Christians.....?

Question

When people tell you that you should be tolerant of other beliefs, how does that make you feel? I think of it as a betrayal to God to tolerate other gods, non-gods, witchcraft, etc. when the Bible instructs us Christians to shield such things. What are your thoughts?

Answer 1

You remind me of the fanatic mother from the movie Carrie.

Answer 2

In the past, people understood tolerance as accepting other people for who they are, giving them the same rights we have to hold their own beliefs and live their own lifestyles (although those beliefs are different from ours, and we think they are misguided).

Tolerance was an attitude towards other people and their rights - it had nothing to do with the truth or otherwise of their beliefs. This kind of tolerance means I should welcome my Muslim neighbor, and extend to her the same rights and dignity that I want her - and society - to extend to me. It does not mean that I have to pretend I think Islam is a true description of the way the universe is.

Today, by a strange reversal, tolerance has come to mean not disagreeing with anyone. Blandly pretending that all beliefs and all lifestyles really are equally valid. You have your truth; I have mine.

But this is nonsense.

In practice, we do not think that something can be true for you but not for me. We know that some things are true whether or not anyone believes them. You can stand on top of a tower block, and look over the edge, and say 'Gravity may be true for you, but it isn't true for me.' But if you jump off, you will descend towards the ground with just the same acceleration, whether or not you believe in gravity - because gravity describes the way the universe really is, whether we like it or not. The message of the Bible claims to be the same kind of truth as the law of gravity - to describe how the universe really is.

Christianity does make a sweeping truth claim. It is very important to understand this. We cannot avoid it by saying that choosing to be a follower of Christ is just a lifestyle decision: 'You choose to be a follower of Christ; I choose to be into new age meditation. It's just a lifestyle choice, a matter of treading different spiritual paths. I'm glad you've found something that helps you cope with life, but it isn't for me.'

But we cannot say that. The Good News of Jesus Christ does claim to be objective truth - true for everyone; true whether or not anyone believes it. Either it is universally important, or its complete and utter rubbish. It is not just a lifestyle decision.

Answer 3

Angry because it's saying that man's wishes and thoughts are above God's and God isn't worth obeying and honoring. It's treating Him with Great disrespect! The first commandment in the Sinia covenant was to have no other God's before Him. People who do such things are either ignorant or indifferent or both. They are lost and do not fear Him in the healthy way.

Answer 4

People have redefined tolerance. People think that tolerance means that all beliefs are true, but this is impossible, as some beliefs are directly contradictory to others. Christ said that no one sees the Father except through Him, this is a very exclusive statement to make. However, tolerating someone's view doesn't mean it's equally valid. It means that although you disagree with it, you put up with it. That's what it means to tolerate something. You don't like or agree with something, but you put up with it.

Answer 5

I think you should be tolerant of others beliefs. Be respectful just as you would want someone to be towards you. I basically keep my thoughts to myself when it comes to other people discussing religion with me. I'm tolerant unless its something that sounds harmful (like a cult) I also think of how funny it is that there are so many different types of religions yet everyone thinks that theirs is the right one!

Answer 6

It is not an easy question to answer. I believe that Jesus died for all people even those of different religions. Since they are his brothers and sisters, I am called to love and respect them. I want to be tolerant of their beliefs and respectful of where they are in life.

However, I am also mindful of passages where Jesus implies an exclusiveness in faith. He says that "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No on comes to the Father except through me."

Since Jesus believes that the only way to salvation is through his saving grace, I must accept his truth. So for me, I need to love and respect the person, but always be ready and open to share my faith trusting that God will provide the doorways.

Pastor John

Answer 7

I think we are heading to a time where the world shares one peaceful religion. Everyone wants peace and acceptance and tolerance. Those religions that don't accept that will be pushed out, including christianity. We're right where the Bible says we will be.

Answer 8

How does it make me feel? I'm a Christian, but I'm also a person. It doesn't make me feel any different. I don't tolerate other religions I accept them and generally try to learn about them and if they WANT to ask me questions about Christianity then handy dandy. The bible doesn't tell us to tolerate other religions in a way of ignoring them, He wants us to love and accept all

Answer 9

I believe that as Christians are supposed to love others just as Christ loved, regardless of what they believe. I personally don't feel it's betraying God in doing so, but rather glorifying him by respecting their beliefs. Romans 15:7 says that we should, "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." This is the will of God and I try my very best to practice this principal. If more Christians did this I think there would be more peace among us and those who believe differently.

Answer 10

We are told that we are not to be tolerant of other gods, etc- because you cannot serve 2 masters. God is the only God. We can love the person who worships other gods. The Israelites at one time chose to worship "other gods" as well as the One true living God, and God discipled them for that.

Answer 11

tol·er·ate –verb (used with object), -at·ed, -at·ing.
1. to allow the existence, presence, practice, or act of without prohibition or hindrance; permit.
2. to endure without repugnance; put up with

WWJD? He didn't go about condeming the Semarain woman who believed something vastly different than he did.

Tolerance is a good thing; no one is asking me to believe what another religions says. Heck, you can even disapprove of other gods and still tolerate them.