I'm going to ask two questions that are really one question, just asked different ways. I think. It's a question of how we view God and how we view ourselves.
1. I've heard some say in regard to homosexuality (and maybe to other things as well) something like: "If it was just me, I don't care, but this is God's word!" In effect, the speaker is saying that s/he has no problem but God does and therefore the speaker must act/speak on God's behalf, regardless of the speaker's personal convictions. What does this mean? Does the speaker have more (tolerance) (acceptance) than God? Does is mean that God has a stricter (criteria) (judgment) than the speaker?
2. I've seen people be in agony over the salvation of a loved one because they've felt the loved one had crossed an unforgivable sign. The lover of the one would do anything to save the loved one from the fires of hell, because the former believes the latter to be, deep down, a good person, but still fears God's (judgment) (wrath) on the loved one. What does this mean? Does the lover of the one (love more) (forgive more) than God? Does the lover of the one have a weaker sense of (judgment) (justice) than God?
What are the ramifications/implications of this sort of language?
Someone somewhere once said something to the effect: God's wrath is but a teaspoon in the oceans of God's love. Does this ring a bell with anyone? Was it Augustine? (I can't find it via Google---too many common words.) Does this equation seem true or false? Does it relate to the issues before the ELCA this year?
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Comments are welcome, opposing as well as supportive. The hour is past for anonymity, however, and I as moderator will delete any post that does not have a verifiable name attached to it. Hold your convictions and hold them in the light. This goes for supportive and non-supportive comments.