Pastor Steve's thoughts

This blog is where Senior Pastor Steve Hill shares his thoughts on a variety of subjects...

Are Christians Intolerant

03/01/06

Permalink 06:25:37 pm, by Steve Email , 290 words, 140 views   English (US)
Categories: General

Are Christians Intolerant

“Why are Christians so Intolerant?” was on the cover of the magazine I received this week. The sub-title was “and other tough questions non-Christians ask.” I must admit that I haven’t read the article yet. But the cover made me think. How did the general public gain this perspective and how pervasive is this line of thinking.

Perhaps a definition of intolerant would be helpful. One dictionary says intolerant means: Unwilling to tolerate differences in opinions, practices, or beliefs, especially religious beliefs. In one respect, I believe Christians are intolerant. We believe that the cross of Christ is the only way, that Jesus rose from the dead, and so on. Paul says that the cross will offend people (1 Corinthians chapter 1).

My assumption is that many people perceive Christians as intolerant in the sense of disrespectful. This issue at hand may not be opposing opinions colliding. The issue could be opinions discussed in a rude way…a way that is filled with anger. I think the Matthew Shepherd incident demonstrated this. A few Christians displayed signs against homosexuality. I can’t remember the exact wording but I did sense that a hatred that arose in the crowd.

On other hand, maybe an opinion concerning morality stirs up guilt. A different opinion about eternal matters can cause people grief or anger. It reminds people that they have turned their backs on God.

Here’s my thought. As a church, we want to welcome people. This doesn’t mean that we affirm their philosophical beliefs or moral choices. If a person attends our church who believes in reincarnation, we should be able to dialog with them in a respectful way.

What do you think. Are Christians intolerant or do others over react?

PermalinkPermalink 9 comments

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: Randy [Visitor]
What a great discussion. Being new, I learn a ton just by reading the give and take. What I've recently perceived (accurately or not) is that while the majority of Christians I know have a deep concern for the direction of the world, they're certainly not villifying anyone nor being what anyone would call "intolerant". A lot of the perception in the wider culture must be based upon the behavior of politicians and activist groups that use Christianity or the Bible as a weapon against their political or ideological enemies. Evangelical Christians are assumed to have the same attitudes and opinions as Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson because those are the Evangelical Christians the majority of the world sees. THEY are the ones spreading a message so THEIRS is the message that gets received.

Knowing as I do my own personal shortcomings when it comes to sharing Jesus...is it any wonder no one recognizes the real message? As much as I'd like to blame the politicians and outspoken (and over-televised) hate-mongers...I know that at least in my corner of the world perceptions would be different if I did a better job showing love and compassion as a representative of Jesus.
PermalinkPermalink 03/17/06 @ 12:29
Comment from: Deanna [Visitor]
The question was posed.."Are Christians intolerant...?" I would submit to you that what the world views as intolerant is our suggestion that they need grace and mercy and compassion and forgiveness in the first place. So we have come full circle in this discussion. Ken, I know that you are far more knowledgeable in the Scripture than I..how did those who were attracted to Jesus because he was offering forgiveness know that they were sinning?
I think there is no wrong in saying that one hates sin.I would caution that this statement is not an indication of my personal feelings for an individual. I hate sin whether it's coming from someone I don't know..or one of my children or myself. In the book of Psalm 97 we are told to "hate evil"...Paul laments in Romans 7 that he is doing the very thing that he hates. In fact I would have to say that Jesus also hates sin. Please don't mistake those comments for hatred of people. I think that Jesus showed his compassion as a result of His deep love for people and the hatred of the sin that entangled them.
PermalinkPermalink 03/08/06 @ 12:32
Comment from: Ken [Member] Email · http://www.gcfweb.org/institute/

Jesus didn't "tolerate" sins. He recognized the destructive nature of sin and felt compassion on those who were enslaved to sin. But neither was he judgmental about sin. He freely forgave people of their sins


Those who were trapped in their sins were atrracted to Jesus, not because he tolerate their sinful behavior, but because he offered forgiveness


Maybe, rather than talk about toleratnce and hatred, maybe we need to change the vocabulary. Maybe we need to talk about grace and mercy and compassion and forgiveness.

PermalinkPermalink 03/08/06 @ 11:32
Comment from: Deanna [Visitor]
Ken,
I'm not sure I understand what you mean when you say that Jesus tended to show a tremendous amount of grace to the sinners as opposed to the 'religious ones' Are you referring to his approach to each? I don't think he was 'tolerating'either of their sins right? The issue of tolerance has always intrigued me perhaps because it seemed to become this word that was thrown around in the mainstream so haphazardly. It seems at its core to be the 'be all end all' to all of the world's ills. But there isn't a be all end all aside from Christ. Why is it that speaking the truth in love is viewed as condemnation? Is it even possible to speak the truth in love? I believe it is, I've seen it, I've experienced it..I've been on the receiving end of it. Does this have to take place only after months or perhaps years of friendship? Can we convey Christ's love during our very first encounter with someone? Why does it have to be seen as intolerance when our heart breaks over a stranger who has succumbed to satan's lies and had an abortion or chosen to give their life over to drugs, etc? Do they just naturally know that these things are wrong? I would say many do not. I find myself wanting to wrap my arms around them and declaring.."I hate sin, I hate that thing that is keeping you from knowing the full and abundant life that Christ has for you!" Words that at times I have even spoken to myself.
PermalinkPermalink 03/07/06 @ 18:20
Comment from: Ken Carson [Visitor]
Jesus tended to show tremendous grace to the tax collector, the prostitute, and the sinner. However he was very harsh and laid it on the line to those who those claimed to be the religious ones. His love was so overwhelming to those society considered to be the "sinners" that he didn't have to ask them to give up their sin. They did it as a natural response to their encounter. Maybe if we "loved the sinner" in the same manner Jesus did, we wouldn't have to worry about when to "toe the line." It would happen naturally as they encounter the grace of God.
PermalinkPermalink 03/07/06 @ 08:58
Comment from: Deanna [Visitor]
Just want to pose this question.

How long do you think Jesus invested in building friendships before he basically laid it on the line to people? He didn't seem to waste much time with the woman at the well. It's an interesting scenario.
PermalinkPermalink 03/03/06 @ 16:47
Comment from: Deanna [Visitor]
Perhaps weakness of our 'walk' is a better term than weakness of faith. We are definitely called to love people. We are not called to accept their sinful behavior. So what does that look like in practical application?
PermalinkPermalink 03/03/06 @ 16:27
Comment from: Courtney Stubbert [Visitor]
"Intolerance" is an easy thing to declare when dealing with an opposing belief. It is not a question of intolerance so much as it is a question of hypocrisy. EVERYONE has certain levels of intolerance regardless of what one believes. One thing is for sure, the finger pointing has to stop with us as christians. Perhaps the worlds view of chirstian intolerance comes from how we throw around our beliefs. Phrases like "hate the sin, but not the sinner" don't exactly invite conversation or friendship, both of which need to happen on some level for effective witness. Maybe the phrase should be erradicated. Or "We love people." No "buts. They are intolerant and we are intolerant, but we have the greater responsibility. It is certainly negligence on our part. But, I'm not sure that weakness of faith is the cause of sinful behavior. My sinful act doesn't necessarily mean I believe in God any more or less. Thank God for grace or we'd all be up a creek.
PermalinkPermalink 03/03/06 @ 13:50
Comment from: Deanna [Visitor]
Steve,

As per your definition of intolerant: Unwilling to tolerate differences in opinions, practices, or beliefs, especially religious beliefs.
Wouldn't this suggest that the very ones who are pointing their fingers in our direction and declaring "intolerant" are themselves being "intolerant"? They do not wish to tolerate our beliefs or how we put those beliefs into practice. I would not condone the actions of those that would shoot and abortionist nor murder a homosexual. Nor do I support abortion or homosexuality. We as Christians are called to love the sinner and hate the sin. In our human weakness we at times may blur those lines. In those instances what we are is not intolerant, but rather, weak in our faith and negligent in our responsibility to love our neighbors as ourselves.
PermalinkPermalink 03/03/06 @ 12:28

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