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[–]fschmidt 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

The problem is Matthew 5:43-48. This seems to apply to everyone, not just members of your group (however defined). I would like to know how Pastor Steven Anderson deals with this?

[–]trident765[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I believe this is probably the verse Pastor Anderson was defending against in the video.

Pastor Anderson believes in a doctrine that says that there is a class of people called "reprobates", that are horrible people, cannot be "saved" (i.e. they will go to hell), and you become one if you hate God, and once you become a reprobate you are a reprobate permanently and there is no going back. He gets this from Romans 1. In the video he distinguishes "enemies" from "reprobates", and says even though you are required to love enemies you are not required to love reprobates. An "enemy" might be a petty criminal or perhaps a Muslim, whereas a "reprobate" would be someone like an LGBT rights activist. Pastor Anderson believes all gays are reprobates, which is his explanation for why gay conversion therapy does not work. He believes hatred of God is what triggers homosexual urges.

[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

With the last one, I read before the idea that the act of hating God by itself tends to open up a "portal" that triggers the idea or urge to do other sins.

[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

If someone stole my lunch I would indeed think them a vile being.

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Now that I think about it, I believe the only real vile beings are those who willingly do things like murdering and abusing, sexually or otherwise, innocent humans or animals, or engaging in systemic evil like democide or psychological warfare. I think there is a reason why the people who engage in that also happened to be delving into the occult, or at least are heavily rumored to.