Christians like Jesus should be compassionate to others rather than denounce them to damnation

REV Ivan Foster (Write Back, November 12) cites “immeasurable suffering, vengeance of eternal fire and the wrath of God” in relation to Humanist and LGBT people concerning the law of God.

Jesus spoke about a great many things, such as hell, divorce and money, in the Bible, but in his dealings with those who were termed “sinners”, he always showed compassion.

In fact, it was the religious authorities who thought themselves righteous that he took to task the most for their hypocrisy.

One story he shared was of a Pharisee who went to the Temple in Jerusalem to pray. As he stood there next to another man, he said, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men” and he lists off all the good things he does for God.

However, the second man “would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner’”. Which does God prefer?

Every Christian is aware that the Bible proscribes homosexuality in the strongest terms. But our example of how to act should be like Jesus; 1 Peter 4 says that judgement begins at the house of God, but it also reminds that “love covers a multitude of sins”. John adds that “he who does not love does not know God, for God is love”.

We do not need to compromise the Christian message, but some of Jesus’ compassion will be much more effective in reaching someone for God than all the self-righteous sermons on hellfire and damnation.

We must not forget that Christians await judgement also one day.

COLIN NEVIN

Bangor, Co Down