| > Unfortunately, too many so-called Christians have decided to become
| tolerant.

It's true...but it is a complicated area. There are all the Christians that
have joined
the American Dream to their faith, perhaps to justify their expensive
lifestyles. And
they have churches where the prosperity gospel is preached. Another is
abortion.
I am a Catholic and the Catholic Church is officially for the sanctity of
life in all
circumstances, which covers situations like abortion, capital punishment,
euthanasia, etc. But I know that there are Catholics that are pro-choice,
including
some priests who can't officially say they are pro-choice. And the debate
over homosexuality is a huge debate among Christians.

It would be nice if one could come up with a single definition for what a
Christian
is. Becoming a Christian doesn't detach people from their brains or stop
them
from having different opinions from each other. Even on things that most
people agree on, I think you would find many different opinions on just what
that thing is that you all agree on. If nothing else, language gets in our
way and makes it
difficult to really say what we mean.  The only definition of being a
Christian that
means anything to me is one who follows Christ...one who wants to model
their life after Jesus and allows God to begin that work inside them. By and
large,
I haven't seen enough evidence in my life to be convicted of being a
Christian. On
the other hand, I know I won't be perfect at following Christ and neither
will
other people.

So, on the one hand, I do think that tolerance is called for. Tolerance
among
Christians and tolerance for all people, since we are called to love all
people, not
just those who love us back or who see things the same way we see them (or
at
least we think they do). So what about beliefs that conflict with our own? I
think
that is the point where we begin to get into trouble. If I am against
abortion and
you are for it, then I must vilify you and must vilify me. Why? Because I am
carrying your shadow and you are carrying mine. But must we? What if we
could honestly look at the issues and how we feel about them and find common
ground? I am not a horrible religious fanatic that hates women and wants to
make
them slaves again. You are not (at least knowingly) a crass murderer of
children.
Let us instead suppose that I am a person of good will with strongly held
beliefs
and you are a person of good will with strongly held beliefs. Perhaps we
could
start a dialogue and find common values. Perhaps not.

I don't think that tolerance calls for letting go of cherished beliefs or
forces me to accept anything you do as OK (I don't). And I find the
intolerant in every group, pushing their view of the universe as the only
one that can exist. And all too often, the only reason their viewpoint
exists is because my opposing viewpoint exists.

Just a few thoughts.

Tom Hula
Victor S. Barnes Company
Grand Rapids MI
616-361-7351  x173