“Someone does something for me, not because they like me but because they ‘tolerate’ me? I’m not on the same level as them, I’m not as good as them, they ‘tolerate’ me and nothing else.”
You’re partly right, but so what? Some people commit acts which DO place them at a lower level than others. And, it is the right of the church and its parishioners to make that judgment.
But the church was also willing to offer Christian service to this man’s family, in addition to “tolerance.” They were willing to celebrate the positive aspects of the man’s life, without giving over their pulpit for acceptance or celebration of what they consider to be perversion and sin. The family apparently wanted acceptance and/or celebration of that perversion and sin.
Another poster’s comparison to a church tactfully avoiding the subject of a departed’s adultery is completely apt.
To my way of thinking, the church went above and beyond anything that any reasonable person had a right to expect of them.
Then any offer made out of 'tolerance' and not out of love or a desire to aid the family cannot be sincere, wouldn't you agree?
But the church was also willing to offer Christian service to this man’s family...
Not so much, no. They were willing to offer a service, so long as the family apparently stayed within limits.
They were willing to celebrate the positive aspects of the man’s life, without giving over their pulpit for acceptance or celebration of what they consider to be perversion and sin.
Didn't Jesus say that judgement was his province and not man's? If the church looked upon their act as merely being nice to some perverted sinner's family then they chose to pass judgement and their actions were the height of hypocrisy.
Another poster’s comparison to a church tactfully avoiding the subject of a departed’s adultery is completely apt.
The Bible says that those who divorce and marry are committing adultery against their former spouse. Should the church forbid the family of a divorced man from showing any pictures of his second wife and family on the grounds that it was an adulterous relationship and the children were illegitimate? Would you be supporting the church if they did?
To my way of thinking, the church went above and beyond anything that any reasonable person had a right to expect of them.
To my way of thinking the church should never have made the offer in the first place.
I agree with that analysis.