Bullying

     In these times everyone seem to be victims. Many are indeed victimized. Even countries are bullied; for instance Israel is the bullied nation of the world. Victims have their defenders; in the case of Israel, the United States is its defender.
     I was bullied in high school. There was no other reason other than the bullies were bigger than me. As medium-sized, I protected the smaller guys from the big bullies. I have been kicked in the face and elsewhere because I was a bully protector.
     My daughter was unmercifully bullied in high school merely because she wasn't from a wealthy family, although we certainly were not poor. Bullies don't need reasons. Some people are cruel by nature. I never cry because I was bullied, but cry when I think of my wonderful Heather suffering from the mouths of bullies. I was physically accosted and ridiculed for being a "dumb Kentuckian" in the Hoosier state. Heather suffered emotional bullying just because she wasn't as wealthy as other girls, or maybe it was because she was prettier and classier. Bullies don't need reasons.
     I never bullied but I was as bad in one case.; I ridiculed an unattractive and afflicted older girl. After fifty years, I still cringe at my evilness. I shed tears because I was mean to a fellow human. Unattractive people are easy targets, and so are ultra-thin and overweight people. I know a pretty girl who finds it difficult to find a suitable dating companion. I reminded her that those who society finds unattractive may never have a date or be loved. I hurt for them. Maybe it's not bullying, but it is unfair. Unfairness is being the victim with only society being the bully.
      Bullies are ugly. Oh, their presentation and outward appearance may hide it awhile, but inside iniquity rears its ugly head. Bullying is iniquitous. People who bully are not empathetic nor caring.
      Jesus was bullied. The scribes and Pharisees dogged him all through his ministry. The chief priest, Caiaphas, bullied Jesus all the way to the cross. Centurions bullied Jesus by casting lots for his clothing - the very shirt off his back. Those who bullied Jesus, "had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews (Mat 27:29)! They took the Kaepernick knee to Jesus, who was even made to carry his own cross.
     The Jews bullied Jesus to death. They were graceful to Barrabbas the thief, but insisted that Jesus die for just being Jesus. The death of God was the ultimate bullying, but since Cain slayed Abel, the fittest always bullies those they perceive less fit. The hero of evolution - Charles Darwin - developed the concept of "survival of the fittest." That idea is the ticket to bullying. The Third Reich was based on bullying Jews, Christians, and other non-Germanic peoples. They bullied England and made a fool of Neville Chamberlain by provocation and fear-mongering.
     Bullying came to mind because I saw an episode of America's Got  Talent (AGT). The winner of that night's competition immediately revealed his sexual orientation, and said that he was bullied for that. Christians rightfully consider homosexuality as unrighteousness as is fornication and other sins of the flesh. True love is not wanting that they should perish (John 3:16). To that end, tough love is the use of reproof and correction (2 Tim 3:16). As with any sinner, it must be done without provocation. Shouting epithets at sinners is counter-productive. That is not the way of true Christians. Christians are not haters although Popper's Paradox of Tolerance allows haters to define and despise those they deem haters. Recent events have shown that those who condemn the most for intolerance are the most intensely intolerant and are the worst haters.
     The man on AGT was victimized by haters. We don't know how intensely, but bullying is wrong and immoral. Perhaps he was bullied more so because of mannerisms or whatever. I've even seen gigantic and beautiful people bullied. As a result of my victimization by bullies, I grew stronger and motivated. Just as my poverty was a factor that made me successful, being bullied made me less likely to bully. That goes for my daughter as well; she has a tender heart.
     According to Popper's Paradox of Tolerance, it's okay to bully Christians because Christianity condemns homosexuality. Liberals have misidentified Christians and even God as hateful. Christians are bullied now by the very ones who have been bullied. In modern times, the LBGT movement has gotten in  the face of Christians, and demanded acceptance. The bullied have become the bullies.
     Examine the following passages:

And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof. And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.  But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.(Gen 19:1-10).

     Lot was congenial and nice to the men who desired to have sex with the male angels. He even offered his daughters to protect the angels from being accosted. The men of the city were burning in lust for the male angels; so much so that they provoked and bullied Lot. We have come full-circle - it is wrong for straight people to bully homosexuals and as wrong for homosexuals to bully Christians and straights.
     There is normalcy and deviancy. For some, society defines both, and it is dynamic. On the other hand, God's precepts are unchanging. "Normal" is not enough for Him. Christians are to be supra-normal  - even loving enemies and the unrighteous. God commands that because love is hard work.
     Deviancy in God's vocabulary is "abominations." There is a long list of them in the Book of Leviticus. Some things "normal" people do. God frowns on the sins of "normal" people just as he does others who are deviate from his precepts. God is not a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). As such, Christians are to reprove and correct homosexuals just as we are expected to do the same to fornicators, gluttons, drunks, and the licentious. Homosexuality is not exempt from God's precepts!
     God is both tolerant and intolerant; I have previously labeled that as God's Paradox of Tolerance. He forgives innumerable times (implied in Mat 18:22), and even "forgets' sin (Heb 8:12). On the other hand, unrepentant sins are the wages of death (Rom 6:12). The former is extremely tolerant and the latter extremely intolerant. God cares little for "political correctness" because his precepts are divine justice and are just.
     The theme of the Bible is twofold: (1) love sinners, and (2) hate sin. Jesus died in our place because of our sin; to rationalize sin is foolishness. It's okay to hate homosexuality, but at the same time, Christians must love the homosexuals. Does that mean condone their lifestyle? No; we are to love them despite their iniquity. Are they welcome in church? I answer the question with, "Should you be welcome in the church." We are all sinners who fail God (Rom 3:23). On the other hand, just as fornicators and adulteries, unless forgiven and the sins are past, have behaviors inconsistent with church membership, as do homosexuals. God doesn't make exceptions for sins which are in vogue. Those who drowned in the flood concluded that too late!
     We are required to love sinners, but not their bullying. Society in this day and age is bullied into accepting LBGT's as normal. Because most Christians won't be bullied on that issue, society and liberal churches do the bullying. They ignore God's Paradox of Tolerance while utilizing Popper's.

Note: Popper's Paradox of Tolerance: ""In order to maintain a tolerant society, the society must be intolerant of intolerance."