Tolerance, Or the Art of Friend Making

Whassup, bro's!

This posting comes on the back on an interesting few days I've had.

Firstly there was the recent "scandal" involving a certain Pastor, Creflo Dollar, whom you have heard me support in recent times. I use parentheses because until this resolves itself one way or the other, it's an accusation yet to have action taken on it. Yes, I may have to re-think my support for his ministry later on down the line, I don't doubt that.

The only question I have at this time, further for me to add, is that I am not at all sure whether that's right to ask for $300 or more from your congregation when you're supposed to be leading people to a higher way of living; Jesus Christ. We are not called to judge, for there is only one Judge, but it makes you think, is all.

For what it's worth, the link is here for your own perusal.

I'm not spending much more time on that than necessary, because that's liable to create some interesting thoughts that are best left unsaid at this time.

Instead I'm looking at the idea that we should be tolerant towards one another. You know, that's what is handed around these days by anyone from politicians, to bloggers, to newsreaders; this idea that if someone's opinion/outlook/appearance is different to yours you should respect it and let them have it (ED - their opinion of course, not "let them have it" as in start an argument, lol!).

Lately, I've been reading some comments from atheists explaining why they don't believe there is a God and Christian responses to that and I must admit that some of them are shocking to say the least. It always comes down to name-calling, doesn't it?

If you tell me you're not a Christian you will not go down in my estimations one iota, because life is too short to let a difference of opinion stop us from having a friendship that lasts. So why all the hate for those that are different from you? Surely a more appropriate response is to be tolerant of that and say "fair enough so, I respect your opinion's different to mine and I accept that". But unfortunately for some, that's not enough, it's as though they have to ram their opinions down your throat and if you don't like it, then tough.

I know I have, recently, become more vocal in my support for Christianity, my beliefs, but that is only my way of taking what's mine, this blog, and personalising it to my experiences. I don't mean to come off all high and mighty and better than thou, as it were.

Hereby, I am sorry if I have because I do go into a 'preach' mode when I get going. Yes I might have said, in the past, that I'm not sorry for it, but what I'm always trying to remember is that someone who's reading this may not agree with a single word I've just written... and that's okay. That's really okay.

Are we okay? Good.

This whole business I've started today's post with has got me assessing just what sort of preaching I'm letting into my life and I have to admit that one big no-no is from someone, anyone, who's life is not matching up to what they preach.

Again, it's coming back to tolerance...

Do I have to tolerate it because it's out there? Yes and no...

Yes, because not everyone believes what I do in the way that I do.

No, because I can do something about it, in the above case I can stop watching/listening to the broadcasts thus extricating me from its influence over my life. Or I can just walk away.

I shall get back to you on that one because I'm going to have to pray about it and make sure I'm not letting something sour me that shouldn't. Or deny me something that is good and beneficial.

What of you then? What do you think you have to tolerate? What do you think you don't have to tolerate, bro's?

I'm always curious to hear another opinion because it helps me see whether I'm in the right forest or not (ED - why don't you just say 'whether I can see the wood for the trees', TLP?!).

Until next time...

Peace off!