Christians: Does the Bible teach tolerance and acceptance?

Question

I keep reading questions and answers about Christians and how they should tolerate this and accept that if they know God's "love". For example, a question was just asked of Christians and why won't they accept homosexuality. It seems to me that the bible is very clear on this subject, so I'm not going to bother with listing chapter and verse. Do you ever feel like there are those people who try desperately to get you to accept a lifestyle that you know you can't because of your biblical and personal convictions? What do you think of all the appeals to pity and emotions that are used to try and persuade you to accept that which you know you cannot accept, and still call yourself one of God's people? Is there a line that *should* seperate you from even considering such a thing?

As usual, only intelligent responses welcome.

annabanana- Hmm. The requirements of this question specifically stated "intelligent" responses only. I guess now all the world can see what you aren't.

st.alioftheknife-Blasphemy is against what law of the land?

Answer 1

The point is, if you claim to be a Christian, you are claiming to follow Christ and His teachings in the Bible--specifically the New Testament, but of course they both support each other.

So if you "accept" things that God's Word calls sins and abominations (witchcraft, idolatry, homosexuality, incest....but also rage, jealousy, greed etc.) you aren't really a follower of those teachings; instead you're trying to get them to follow your preferences by forcing the teachings to fit you.

So, OK--sin all you want, if that's what you want to do. Steal, kill, defraud, commit sexual mayhem--but DON'T call yourself a Christian meantime!! No one is forcing you to. Go do what you want, just not in His household.

Yes, someone is shouting "But "Christians" sin all the time!" And they're right, we do. But it is to be hoped that a true Christian is aware of their weaknesses and KNOWS that what they are doing is sin, and accepts that they are in the wrong. They don't go around saying, "Yes, well--but I LIKE my lust, I LIKE defrauding and cheating, etc. "--they feel truly repentant when they fall into sin and really want to be free of it.

Those who wear the Name of Christ and use it as an excuse to sin openly are the ones who are really breaking the Commandment that says, "Thou shalt not take the Lord's Name in vain." They are pretending to march under His flag but are really dragging Him through the dirt. And there *will* be a judgement.

You're absolutely right--the line is drawn in the Word, and the line does.not. move. Not for me, not for celebrities, not for anybody.
I have often been ridiculed and people have tried to pressure me to change, but fortunately I know who (and Whose) I am. I make my own choices as regards my own behaviour...and I choose to walk the Line.

Answer 2

If you don't mind, I'll only address the primary question.

The Bible teaches that there is no salvation except through faith in the ransom of Christ, and faith in the Inspired Word. If you call that tolerance is your problem.

Within the Christian community, the Bible teaches that we shouldn't be nit picky and fault finding. It also teaches that all serious sin should be rooted out of the congregation.

So, within those bounds, it teaches tolerance and acceptance. Outside those bounds there is nothing but rejection and damnation.

Have a nice eternity.

Answer 3

Bible is clear not to accept the sin. In other words if you believe in God you are responsible yourself not to do it. But we can not force someone else to obey God, now can we. We can force anyone whether they are believers or non believers to believe what we do. The job of a Christian is to set the example and just share the truth about God. Not trying to change anyone, but allowing God to do the changing in individual lives. I am sure Isaiah and Jeremiah both would of love to pull up Israel and smacked them I am sure and say do what I say. But they only spoke and hoped people would listen. That what we got to do is pray people will hear and listen.

Answer 4

The Bible teaches love. Jesus said to "Love you neighbor as you would love yourself." He did not say, "Love you neighbor, as you would love yourself, unless your neighbor is gay." Jesus would love a person, no matter what. A person could be a homicidal maniac, and Jesus would love him. Does that make being a homicidal maniac OK? Of course not, but to judge somebody on their sins is not anybody's place, whatsoever. Do I accept certain lyfestyles? No, but I'm not going to bark in somebody's face about how they are going to Hell, that is NOT my place, or anybody else's. I am not gay, I am a Christian, but I am far from perfect, just like anybody else. But people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. This is a tough challenge for Christians. Instead of worrying about how good or bad somebody is, worry about yourself. I do not accept homosexuality, but I also don't accept lying, adultery, murder, coveting, taking the Lord's name in vain, drunkenness, or working on the Sabbath. So if I was to say I don't accept homosexuality, I guess I don't accept myself, because I have sinned too.

Bottom line: The Bible teaches to love your neighbor as you would love yourself. We Christians have a hard time practicing what we supposedly believe in.

Answer 5

We need to love our neighbor, enemy, ourselves and God.

We shouldn't tolerate or accept beliefs that differ from God's word, from a spiritual perspective.

That does not mean that we don't tolerate people. We must strike the balance between accepting the person, and not accepting anything that conflicts spiritually with our faith. Both can be done.

I will always work to accept the person, and but will not accept a lifestyle in conflict with my faith.

Answer 6

Homosexuality is a sin. The Bible never says that we need to accept everything and tolerate everything. We should always try to be loving toward each other but we are not authorized to say that God accepts homosexuality if that is not true. However, God's word is the same for everyone and id one is homosexual, they should try to serve the best they can. God loves homosexuals too. But it is not in our doing to accept their marriage etc. I think they should work on their own union. : )

Answer 7

I accept that your religion does not approve of homosexuals. What I do not accept is that you think your religion should be able to work your beliefs into our rights as given by law.
I also have a huge problem with the hypocrisy. If man and woman were put here to procreate, why are you not lobbying for laws against people living together in sin? Why are you not lobbying for people that choose NOT to have children to have their marriage nullified? Why not make it against the law to blasphemy your god? Why do you get to pick and choose what you are in a holy uproar about and ignore the others?

Answer 8

W-a-r and T-o-r-t-u-r-e

"We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity." -- Anne Coulter, Christian Peace Activist

Conquer,Convert or kill them.

"The three-in-one/one-in-three mystery of Father, Son and Holy Ghost made tritheism official. The subsequent almost-deification of the Virgin Mary made it quatrotheism . . . Finally, cart-loads of saints raised to quarter-deification turned Christianity into plain old-fashioned polytheism. By the time of the Crusades, it was the most polytheistic religion to ever have existed, with the possible exception of Hinduism.

This untenable contradiction between the assertion of monotheism and the reality of polytheism was dealt with by accusing other religions of the Christian fault.

The Church - Catholic and later Protestant - turned aggressively on the two most clearly monotheistic religions in view - Judaism and Islam - and persecuted them as heathen or pagan.

The external history of Christianity consists largely of accusations that other religions rely on the worship of more than one god and therefore not the true God.

These “pagans” (Islam and Judaism) must therefore be converted, conquered and/or killed for their own good in order that they benefit from the singularity of the Holy Trinity, plus appendages." -- The Doubter's Companion (John Ralston Saul)



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Answer 9

Gosh - I am sorry you wont welcome stupid responses - but I will try to do my best. The bible is up to interpretation and you will find tolerance or intolerance in it dependent on what you want to find.

Good Luck!!!

Answer 10

Without question we are told that god will judge us. No where are we told to take that privlage on ourselves. Those who judge put themselves in gods place. I wouldn't do that for fear of being judge for the sin of pride.