I completely understand what you are saying, but I think that though the world may being asking for tolerance, what it really seeks/needs is grace. Grace says, I accept you as you are, I will love you unconditionally, but because I do I will help you do better. (Neither do I condemn you...go and sin no more.) The problem with a truth-only focus is that it leads to condemnation. (You are wrong, we are right.) The world already stands condemned. They need to hear something that would birth hope in their failing hearts.

@i_was_there_and_back_again@xanga - No disrespect, but your response is the type of response that the writer, I feel, was addressing.  That passage you quoted has an important ending and you even quoted it.  It says..."go and sin no more."  That is part many forget about.  The adulterous in that passage was still commanded to go and quit her adultery.  Grace doesn't mean you accept the sin with the sinner.  It was Ezekiel who was told...go and warn the people.  If they turn from their sin, you have saved a soul and their blood is not on your hands.  If you tell the sinner about their sin and they refuse to repent, then their sin is still not on your hands, but the unrepentant sinner is still lost.  BUT...if you refuse to warn the people of their sin, then their blood is also on your hands.  That same idea of warning and exhorting the sinner was carried over to the N.T.  The idea of tolerance of sin was never and is not a biblical truth.

Why apologize for truth? Those who knowingly sin and are unrepentant continually look for ways to justify their actions. Why should we be tolerant of wrong choices when even the Savior wasn't? However, just like the Savior, we need to follow His example of showing love to our fellow men regardless of the choices that they make, and show them that there is always hope, that they can and WILL improve their lives, if they want to.

to speak the truth is always merciful.  when Christians become afraid to speak the truth, we allow the Light of Christ, which is meant to shine through us, to be overshaddowed by the darkness of sin.

@elvesdoitbetter@xanga - Go back and reread the post it says that she does NOT believe that it is right to impose Christian beliefs on those who do not know the Lord.  

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." (John 15:18-19)

I like this.  I'm going to post, and share, it.  Thanks.

@elvesdoitbetter@xanga - I hope you reread my post and found that I never said it is right for Christians to impose Christian beliefs and morals on those who do not believe. I said specifically the opposite! 

@i_was_there_and_back_again@xanga - I specifically did not want to dwell on those in the church who have failed in loving the lost.

I was speaking more about when Christians are expected to be tolerant to the point of making light of or negating the fact that what we believe, we believe to be the truth. Not pushing our opinions, not demanding they follow in suit or even blare our truth so loudly that they feel we think we are better than them.

I really like oeshpdog2@xanga's response, also.

Maybe it's a matter of geography. I live in a conservative, predominately Christian area, where truth is loudly declared and grace is too often overlooked. It grieves me greatly. I suppose there are other places where compromise is taking place, and of course that is never good. I guess the challenge for all is to learn how to speak the truth in love, neither watering down the truth, nor sacrificing grace and love for the sake of being right. Only Jesus did this perfectly and it's His life and wisdom within us that we need so badly.

I can't tell you how happy your entry made me. for the past 3 weeks, well...really, the past month, my husband and I have been really starting to turn to Christ. I grew up in a born-again church, but haven't ever really followed what I've known to the true, up until now. I've made some radical behavior/substance changes, and I've lost all of my friends due to actions meant to redeem certain parts of my life and marriage. recently, I've been ridiculed and insulted almost daily(on facebook and myspace) for stating my beliefs on abortion and gay marriage, and I've just been trying to hang in there...so, your entry gave me this spark of joy...thank you.

also: "The world cries out for "tolerance""...actually, what I've noticed is, you can be very tolerant(i.e--I have gay friends, gay family members, and go dancing at a gay club on Friday nights), but the world demands ACCEPTANCE, which, as Christians, we are not meant to accept things we know to be wrong. Jesus sat down and broke bread with sinners, but he didn't hesitate to tell them to "sin no more".

anyway, long ramble :)

<8

@sheepthatsblack@xanga - 

for someone that seems rather educated in philosophy, i'm surprised that you fail to realize that existentialism and theism can mesh, depending on what you choose to uphold.

i am Christian for one reason alone: i believe that Jesus was the Son of God.  everything else about my faith-- belief in a higher power, redemption, and endless love-- was present in my life long before i chose to be Christian. 

I really liked this post a lot.  I struggle with this sometimes, especially around my non-believing family.  I usually have to say a quick prayer to give me the right words at the right time.  It can be a fine line between speaking the truth and imposing your view, especially in the eye of an unbeliever.  That being said, we are called to love the sinner and hate the sin.  It's okay to tell someone you disagree with their behavior.  But don't forget to follow it up with love.  That's where all too often we miss the boat. 

Mrs Lily asked: "is it really biblical to cry out for rights and demand to be respected the way the world does? Or are you willing to stand up for the truth, regardless of the outcome?"

The Gospel demands a response and always produces one: belief or unbelief. We can't cry out for rights or expect to be respected the way the world is...The carnal mind is enmity against God (Rom. 8:7). Human wisdom, the spirit of the world, cannot comprehend the things of God (I Cor. 2). As a result, we cannot expect to be respected or demand it, although may be respected by some.

We must be willing to stand up for the truth regardless of the outcome, and our Lord demands this of us, because we have been bought with a price, His precious blood. He said if we deny Him in this world, He will deny us before His Father. Yet since I so often want to be accepted by people and please people, I confess that I often shrink back from sharing the Gospel as I ought. But Jesus' words are convicting and cut to the heart: if we deny Him before the world, He will deny us before His Father (see Matthew 10).

The author to the Hebrews tells us that we must bear the reproach Christ endured:

So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Hebrews 13:12-15.

And look at the example of the apostles in Acts 5. Although it is true that some held them in high esteem (v. 13), the apostles ended up being thrown in jail for preaching Christ. Then an angel of the Lord brings them out of prison. What do they do after that? Preach again in the temple. As a result they are brought before the authorities and are beaten and warned not to preach in Jesus' name. How do they react to this?

Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. Acts 5:41-42.

We must be praying for the Holy Spirit power to be His witnesses no matter what the cost to us, regardless of the outcome.