Tolerance?

I have been hearing a lot about tolerance lately. Tolerance is pretty much only mentioned when talking about  lifestyle decisions. So I got to thinking... what is tolerance? According to Dictionary.com tolerance is a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward thosewhose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, ect., differ from one's own; freedom from bigotry. This makes sense. Who wouldn't want to be treated fairly? I know that I do. So what is intolerance? It is defined by Dictionary.com as lack of toleration; unwillingness or refusal to tolerate or respect contrary opinions or beliefs, persons of different races or backgrounds, ect. Now how are people using it?

People have the wrong idea about tolerance. As a follower of Christ, I believe that we should love people despite differences in opinion, race, religion, nationality, and so on. Even the ones who are hardest to love should be loved. BUT this doesn't mean that I will except or celebrate the things in their life I know to be wrong. People define tolerance and acceptance as being one and the same. And if you can't accept, agree, and encourage whatever needs to be accepted then you are intolerant. Then if you speak against what you know to be wrong then you hate. If you don't agree with tolerance, well... that can't be tolerated. Because I am a Christian there are people who think I am intolerant and therefore they will hate me for it. If we look back on the definition of tolerance shouldn't you be accepting of everything?

There was a video that someone posted on facebook showing 2 women getting engaged on the ice at a hockey game. People had responded to that video with hate. I agree with that 100%. I feel it is very wrong to treat anyone that way. Name calling is not something done out of love. But because I believe that intimate relationships are meant to be ONLY between a man and a woman, I cannot agree with nor encourage such a relationship. This doesn't not mean I hate anyone who is in a homosexual relationship it just means I will stand by what I believe and pray that one day that person would too. Because there is no way a person who truly believes in Christ would not want everyone to also know the truth.  

To those who have felt like they have been hated by a Christian I want to say that I am so very sorry! 

A Christian should represent Christ and the true Christ of the Bible is not a person of hate but a person of compassion and love. That is who a Christian should be and that is who I strive to be. No, I'm not perfect because I am human but I am always seeking God and praying that He will give me the heart of Christ. I encourage you to learn for yourself first hand who Christ really is.