That is correct Christian teaching. It also shows the difference between the religions. The Wassabi version of Islam that Osama preaches would have his followers kill every Christian and Jew they could find. We pray for our enemies that they see the error of their ways. It doesn't stop us from fighting and killing them to defend ourselves. It also doesn't stop us from holding them accountable for their actions. If they would stop we would stop. We just want to live in peace.

America's problem is that we want everybody to be like us.

I agree. We're all sinners and need God's forgiveness. The scope of sin makes no difference. Osama is no different.

I think it's great of this church to do that. Christian beliefs dicate that God loves everyone, reguardless of what they've done. Yeah Bin Laden may not be number one on people's lists, but that doesn't mean you can dismiss what the Bible says if you're a Christian. You can't just pick and choose what you believe.

Jesus Loves Porn Stars too.

Yes, I agree Jesus does love Osama as He loves everyone and he wants Osama and everyone to acknowledge that He is Lord and Savior and that everyone including Osama find salvation and eternal life through Him. Jesus also told us to pray for our enemies.

What is your opinion on this?

Isn't it sad that even the church has reverted to marketing schemes to get people interested?

Umm.. I don't get why there is outrage. The sign doesn't say Christ wants us to emulate Osama. The subtext clearly states Love thy enemies, implying that Osama is the enemy. Should the sign have read "Jesus hates Osama"? Sounds like it's just a positive message that we should return hate and violence with love.

I do agree with the Church's position on this. While I do not like Osama bin Laden or what he has done God has told us through his word that we must love our enemies. If we hate anyone according to the gospel that is murder. So we must love our enemies even when we find it hard to do so.

As a Christian, I believe that the pastor of Central Baptist Church in Australia is right on the mark. Jesus came to save all of the lost of this world--which definitely includes bin Laden. It does appear, however, that the pastor has used this particular sign (combined with the camouflage background) as more of a publicity "eye-opener" than what might be considered to be in good taste. Definitely provocative!

Oh, my Lord Jesus...

Forgive us our sins...

Save us from the fires of hell..

Lead all souls to heaven...

Especially, those in most need of thy mercy...

Vengance is mine sayeth the Lord...

As you forgive... So shall ye be forgiven....

Reflect on the Example of Forgiving, recently given to us by the Omish...

I agree.

Jesus said "Love your enemy."

It is about time we talk about this. I strongly believe that God's Love is the solution to all problems. So why do we act as if Hatred is the answer and killing the enemy is the answer.

George Bush says he is a Christian. Jesus said to love your enemy. I do not see the christian in George Bush.

I strongly believe that if we had loved the arabs over the last 100 years then this terrible war would never have happened. If we had loved then for the last 100 years they would be our friends not our enemies.

Our decisions do not end war. Why do we keep making the same wrong decisions. We spend $500 billion dollars to kill people and expect them to love us. What an insanity of the mind.

God's Love is the answer to all problems.

It about time those of us who call ourselves Christians focus on the central truth of Jesus, that He loves all of us, even Osama. Its a message all of us need to hear, that all people are dearly loved by God. That is the message that has the power to change any situation. Its a shame the Austrailian church took it down, and some didn't understand that a person like Osama bin Laden desperatly needs our prayers. Imagine if Osama was able to understand he was loved infinately by a limitless God who wanted to know him intimately? I wonder how that would change Osama's actions, and those around him, and really, wouldn't that change the world? You may think I'm being idealistic, but when people are fully loved and fully known, it is hard for them to truely hate others.

Another case of Christian hypocrisy. Jesus supposedly did love EVERY man, including sinners. That doesn't mean they go into "heaven." I guess Bin Laden is an exception, good job hypocrits.

And what about "If a man strikes you, turn and offer him the other cheek?" by Jesus. The only way we will experience this truth is to practice peace for ourselves in our individual personal lives. It is our only real hope. Each individual must realize her part in the responsibility of a peaceful reality.

But does god love George Bush? George lied and bombed and invaded and occupied a country creating such terrible suffering. Osama bin Laden is not without guilt, but he's not nearly as guilty as Bush and neo-fascists like him.

So I love Osama Bin Laden and I pray for him. But given the chance, I'd love to cut his head myself.

In response to Jonathan @ 1:03 PM, it's not Jesus' choice who goes to heaven. He gave us the free will to accept his love or deny it and live in sin and THEN go to hell. To paraphrase: God does not want any man to perish(as in death in hell) but to have everlasting life (in heaven). Whether this church was doing this for publicity or not, it is the churches' charge to spread the word, no matter what it takes.
In today's culture-war world, that's the way to grab someone's attention and make them think. I commend them, whatever brings one more to christ is worth the money and time spent.

I agree with Jeff Rayfield, but my take on this is that you all are looking at this from one side...your own. Most of us are brought up to believe what we are taught. I can respect all cultures, everybody believes in different things. They have their own beliefs and you are not going to convert them. War or no war...

Who is right here, I say no one. We say "Love thy neighbor", but we are over there disrespecting their Holy land and killing their civilians. That's a far cry from being diplomatic and moral. We are not in a fight with just two countries, but a whole region of very religious people. Obviously they have strong enough beliefs that they're willing to die by flocking to that region from other countries.

This is a Holy war for them and for us it's about Big Business and Big Oil. I really don't have an answer to end this conflict, but this Administration has made a costly mistake for the American people by invading Iraq. Those resources are better served helping the needy here in this country and towards the environmental and scientific community. There are technological advances that could make a difference, but instead they're pumping billions of dollars in a lost cause while lining their own pockets.

God does not command "thou shalt not make war." In fact, the Bible recounts many acts of war waged in His name. Jericho comes quickly to mind. We are, however, commanded to love our "neighbors." That's everyone. George and Osama included.

A while back I watched on TV an interview with a Palestinian terrorist jailed in Israel. He stated "Christians are taught to turn the other cheek...we are taught to slap it." So there you have it. Keep turning the other cheek and there will be no more cheeks to turn. I recall another saying...'Praise be to God,now pass the ammunition!'

So if Bush is such a God-fearing man and a "Christian", why are we at war with our enemies? (Not that the Iraquis are our enemies...he was supposed to go after Osama, but I digress...)

Well if Jesus loves Osama, and Jesus loves everyone, that means Jesus loves gays too. Right.

I commend the church for stepping out on Faith.

American Christians are hilarious...so many of them actually believe that Jesus loves everyone, yet shares their hatred of homosexuals and Hillary Clinton! You can't make up stuff like that!

Jesus picked Saul (aka Paul the aposlte to the Gentiles) to be a disciple of his and Saul was probably hated just as much as is Osama or even more. Jesus even appeared to Paul in person to ask him to be a disciple. Jesus did this after Paul killed thousands of christians because of their faith in the most horible ways possible.

People still hated Paul even after Jesus personally asked him to be a disciple.

As a Christian-leaning American, it gives me a sense of gratification to see how many of my fellow countrymen are responding that Jesus taught love & forgiveness to ALL people, not just those who believe as we do or who are 'good' people.
Or, to Wendy's point, those who are sexually-oriented as 'we' are. Maybe I am in a Christian minority, but I don't believe 'we' corner the market on righteousness and I live in hope that if my beliefs are wrong, I will be welcomed into the afterlife by who or what ever IS the Supreme Being. After all, regardless of our race, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, shouldn't we all treat each other with respect & compassion as human beings, regardless of who created us?

Craig, 6:46 PM, it is not AMERICAN Christians who said this, but AUSTRALIAN Christians. Please learn to read.

One thing is for sure- BIG OIL loves Osama Bin Laden.

Jesus does love everyone, it's our sin that he hates. The two are mutually exclusive of each other. I don't hate my kids when they do something wrong, I'm disappointed in their behavior.

Love thy enemy...yeah we should let him come here again and kill us all. Why go after Osama?

The Bible also says "though shall not murder" which is what Osama did.

Jesus everybody who walks this earth,he wouldn't put on more on us than we could bare. So, what if Bush lied,when this world comes to an end I promise you Bush will be judged and prosecuted by Jesus Christ...Just like everybody else.

CVB, thank you SO much for that post. If only everyone in this nation paused for a minute during their morning lattes to consider that gays, women who have abortions, participants in pre-marital sex and even Osama bin Laden are PEOPLE, we'd be much better off.

Jesus loves everyone. He came to earth for everyone - and walked with prostitutes and tax collectors. While we might agree that Osama is at the bottom of the heap in terms of our regard for humanity, we are obliged as Christians to pray for him and love him. We don't have to like his deeds, and what sane person would? Still, the worst trait that Christians have is being judgemental. We have to fight this all the time because it excludes others and only God gets to judge people.

It's not surprising that a sign "Jesus Loves Osama" causes a furore. It's not surprising that tabloid journalists editorialise against it. It's not surprising that those affected by terrorist incidents plotted by Osama should express outrage. It's not surprising that a socially conservative Prime Minister should suggest there is a 'rightful pecking order' for our love.

It's not surprising because some people - both with and without faith backgrounds - believe that life calls us to a love (a desire for growth and maturity in ourselves and others) that is so incredibly, remarkably, even impossibly large that it envelops even those we want to despise.

At the same time, many others believe that the task is so impossible and that means we shouldn't try.

And so it's not surprising that the debate rages.

It's an important debate. Perhaps the most important and fundamental dabate of all. I'm thankful for our Baptist friends in Sydney for bringing it to the popular attention.

“Gentlemen may cry peace, peace,” said Patrick Henry, “but there is no peace. The war is actually begun!”

hey why not,it is Jesus, the son of god, and follow his teachings you will love everyone too.this seems to be a very good message, of course we cannot become SUN, but atleast we can try to become CANDLES which still gives light to the world.this church seems to follow what they preach and it is a good sign of love itself.Love melts the wickest hearts in the world and it was love the jesus preached,lets become human beings first and preach love and not create divisions among ourselves based upon our country, colour, race or gender etc. god bless everyone

The famous saying goes that God loves the sinner but hates the sin. This is true love; how all humanity should be. God created Osama just as he created you and I and in His love he gave us the free choice to choose good or evil. I am hoping Osama is saved and certain our Lord Jesus Christ does too and however humanly unlikely it may seem. And just a short message for JB; nooone ever mentioned being naive. I do not think it takes great intelligence to realise that if everyone harmed everyone who may harm them we would live in a horror of a world. let's just keep praying and love as Christ asks us to and trust in Him.

"Jesus loves Osama"? Oh come on, give me a break. Let's take a minute here and look back. This world today consists of many different religions. Yes of course Jesus said "Love thy enemy", but that was many, many years ago. This is today. Osama has the means to try to destroy us in the U.S. and we are Christians, he's not. We the Christians are trying to protect ourselves from harm. He always chants "Praise Allah" every time if our troops fails to attack in time. Who in the world is "Allah"?, it certainly is NOT Jesus. What we are seeing is the religion battle. Osama had reasons why he wanted to attack us is one: he's jealous because we have everything in life and he has NONE. Two: He didn't like our American workers staying over in Saudi Arabia. Think about Hitler in World War II, Did Jesus love Hitler? I didn't think so. Hitler got thrown in the pits of Hell because he slaughtered millions of innocent Jews. Hitler that time started the threats and he is where he is now. Did Osama start the threats? Yes he did. He caused 9/11 if you remember. The one (Religious or not) who starts the threats putting other lives at stake will usually go into the pits of Hell.

I fear for all the christians in the world. All they did in the run up to the US invasion,eventual occupation of iraq and continuous massacre of iraqis was to support Bush, Blair and Howard lie about Saddam's Iraq. Now the christians are saying Jesus Christ loves Osama Bin Laden, and you see and hear Howard spewing out explectives against the christians, and advising them to disregard God's statemnent that Jesus died for all mankind. Leaders of the western governments are a bunch of humanists who believe that they are their own god, and dont really need The Almighty God, and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. christians have two demon -twisted human arch enemies. The earlier they realize this the safer for them.

This is absolute fact. Love thy neighbour. Jesus loves Osama doesn't mean he judges Osama as a righteous man or he will go to heaven. Doesn't mean that west have to give up the fight against terrorism. Just the western country especially united states and u.k. have to change their attitude, approach and certain policies to deal this sort of evil. You can not instilled hatred to every ones heart otherwise world will not be a good place to inhabitate.

Jesus died for all sinners to be forgiven; and they were. God gave all mankind the 10 Commandments and all must follow them. Osama did not and surely he will burn in hell. Many times he broke the Commandment thou shall not kill. He never came forward to ask forgiveness. Osama will feel the pain through all eternity.

Jesus loves Howard K. Stern too.

the first thing people do is jugde and we ain't suppose to judge. God loves his children but he does not like the bad choice we make and we are suppose to love our enemys and forgive our brothers or we won't be forgiven for our sin either. People that have abortions are murders and God still loves them but not the choice they made. Satan has his works on the people that are weak and the ones that don't have faith in Jesus Christ. Satan also attacks the one that follows Jesus Christ because we are from the flesh and we are weak. That why we need Jesus Christ in our lives. Jesus Christ Is LOVE. Pray for your enemys and your neighbor. amc

The apostle Paul was the Osama of his day,and look what the lord did with him.So why not osama or any other son of Adam.

God doesn't hate anyone even though we give Him good reason to. I would recommend that all you who commented get out your bibles and read all of it. we are all sinners and deserve God's judgement but He has sovereignly chosen some to be His own for His good pleasure and purposes. It is by grace through faith that a person can be saved from God's wrath. Jesus said I didn't come to bring peace but rather a sword. The gospel is divisive and most will not submit to it.Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life....no one comes to the Father except through Him. Were you purchased with His blood? That's how much He loves you. He took YOUR punishment on the cross if you believe.

Amen. God loves everyone and sent his son to die on a cross for everyone. Christ died for the soldiers who whipped him in Pilate's courtyard. Christ died - for Pilate! Herein is love. Not that we loved God, but that He loved us.

Mr. Phelps's church of hate (God Hates America \ God hates fags \ etc.) could learn a little something from the Bible. God doesn't hate man. If anything, man hates God. I thank God that He's so longsuffering and patient.