tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6972661907029038524.post3253584623680524010..comments2023-10-19T05:34:26.911-06:00Comments on Serendipity: CharitySarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08765524620705643823noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6972661907029038524.post-88147204202931603952011-04-04T18:42:44.618-06:002011-04-04T18:42:44.618-06:00Hi, I've been perusing your blog for a while a...Hi, I've been perusing your blog for a while and your husbands. I am not a Mormon, I am Christian, regardless of religion the same prejudices remain. <br /><br />My partner is gay. I am struggling to understand this. I've accepted it and we often joke about guys...he will go on a date here and there under the agreement that "as long as I know about it, it's fine!" However recently, I've discovered by I guess a happy accident that he's been cruising online and texting guys. <br /><br />How have you managed to maintain that happy medium? I am only 23, but I have committed myself to this guy, he believe he will the father of my children. <br /><br />It's interesting because I have been reading and educating myself about Mormonism recently and I found your husbands blogs then yours and it was encouraging and sincere and I felt as though I didn't discover the blog by accident. .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6972661907029038524.post-33635421889784004442011-04-04T18:08:51.110-06:002011-04-04T18:08:51.110-06:00I think you've got the right idea about what c...I think you've got the right idea about what charity is :)Saint Jobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16187537284190617835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6972661907029038524.post-87105112466128562902011-04-04T14:34:41.149-06:002011-04-04T14:34:41.149-06:00@anonymous: Go read John 4 again (the story of the...@anonymous: Go read John 4 again (the story of the Samaritan woman at the well).<br /><br />It's not entirely accurate to say that Jesus "identified the bad behavior". He did point out to the woman that she was living with a man who she wasn't married to, but he never says anything one way or another about whether this is "bad behavior", and it seems clear (in context) that he was actually simply taking the opportunity to demonstrate a prophetic gift or discernment--to set the stage for declaring himself to her as the messiah. (In other words, his declaration of her marital status was more a faith-promoting miracle than a call to repentance).<br /><br />He doesn't speak a word of condemnation or judgment, and there's no indication that she felt any sense of shame or guilt, or that she repented (or was told to) or changed her behavior.<br /><br />The people he <i>does</i> condemn, over and over again, are the ones who concern themselves with all the "shalls" and "shall nots" of the law but who are devoid of love or compassion or even grudging <i>tolerance</i> for those who are less "righteous" than they are. That is, the ones who are busy "hating the sins".Scott Nhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10650693452554752386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6972661907029038524.post-68428268609103230722011-04-04T09:50:48.357-06:002011-04-04T09:50:48.357-06:00I agree with you Sarah. "Love the sinner, ha...I agree with you Sarah. "Love the sinner, hate the sin" doesn't exist. But even more interesting, it isn't in scripture either. <br /><br />Instead, we have D&C 64:10 "I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men."BigRedHammerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09525232250776614478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6972661907029038524.post-17128740147697635392011-04-04T09:24:12.034-06:002011-04-04T09:24:12.034-06:00Maybe "hate the sin, love the sinner" is...Maybe "hate the sin, love the sinner" is not the exact right phrasing, but the concept does exist and should be practiced. I find that it is very difficult for people to practice it in real life.<br /><br />Part of the problem is that people identify with the sin and accept it as their identity instead of just something that they are experiencing. Or even worse, identify others by their sins instead of by their godly lineage. <br /><br />I guess the main thing is what you emphasize in your interactions. Do you focus on the sin or focus on loving the person? Some people call it reversing your "buts". Is it, "I love you, but you need to quit sinning", or is it "I know you sin, but I love you". <br /><br />The Savior's experience with the Woman at the well is a great example of how to behave. He identified the bad behavior, but did not run her down or condemn her but expressed his love for her while encouraging her to do better.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6972661907029038524.post-21398385461645865352011-04-04T08:54:40.736-06:002011-04-04T08:54:40.736-06:00I'm set to teach this lesson this week in EQ. ...I'm set to teach this lesson this week in EQ. I'm slightly nervous about how to approach that last section you mentioned. I think its vitally important to address, but I don't want to be lynched by a room of Elders who think I'm somehow being blasphemous.<br /><br />Thanks for this post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com