The Church Militant?

Recently I've heard some pretty disturbing things coming from people who call themselves Christians. A note on a dry-erase board at a local church said, "Fags can rot in Hell" and "God hates the ACLU & I do too". Then in conversation I heard some people say, "Everyone in the ACLU can go to Hell". What ever happened to compassion for sinners, loving our enemies & doing good to those who mistreat us??
Does being "right" ever give us the right to be rude or unloving to someone? Should the word "hate" even be in our vocabulary in regards to fellow human beings? Hatred is a powerful force to be reckoned with, but love is even stronger. I have heard people boast that we are the "church militant", but what does that mean? Does it mean posting big billboards in the name of truth, or closing our hearts toward gay people, or hating the ACLU? People can build walls against hate, but few can resist love. (I have tried this theory out on several people who hated me and with time & persistence things have changed. We're not best friends- but there is mutual respect.) Someone once said the best way to kill an enemy is to turn them into a friend. True, I don't like a lot of what the ACLU has done politically speaking, but I also don't participate in the Religious Right. We can't have it both ways. We speak of freedom, but realistically, if we want prayer in schools & creation taught and every parade & retailer to cater to Christians, then we are asking for a religious state. Separation of church & state is healthy. Yes, the secularization of our society is a sad testimony to how far we have fallen away from God, but the Bible says "Don't be discouraged, these things must happen and then the end will come." Keep worshipping, keep looking up. Maybe we should be more "militant" to keep our eyes on Jesus, be radical about loving people and leave the rest in God's hands?