I love how your LGBT buddy is a "child of God", but Christians helping other Christians don't "smell like Christ."
Again you seem to have an inability to actually read my response.
I have absolute compassion for the Baker and hate that he is having to go through this. But I also know that God can and does use all things to His glory. It very well may be that this Baker is facing these challenges to the ultimate glory of God. God will sustain the Baker through these challenges and, I believe, will surround him with full support. This has already been happening with the legal help he is receiving and the victories already seen. I also have compassion for the LGBT person because i can only imagine the sad life that this person has and the hate that drives this person to do what they do.
Let me frame this a bit differently.
Christ was persecuted, beaten, spit on, had thorns beaten into his head and was ultimately nailed to a cross. Did he curse those who were persecuting him? No. He prayed for them.
Stephen was stoned and while dying asked God to forgive his executioners
Paul was jailed multiple times and beaten multiple times. Did he complain about it? No, he used those situations to reach out to his jailers and celebrated his persecution in the name of Christ
John was cast onto the isle of Patmos. He didn't revile those that persecuted him but prayed for them.
I can go on and on with other Christians throughout history who were burned at the stake, sawn in two, beaten, killed in horrible ways all while refusing to give up their profession of faith and also while maintaining a loving posture toward those that hated them.
Now, lets return to this LGBT activist. I ask you.
1. How is your (and others on this thread) posture toward this person exhibiting the love of Christ?
2. How is your (and others on this thread) demeanor toward this person reflecting your desire for their best interest and redemption?
3. How can anyone who reads this thread see the 'salt and light' that is to be associated with a Christians life?
4. How can anyone who reads this thread note the Christian sacrifice on behalf of loving others?
The hardest thing to do is to love an individual or individuals when they so clearly hate you. Nobody has said that the Christian stance is easy. In fact, it is incredibly difficult and possible only through God's grace and strength. It is because of this ability to persevere and love in the face of persecutions that so beautifully illustrates God's love toward us who spit in His face daily with our sin. You can feel free to continue to disparage me and my motives if you like but I trust you understand the points I am making.
Steve