Tolerating Intolerance
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- sudrumguy
- H2O
- AlmosToast
- sudrumguy
- AlmosToast
- yz250dude
- Craig93
- yz250dude
This archived discussion is "read only".
» H2O - Excellent points!
Yes, the "tolerance brigade" has run amok--as long as it's the Christian being tolerant of other faiths. As for Christians expressing their beliefs, well, that's just not allowed in the "modern world."I agree, other cultures and societies do not necessarily have to conform to Christian societies. Paul himself spoke of "to the Jew I became a Jew, to the Gentile I became a Gentile, so that by being all things to all men I might save some." Often Christian missionaries have burdened new converts with changing their whole culture and society to the "new paradigm." Fortunately for some, like Johannes Bugenhagen who used the native musicology and culture of the Nordic peoples to create a vibrant order of service that reflected both the Nordic culture as well as retain the time-tested liturgy of the Church.
Obviously what is NOT God-pleasing we would seek through love to change. But diversity is good in the church.
-- posted by H2O
» AlmosToast - Tolerance and Peace Making
Hi Blake!Peace to you!
From my experience, I would say that exercising tolerance is a lot like taking stand on non violence for the Christian.
So often I hear Christians say in effect, "I will be non violent and peace-loving if everyone else will." I believe the point is that Christians are to be non-violent and peace-loving even when the rest of the world is not. We are not only to take the peace initiative, we are also supposed to absorb the violence we receive at the hands of others in order to make peace.
I think the same is true for tolerance. Christians should be the initiators of tolerance whether others or tolerant or not. And certainly we should continue to show tolerance even after we experience intolerance at the hands of those to whom we are being tolerant.
God bless you!
Bob
-- posted by AlmosToast
» sudrumguy - good points
both good points. thanks for pointing to the need for us to be the "instigators of tolerance."sometimes, though, it is very hard to be tolerant in one sense of the word, because then you must draw the fine line that Jesus did when He ate with the sinners and tax-colelctors and yet still did not condone their sin. that's another aspect of tolerance that i overlooked....probably because it's an aspect i have a lot of trouble with....
-- posted by sudrumguy
» AlmosToast - Re: good points
In response to message posted by sudrumguy:
sudrumguy,
I think it goes beyond being "instigators of tolerance". Tolerance should always be the attitude of the Christian.
In your example of Jesus and the publicans, there is a difference between showing tolerance and condoning sosmeone's actions. We can be tolerant without giving our blessing or approval.
Somehow, I think that tolerance has a lot to do with refusing to control other people, which is an abuse of power.
If there is one thing that Jesus modeled for us, it is the proper use of power. One of the major confrontations in the ministry of Jesus was with
the religious leaders who abused their power through their intolerance.
It seems safe to say that the only thing Jesus was intolerant of was intolerance.
Peace,
Bob
-- posted by AlmosToast
» yz250dude - Re: Re: good points
In response to message posted by AlmosToast:Tolerance is dificult to define. In the worlds eyes, Jesus would have been intolerant. He wiped out the money changers in the temple, and called the pharisees rotten graves. In conversation he told people they were of their father the devil.
I believe he was intolerant of teachers and those who were out to deceive. To the sinner, he was always loving and tolerant. This can be seen in many of the miracles when he healed people and cast out demons. The woman at the well is a good example of the compassion he showed to others. Jesus was intolerant of false doctrine, yet compassionate to unbelievers.
-- posted by yz250dude
» Craig93 - Re: Re: Re: good points
In response to message posted by yz250dude:The only thing we are to be intolerant of is SIN, and we are to take a stand against SIN, I mean we are to love "sinners" and part of loving them, means that we are to tell them about what Christ has done, for them to believe in Christ and to repent of their sins - if we feed and clothe sinners without taking care of their souls - we have not done our duty as true Christians.
As one who worships in a "Charismatic Traditional" type church, I have seen and recieved first hand the miraculus healing power of God, and I have seen lives changed through the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Yes lets be tolerant and loving to the sinner, but lets also call sin, what it is "SIN"
-- posted by Craig93
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