The Christian Worldview is often misunderstood, and often deliberately mischaracterized. The reality is that we begin with an understanding of the inherent evil that is within us all. Every man, woman and child ever born (excepting only Jesus Himself), has within himself a selfishness and desire for the destructive that he cannot avoid. Left to ourselves, without the constraints of Law, we desire to lie, cheat, steal, kill, maim, overpower, plunder, rape, and otherwise destroy everything around us.
On the other hand, God has set up constraints to mitigate those desires to large degree and keep us from destroying ourselves and each other. The first restraint we encounter in life is our families. In even the most dysfunctional families, children learn there are limits they cannot exceed without consequences. Outside the family, God sets up governments to constrain us. Even the most tyrannical governments, such as the one in North Korea, limits are set that keep the people from destroying each other. Ironically, in the tyrannical governments, it is the wickedness of the leadership that keeps the wickedness of the population in check. Gangs and mobsters loath competition.
Christians recognize God's Law as well. We understand that staying within the limits of the 10 commandments (the foundation for God's Law) benefits us all. It removes from us the notion that we can do as we will, including harming others, but does the same to them so they will not harm us. Furthermore, it really is amazing to consider the often unforeseen consequences of our actions that are avoided when we stay within the bounds of God's law. For example, if we obey the 7th commandment, You shall not commit adultery (recognizing this is intended to cover all forms of sexual sin including fornication), we will not encounter such consequences as unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease. If you think about it, syphilis, gonorrhea, HIV, and all other sexually transmitted diseases could be wiped out in a single generation if people would obey God's order and engage in only one sexual relationship in their lifetimes. While it is possible to contract these diseases in other ways, it is much more rare and controllable.
Because we find ourselves in a position where we are all inclined to evil, and still find ways to commit evil deeds despite the limitations God has placed before us, we are left hopeless, helpless, and without excuse before Him. He has said in His revelation to mankind (the Bible) that sin (violation of His law) requires judgment. Crime requires punishment. If we were to stop there, we would all be facing severe punishment for our deeds, and no one would be left guiltless. Fortunately, God loves us so much that while we were still in a state of rebellion against Him and His law, He sent His only and perfect son, born of a virgin, to stand in our place on Judgment Day. However, there are conditions. First, we are required to repent. That is to say, we must agree with God that what we do is wicked, and we must stop doing it. We can not continue justifying our actions, which we know deep within our souls to be wrong. Second, we must place our trust in the atoning death of Jesus in our place. What that means is that we cannot delude ourselves by thinking that “going straight” and doing nothing but good deeds for the rest of our lives will justify us on judgment day. The simple fact is that once a crime is committed, no good deed will erase it. By trusting Jesus, we acknowledge that we deserve judgment, but also recognize that he stepped in and took that judgment in our place. We did the crime, He did the time, so to speak.
With all of that said, let's take a look at the state of the world. Wickedness abounds. The Christian has recognized it, and dealt with it. The non-Christian continues unabated. Christians, filled with the love that it took for God to rescue us from our situation, in turn love God and fellow man. It is from that love that we we endure mocking, scorn, loss of friendships, division of families, and general persecution from a wicked world in order to share the Good News that God has provided a way out. He has given us salvation from not only the eternal consequences of our wickedness, but also an appreciation for the benefits of obedience to His law in this life.
I recently posted a Youtube video by comedian/magician Penn Jillette. Despite being an avowed atheist, and thoroughly rejecting the claims of Christianity, including what I've laid out here, he had the intellectual honesty to admit that it would be downright hateful of a Christian to believe what I've stated above, and do nothing to share it with others. I was a bit surprised by his understanding of the Good-will of the Christian he encountered.
On the other hand, Jillette is in a small, and shrinking, minority among the vocal unbelieving world. The more common response is much more antagonistic, if not violent. That of homosexuals is perhaps easiest to point to as exemplary. As a Christian, I don't see homosexuality as any lesser or greater a sin than those which I am guilty of myself. However, it's quite visible. I know of no other sin that has parades, festivals, or benefits to highlight it. In addition, opposition to it is painted as hatred. But is it really? If I firmly believe a sin (or in this case a lifestyle of sin) to be destructive, not only within this life, but in the next as well, is it really hatred to speak up about it?
Setting aside the eternal aspect of sin, there is a ton of truth about homosexuality to suggest that it should be avoided at all costs. Disease rates among homosexuals are off the charts in comparison to heterosexuals, even among the promiscuous. (I note at this point that, as a Christian, I see heterosexual fornication as just as much a sin as homosexual sex). I have never talked to a homosexual who didn't know someone who has been infected by the HIV virus, and most know someone who has died. Domestic violence rates are much higher as well. These statistics, and others, are explained in much more detail in a report by the Traditional Values Coalition (pdf).
Why would it be considered hatred for my to want the best for my fellow man, including homosexuals? I don't want them dying of avoidable diseases. I don't want them victimized by domestic violence. And above all, I don't want them to face judgment for their sins before God without a savior.
On the other hand, there are millions of people who wish that sinners, including homosexuals, would be left alone. They want to be left to contract deadly diseases. They want to be left to be physically abused by the people around them. They want to go unchallenged in their destructive behavior. It is like a blind man walking toward a 1,000-foot cliff, calling those who warn him of the dangers ahead “hateful.”
As Penn Jillette said, how hateful would we have to be to remain silent?
