who He is.

So why was Jesus crucified? There is no doubt the religious leaders hated him, the Bible tells us also that “Satan entered Judas” who betrayed Jesus. Strangest of all though, the Bible tells us it was God’s will for Jesus to suffer! On the cross a great exchange was made possible. Jesus took the rap of God’s punishment for all our sin. In other words - in God’s judgement, everyone of us deserves to be crucified. But why?

Why is it so terrible to reject God?

To us, rejecting and ignoring God is not a biggy - but to God, it is the most terrible of all crimes. It is THE worst crime. Worse than any other crime you can imagine.

The reason it is so bad is because it is the one crime that enables all others. Had we never rejected God - this world would be paradise. But we have all rejected Him, so we are all responsible for all the subsequent evil. It really is a very serious crime. When we make out it is not a biggy - we just compound our sin.

So, we deserve the most terrible punishment - death on a cross - then shut out from God’s goodness forever - hell. But Jesus took our place on the cross so that we could take His in God’s Kingdom. This means, we can now come back to God, back under His rightful reign.  Jesus took all the rap for us!

God will not let evil continue forever. At the appointed time He will certainly return and rid the world of all evil. Those who have turned back to Him as their Lord will inherit their place in His eternal Kingdom where there is no more suffering or sadness of any kind, those who continue choose to reject Him, God will respect their choice and so they will get what they have chosen - a world without Him forever - that is hell. The choice is ours. Will you turn back to your rightful ruler, your maker and the only one who can save you from a lost eternity? 

But it’s not True - is it?

According to Jesus Himself, and the Apostles, Jesus has proved the reality of all this by rising from the grave. There is solid evidence for that. The only reason anyone would deny it in light of the evidence - is because they have closed their eyes and minds in already deciding, regardless of any evidence, there is no God

Check out my blogs on the resurrection.

Vision

Vision, Mission, Values, Strategy, Goals, Ministry Philosophy

It seems to me there is a great deal of confusion with these terms, so when I read lot's of churches Vision Statements, they are often clear statements (which is the most important thing), but they are not Vision Statements, usually they are Mission Statements etc.

Maybe I have just misunderstood things - wouldn't be the first time, or maybe there really is confusion and for once I am actually on the right track!

Here's how I see it ....

Vision Statement

This is a Statement that paints a visual picture of what we want to see. These statements, though not necessarily, can be quite lengthy statements, a side of A4 or more, or maybe half a page or a paragraph or two. The key thing is, it paints a picture that people can see. It is the 'being able to see/imagine it' that makes it a vision statement. If you can't see it, it is not a Vision Statement (VS). So VS cannot be 'concepts' but must be concrete. Neither can they be 'tasks' but pictures. It is a picture that inspires by firing the imagination. A great example of a vision statement would be Martin Luther King's famous 'I Have A Dream!' 

In that statement he paints a magnificent and inspiring picture, a dream that all can dream. In fact he paints two vivid pictures, one being the status quo ...

"One hundred years later the negro still lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity ... the Negro is still languishing in the corners of Americas society and finds himself an exile in his own land."

And he paints a picture of "the dream" or you could just as easily say 'vision' ...

"I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day ... Little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boy and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers."

That is vision! A vision statement may have all sorts of inspiring detail, hence may be lengthy, but will often be summarised by a shorter statement. However, it is a real picture in full blown technicolor. Something that people see and dream about. It excites and motivates. It is what keeps you going when the going gets really tough. It is the dream!

An example of a  Bible vision would be Revelation 21, note the added emphasis ...

[21:1] Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. [2] And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. [3] And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. [4] He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Another passage of scripture that could provide a 'vision' for a church is Acts 2 which provides an inspiring snap-shot of the early church...

[42] They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. [43] Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. [44] All the believers were together and had everything in common. [45] Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. [46] Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, [47] praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

In my next blog we'll look at 'what is a Mission Statement'.

Why I refuse to TOLERATE GAY and MUSLIM people. #3

Ok, so if you haven't read blogs 1 & 2 of this series (see below) you probs need to, but otherwise, read on!

Xenophobic and Homophobic?

Do my convictions expressed in the previous two blogs make me homophobic and xenophobic? On the face of it I can see it might appear so, which is why the bible tells us all, we should be quick to listen and slow to speak. 

Well, phobias have to do with fear, and I am not at all afraid of gay people or Muslimss. The gay and Muslim people I know are just like anyone else. They are a mixture. Being gay or Muslim does not make a person bad, evil or my enemy. I enjoy their company and friendship like anyone else's. 

Neither do I want to exterminate them, persecute them or deny them human rights. I want them to live free and happy lives.  But I do not believe as such, that theirs' is equal and valid to the biblical teaching on belief and practise.

If a school teacher asks her class, 'what is 2+2' and a boy answers '5' and a girl answers '4', and if the teacher then said to the boy, 'sorry, your answer is wrong', does that mean she is anti the boy? Does that mean she has some kind of prejudice phobia against him? Does that means she thinks he is evil? Does that mean she is condemning him? Of course not! The topics we are discussing are certainly more complex, but the principle is the same. 

Imagine a teacher was howeled at and maligned, labeled a rightwing facist every time she told someone they got the wrong answer, then people could not learn, even if the teacher was wrong she wouldn't learn but just be slapped down, and this is what happens in society. I believe gay lifestyle and Muslim doctrine is wrong in the sight of God, but I do not condemn them, I have no desire to vilify them or legislate against them. Neither do I affirm what they believe and do as equally valid to God's revelation, though I do affirm their right to choose.

I REFUSE TO TOLERATE GAY AND MUSLIM PEOPLE

But I will not yield to the pressure to bow down along with the herd, to the god of this age by TOLERATING them. I will tolerate a fart in an elevator, but I will not reduce my fellow man to an object to be merely 'tolerated'. The Bible teaches that all people, no matter what they believe or do, in fact, in spite of what they believe and do, are creatures made in the image of God. They are all of equal value, dignity and worth, and as such are to be loved - not merely tolerated. 

Love your brothers and sisters, Love your neighbour, Love Your enemies

The Bible teaches all the above. That means everyone is to be loved! To love is to care for and practically want the highest and greatest possible good for another, even at cost to self (and as Christians we need to remember that, our concerns are not primarily about our so-called rights)  I might not like everything my children believe and do in life, but I will always love them and want the highest, possible good for them.

It is the exact same principle at work here to Gays and Muslims., I want every Muslim and every gay person to live without persecution, fear or victimisation on account of what they believe or the choices they make. I want the greatest and highest good for them all and nothing less. 

But here's the thing, the greatest and highest possible good for them and anyone else is that they come to know the love of God and the salvation found only in Jesus. This is not a ball I can drop for the sake of being liked. To use our parent/child analogy, sometimes children kick off when they don't hear what they want from their parents. It is tempting for parents to cave in to children, weak parents do, but good parents hold their course, no matter how unpopular, despite being accused by their children of being nasty etc, and they hold their course because they love their children. 

That is why I must speak the truth, I cannot pretend that a gay lifestyle or Muslim doctrine is something God loves and celebrates. All Christians must speak the truth in love, hoping they will repent of all sin, turn to Jesus as Lord, know fullness of life and be saved from a lost eternity.

But if they will not turn to Him, then still I want the highest good and greatest happiness for them in this life, but at the same time I am genuinely and deeply sorry for them, that they will face judgement without hope and a lost eternity. I really don't want that for anyone. This is not phobia, nor is it toleration, but the love of God.