I love this site because being the LA oddball my views more often than not, just plain grind w/ those of most here. But this is not what I love about it. What it is is that every now and again someone will post something that to me is right on to my way of thinking (or at least 98%) and the person posting will be someone with whom I usually have a very different perspective.
And in this case it is you Dixie Dude.
I'm always saying that in spite of all our differences, if we just try a little to do what IMO is the Christ "like" thing to do and empathise, see the world through different eyes, experience, and perspective; we will find common ground.
I would only go as far as saying, in reference to "hating the sin" and not people, that sin is what it is, in and of itself it is always a choice that will always turn a blind eye to ones disapproval and even approval as well. Why allow it to give rise to ANY kind of HATE.
Hate already has too much power of it's own. Don't give it more. I've always felt that it was one of the challenges that is presented to us by the teachings of Christ, and quite possibly one of the most difficult, to seek to understand (and by this I am not suggesting to condone) the "why" people become what they do in order to change things for the future (I also agree with you on the strong Family Unit).
Sad thing is you're absolutely correct about the behavioral and tactics examples that you give and they are very predatory in nature. Indeed a challenge not to HATE that. As we agree, we all have that right to express our views (this is precious to me) but the positive or negative receptiveness one will receive is always contingent upon ones eloquence, tactfulness, and humility in presentation. And unfortunately the great majority of us come up quite short when it comes to emulating Christ in that respect.
Excellent post Dixie Dude.
