I hate passion. It makes the simple complex and creates division where none should exist.I love the
Church. Its members make life more livable, enabling sharing and friendships to grow and flourish
in the spirit of Christian love (agape), while being a place of
solace and comfort in the midst of the shifting sands of the
surrounding culture.
I hate the Church. Its members make mountains out of molehills, take offense where often none is intended, and throw emotional charges around with little regard for the after effect.
I guess the Church is just a part of life, subject to the same strengths and weaknesses we all share,
since the Church is really the people that make it up and in the end it is only as effective as our collective will to make it so.
While we are currently flogging the consecration of Bishop-elect
Robinson, and properly so, let's remember that we are all sinners and we all
must constantly strive to keep sin from becoming an integrated part of the
fabric of our own lives. In the process of rightly dividing the Word of
Truth we should never forget to hate the sin while still loving (agape) the
sinner, never forgetting that the love we offer is not license, but tough
love, always striving for the redemption and salvation of those we engage.
God loves and God hates and He does so with perfect justice and
inestimable mercy. We should endeavor to do the same. 11-15-03
