God's Growing Garden: Good & Bad Versions of "Tolerance"

by Angie Ouellette-Tower for http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/ photo SundayAllOne_zpshfjnsuav.jpg

Good & Bad Versions of "Tolerance" - Part 2

This is part 2 in a series on the good and bad versions of "tolerance" (click HERE to read part#1).
"Tolerance" has become a new social term that is overtaking common sense.

Let's begin by defining the word:

Tolerance - lack of opposition for beliefs or practices differing from one's own;

capacity for enduring.

Today we are focusing on the first definition "lack of opposition for beliefs or practices differing from ones own" and this is what can turn into the bad version of tolerance. When this "lack of opposition for others beliefs or practices" makes us have to change our own beliefs - that is the bad version of tolerance. Being forced to change our own beliefs to "tolerate" other beliefs is unacceptable!

I am going to begin today by focusing on Galatians 3:28 (see picture above) and by highlighting what should be obvious. Our race, social status and gender have no bearing on our standing in the Christian family.
We are all equal in Christ.
That means that where you were born and your skin color have nothing to do with God's acceptance of you. That means that both a queen and a penniless homeless person are equal in God's eyes because Jesus died for all. That means that God values men and women equally. In other words we must love others as God loves us.
However, loving others does NOT mean that we love sin. Repentance is still necessary.
"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that he will forgive your sins." Acts 3:19
"If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him." Luke 17:3
Becoming a Christian by accepting God's free gift of forgiveness through Jesus Christ the Son of God who gave his life for all of us so that we might have eternal life does not mean that our struggle with sin here on earth will stop. On the contrary, we continue to struggle with temptations and when we do sin, we must correct that wrong and repent. (Read: Christians are NOT excluded from obedience).

by Angie Ouellette-Tower for http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/ photo SundayTolerance4_zpsm4onox2i.jpg

We also must not accept sin in our families and churches. We are supposed to hold each other accountable and rebuke others when necessary. The modern "tolerance" movement has found it's way into our homes and church families. Of course we are supposed to love everyone including our enemies but we should never accept sin as normal. The verses above are clear - we should not even associate with someone who claims to be a Christian but continues to sin without striving to repent. That is hypocrisy.

"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers - for what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?"

2 Corinthians 6:14

by Angie Ouellette-Tower for http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/ photo SundayTolerance3_zps8t5obosc.jpg

Remember, that even if you have done everything mentioned in the above verses in your past (sexual immorality, adultery, idolatry, theft, greed, drunkenness, slandering, swindling), all of those sins were washed away when you became a Christian. Through God's strength you will be able to continue to keep those sins in the past.

If modern"tolerance" makes you have to change your own beliefs then STOP! Where's the "tolerance" for your beliefs??!!! Simply walk away and live a Christ-centered life.

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