Tolerance??

[kaylagrl]

I've been dealing with this issue for a while now. Several family and friends on FB have pointed this out to me. So I'd like some Biblical opinions,Scripture verses would be a big help on the subject of tolerance of other religions and beliefs. I don't think people understand what is meant by tolerance and a key word the follows is "acceptance". I think Christians are being deceived on this issue. So I'd appreciate if anyone could enlighten me to where the Bible says tolerate or accept other religious views and beliefs. Thank you.

 

[Journeyman]

Hi kaylagrl.
Tolerance and acceptance don't mean the same thing. Tolerance is patient endurance. despite difference. Acceptance is agreement. We can tolerate others without accepting their beliefs, or lifestyle, like God does,

Or do you have contempt for the wealth of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, and yet do not know that God's kindness leads you to repentance? Rom.2:4

"Forbearance" is tolerance.

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Rom.12:18

Daniel and Peter are good examples of this. They tolerated people who believed differently than they did, but when told not to pray or preach by those people, they didn't accept it.

 

[Deuteronomy]

Hi @kaylagrl, as far as verses that discuss apologetics go, this verse is always a good one to consider and remember, especially the qualifying phrase on the end

1 Peter 3​

15 Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.​

Unfortunately, the word "tolerance" has often come to mean "acceptance" in this crazy, post-modern world of ours, but a Christian cannot "accept" as truth, that which we know to be false or a lie. What we can do is be prepared to explain why we believe what we do about God, the Bible and the faith, but we always need to do so in a way that respects the non-Christian personally, as well his/her beliefs (even while disagreeing with them), no matter how crazy their beliefs may be

I don't know about you, but I believed all kinds of crazy things prior to becoming a Christian, so we should never forget that non-Christians do not have the advantages that we do to understand things from God's "spiritual" POV, due to a quickened heart, the indwelling of the HS, and the mind of Christ that we've been given .. e.g. Ezekiel 36:26-27; John 3:3; 1 Corinthians 1:18, 2:12-16.

Actually, if you just maintain your witness as a Matt 7:12 (see this verse below in my signature line) Christian always should, none of this will be a problem for you (not that being persecuted for your faith isn't a problem in and of itself, but you know what I mean). No matter how badly we end up being treated by others, we are never to treat them in kind. IOW, we are to always choose to treat them in the same manner that we at least 'hope' they'd choose to treat us, with patience, kindness and respect (as @Journeyman just mentioned above). We are called to 1. speak the truth to others, but always 2. in love as we do so .. e.g. Ephesians 4:14-15.

~Deut
p.s. - if the person you are talking to begins to disrespect God and/or His word or you as a Christian, the Bible tells us stop talking to them (at least for the time being) .. Matthew 7:6. God and His word are meant to be either believed or disbelieved, not sullied or demeaned or slandered (nor does God expect His servants, those in possession of, "beautiful feet" .. Romans 10:15, to simply be doormats for that kind of abuse either). Rather, you should pray and hope that they'll be more receptive (to you or to someone else the Lord sends) on another day.

1 Corinthians 13​

6 Love .. does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth.​

 

[dcontroversal]

I've been dealing with this issue for a while now. Several family and friends on FB have pointed this out to me. So I'd like some Biblical opinions,Scripture verses would be a big help on the subject of tolerance of other religions and beliefs. I don't think people understand what is meant by tolerance and a key word the follows is "acceptance". I think Christians are being deceived on this issue. So I'd appreciate if anyone could enlighten me to where the Bible says tolerate or accept other religious views and beliefs. Thank you.

I have not seen one verse that tells us to coddle and or tolerate any false religion......especially for the sake of unity.....love and truth go hand in hand and we are to lay the truth bare and let the chips fall where they fall...........and the context of 2nd Corinthians 6 is found in the first two verses and deals with working together for the cause of Christ....PAUL covers marriage in 1st Corinthians 7......religions that teach different gospels HAVE NO BASIS of fellowship regardless of those who peddle this wishy washy ooey gooey love concept and all of us getting together to sing Kum Ba YAH......

 

[GodsGrace101]

I've been dealing with this issue for a while now. Several family and friends on FB have pointed this out to me. So I'd like some Biblical opinions,Scripture verses would be a big help on the subject of tolerance of other religions and beliefs. I don't think people understand what is meant by tolerance and a key word the follows is "acceptance". I think Christians are being deceived on this issue. So I'd appreciate if anyone could enlighten me to where the Bible says tolerate or accept other religious views and beliefs. Thank you.

Of course the bible wouldn't tell us to accept other religious views.
God revealed Himself to the Hebrews because He knew they would write everything down and pass the O.T. stories down from generation to generation.

I like this:
He who accepts everything
Believes in nothing.

(author ?)

 

[kaylagrl]

Thanks for all the responses. So far everyone is right down the alley of what I believe the Bible tells us.We are to love others but that doesn't mean we accept or tolerate what doesn't line up with the Word.

 

[SpoonJuly]

I believe Jesus set the example.
Notice how He dealt with the Pharisees.

 

[Deuteronomy]

I believe Jesus set the example.
Notice how He dealt with the Pharisees.

I agree, the Lord's is truly an important example to always take into account. He did seem to act more harshly in regard to the leaders of the people who were false teachers (like many of the Pharisees were), of course.

~Deut

 

[SpoonJuly]

I agree, the Lord's is truly an important example to always take into account. He did seem to act more harshly in regard to the leaders of the people who were false teachers (like many of the Pharisees were), of course.

~Deut

I always go to Matthew 23.
There comes a time when you have to tell it like it is and let the chips fall where they may.

 

[jaybird88]

the magi bowed down to Jesus and proclaimed Him king. they were neither Christian or Jewish. they were also welcome in the home by Joseph and Mary, they didnt kick them out for being non Jewish.
today it seems that any non mainstream, non western, non Catholic Christian is considered a false religion, Jesus taught how to spot false teachers, we identify them by their actions.

 

[SpoonJuly]

the magi bowed down to Jesus and proclaimed Him king. they were neither Christian or Jewish. they were also welcome in the home by Joseph and Mary, they didnt kick them out for being non Jewish.
today it seems that any non mainstream, non western, non Catholic Christian is considered a false religion, Jesus taught how to spot false teachers, we identify them by their actions.

Not by actions but by what they teach.
Actions often deceive.

 

[jaybird88]

Not by actions but by what they teach.
Actions often deceive.

like the pharisees, sons of the devil? according to Jesus they were excellent teachers but had no works (actions).

give me an example of a good action thats a deception.

 

[Blik]

This really hits home!! My son married into a family that practice snobbery. Everyone in their eyes are outsiders who don't measure up and conversations there center on how other people, restaurants, nations, houses, all don't measure up to their standards. This even includes their work in the church.

I think of our Lord who mixed with all sorts of people yet Christ never tolerated anything that was not of God.

I think what God wants us to do is to have His strength within us so we are led by Him, not the world, but accept others as humans created by God. We are told to not take over the job of judging others, it is only for the Lord to do, but to be able to judge even the angels.

 

[Nehemiah6]

So I'd appreciate if anyone could enlighten me to where the Bible says tolerate or accept other religious views and beliefs.

Nowhere does the Bible say that we are to tolerate or accept other religious views. To the contrary, the Bible tells us that the pagan gods are demons (devils). Inter-Faith Dialogue is an invention of the devil.

This does not mean that we present the Gospel to others by declaring that their religions are false. Rather, Christians should simply PROCLAIM the Gospel, using Scripture to show others that they need the living Savior -- the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. As Paul said "We preach Christ and Him crucified".

 

[kaylagrl]

the magi bowed down to Jesus and proclaimed Him king. they were neither Christian or Jewish. they were also welcome in the home by Joseph and Mary, they didnt kick them out for being non Jewish.
today it seems that any non mainstream, non western, non Catholic Christian is considered a false religion, Jesus taught how to spot false teachers, we identify them by their actions.

I'm sorry the magi were not Jewish nor Christian? I don't think the Bible indicates that. I'd have to have some examples of what you mean in your last statement.

 

[jaybird88]

I'm sorry the magi were not Jewish nor Christian? I don't think the Bible indicates that. I'd have to have some examples of what you mean in your last statement.

magi is a persian word that indicates a persian spiritual person and persia would be to the east of Bethlehem. nowhere in the Hebrew bible are Jews ever called magi. IMO they were zoroastrian priest.

 

[crossnote]

like the pharisees, sons of the devil? according to Jesus they were excellent teachers but had no works (actions).

give me an example of a good action thats a deception.

They weren't excellent teachers according to Jesus...

Matthew 23:15 KJV
[15] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

 

[crossnote]

magi is a persian word that indicates a persian spiritual person and persia would be to the east of Bethlehem. nowhere in the Hebrew bible are Jews ever called magi. IMO they were zoroastrian priest.

Perhaps they read Daniels writings (when he was exiled in Babylon, which was conquered by the Medes/Persians) and believed them.

 

[crossnote]

Sometimes it seems Christians are less tolerant towards their own.

 

[jaybird88]

They weren't excellent teachers according to Jesus...

Matthew 23:15 KJV
[15] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

He calls them hypocrites, thats a person that says one thing and does another. i dont thnk they were misteaching the scripture, they were manipulating their positions of power for their own personal agendas, church leaders still do it to this day.

Matthew 23:3
so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.

here Jesus says do what they teach, dont do what they do. if what they taught was wrong it makes little sense for Jesus to command people to obey it.