The following was written by Chukwuemeka Ezeugo, Chairman ASFL Executive Board

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (KJV).

Some Atheists have been going on about how God hates homosexuals, citing the Bible scriptures of Leviticus 18 and 20 in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible, and the Objectivist society has gone ahead to promote this misleading and ignorant notion. I call it misleading because it failed to recognize the significance of the works of Jesus Christ in the New Testament, and ignorant because it is only someone who sees Christianity from the spiritual perspective that can understand and recognize why Jesus Christ was sent to earth in the first place.

The Objectivists’ position on this matter is understandable, but it seems most Christians are beginning to believe this absurd assertion and are even using it to fuel the persecution of gay men and women across the world. The Christian Association of Nigeria encouraged the passing of the Bill to send homosexuals and their supporters to jail for 7 or 14 years, into law. Pastors in Uganda have firmly stood behind the persecution of homosexuals, and their incarceration for life.

According to the Bible, God sent his son, Jesus Christ, to redeem the world and to basically show us how to live as Christians. The word Christian means follower of Christ, and if anyone should be referred to as a Christian, then it should be someone who believes in Christ, and follows his teachings and examples that he showed, while on earth. And one of those examples is recorded in John 8: 3-11, where a woman was accused of adultery and was to be stoned to death. The accusers even mentioned that it was written in the law as commanded by Moses. But Christ proved to them that no one is totally righteous, and therefore has no right to judge or condemn another person.

Here, Christ not only condemned slut-shaming, but also discouraged the idea of lynching people for being “sinners”. Evidently, that used to be the case as instructed in “the law”, but that was part of the reason why Jesus Christ came to earth. No matter the “sin” one seems to be involved in, God is “not willing that any man should perish, but that all should come to repentance”. 2 Peter 3: 9. For the Christians that openly and secretly encourage the persecution and murder of other people because they are homosexuals, or practice another faith or religion, you are not fit to be called Christians, at all. Remember that two wrongs do not make a right. Christ clearly encourages us in Matthew 5: 43-47 to pray for our enemies and live in peace with everybody.

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” Matthew 5:9

I think Objectivists should stop hiding under the cloak of Libertarianism to bash Christians at any given opportunity. As a Christian who is proud to be a Libertarian, I have come to see the similarities between the teachings of Jesus Christ and Libertarian principles and ideas. While some of these ideas may not go down well with some groups, for example the issue of taxes, I would like to point out that these are ideas that Christians have agreed to adopt and believe in, and should be respected for that. To the small extent that I accept and believe the selfishness largely promoted by Objectivists, I believe it is imperative that they continue to discuss Christianity and Objectivism from an intellectual point of view (to the best of their understanding) rather than publishing misleading articles every now and then meant to encourage animosity between Christians and others.

Finally, God is no hater. G.O.D is L.O.V.E.  (1 John 4:8)