Good question, Rodney….why can’t we all just get along?
After a few discussions this past week or two, along with a few news stories and such that I’ve watch or read, that question is just stuck in my mind. Why is it we are so offended by what someone else believes? For example if a discussion pops up about, lets say adultery, and someone says “Well I just don’t think it rights to fool around once your married”…that’s cool. Even folks that don’t see anything wrong with it will generally respect that opinion. But change the reply to “Well I believe what the Bible says about adultery” and instantly somebody is pissed and will start slinging responses about “self righteousness” or “shoving YOUR beliefs down my throat”. Both responses indicated the same position on the subject, but if you add a dash of faith into it and you have a instant recipe for an argument or hurt feelings. I just don’t understand why? I just don’t understand what the difference is?
And don’t think for a second this is just directed at “non-Christians” cause Christians are just as bad. Some act as those even speaking with someone whose faith is different will result in a lightening bolt from above. I believe in standing up for your convictions, I think it’s very important. But if you feel strongly about standing up for what you believe, why would you get so upset when someone else does the same?
And then, as if we don’t have enough to fight about, we even find reasons to fight with those who follow the same God we do, who read the same Bible, and possess the same values. Even with all that in common, we’ll separate ourselves based on Eternal Salvation vs. Free Will, or baptism by sprinkling vs. immersion, or what any other segment of doctrine we can find to say someone else is wrong. We all believe in what Christ said in Matthew 22:37-39, and just imagine how much more we could accomplish toward that if we put our petty differences aside and worked together.
In my opinion, folks gotta learn that tolerance does not mean acceptance. My job has taken me to the middle east several times. During prayer time in a muslim country, everyone stops whatever they are doing to pray to Allah. During these times, I would stop whatever I was doing as well, stand still and remain quite until their prayer time was over. It wasn’t out of submission to Allah, it was even out of respect for their belief structure, but simply out of respect for other people. I wonder if sometimes those who have no tolerance for others faith, who freak out anytime something outside of their own beliefs structure is discussed or displayed, if maybe that is a symptom of that persons own frailty.
I believe the Bible to be the true written word of God. And I believe in Gods awesome power, not just inside of our man made religious structures, writing, music and ceremony. For me, God’s presence is everywhere. And if his presence is everywhere, not just between the covers of his written word, then wouldn’t that mean that his truth can be found in other places as well? Here is an example, watch the video linked below. Penn Gilette is a somewhat outspoken Atheist…but at least in this clip, I believe what the man is saying is true (and relevant to this discussion, even though it seems I’ve gotten sidetracked again, this’ll bring it right back on track 
