Showing respect for the beliefs of others..

[katt]

Do Christians have to do this?..

I've often wondered..and I remember how Jesus spoke to the Pharisees and Sadicees (sp) of his day..did he speak to them w/respect..not really..he insulted them every chance he got..

Jesus cleared out the temple twice I think..at the beginnng of his ministry and at the end of his ministry..was that showing respect for the beliefs of those around him?..

So when we come right out and tell the Islamic that he worships a false God and their Mohammad was a false prophet and a raving lunitic..are we sinning?..

Well maybe..Jesus said to tell the truth w/love..

So maybe our words can be chosen more thoughtfully..but when Jesus told those of his day the truth..he pulled no punches..I wonder, should we follow his example?..I don't see why we should do any less..

We get so much flack for going to the ME and breaking their no prosylitizing laws..but isn't that what The Great Commission is all about?..

Didn't a lot of the early Christians die because they refused to finacially support the Roman Gods?..Because they refused to call Ceaser God?..and now..here we are in the 21st century w/the threat of death hanging over the heads of Christians in Islamic countries for doing just that..telling anyone who will listen that the God they serve is not the true God..that's blasphamy in that part of the world and punishable by death..


and what about our own country..do we show respect for all the different beliefs in America?..how do we do that?..by not arguing the point when someone tells us God is dead..etc..?..

I think what I'm trying to say is..

This belief of respect is an off spring of Political Correctness..it's an attempt of the masses to stop people from talking about God altogether..after all the PC movement didn't stop it..it just changed the way in which it was done..and a lot of folks are getting sick of the movement anyhow..so now that is (hopefully) falling by the wayside.. but is being replaced by the spin off version of the same idea....

Lets all just show respect for the beliefs of others shall we?..:rolleyes

What do you guys think?

[antsinmypants]

Jam 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
Jam 1:20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.


1Co 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
1Co 10:32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Greek, nor to the assembly of God:
1Co 10:33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.



1Pe 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
1Pe 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
1Pe 3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
1Pe 3:11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
1Pe 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
1Pe 3:13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
1Pe 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
1Pe 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
1Pe 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.


Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecc 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.


and lastly 1 Corinthians 13

[blitzkreig]

Mat 15:22-28
(22) And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed."
(23) But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, "Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us."
(24) But He answered and said, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
(25) But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, "Lord, help me!"
(26) And He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."
(27) But she said, "Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."
(28) Then Jesus said to her, "O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed at once.

It totally depends upon their position relative to the one true God... it doesn't matter where they "come from" but where they are "going to"...

[CrossLightMin]

:wave

Jesus said that from out of our mouths our hearts would be revealed.

For me, there are times when I think the Lord would approve a few tables being turned over. I can feel the Lord's hot indignation burning inside.. at the same time, I am scrambling (self) to avoid showing any form of contempt to the person who is usually offending the Lord. An example of this would be a youth leader who leads out of one mouth, but see him at a game and you can't tell the difference between him and the unsaved man sitting next to him.

Then there are times that I would love to say a few sharp, corrective words.. drop a good verse here or there, right on the head of a self righteous know it all person.. boom.. yet, the Holy Spirit puts me in check and I have to bow and yield to His wisdom and love.

It is the heart.. that is the answer. We are told to be servants. In a world of vast differences, wisdom usually is silence. Too many times I try to open my mouth and introduce Jesus into a conversation where Jesus is just not wanted. Thus, I end up laying Jesus out so they can walk on Him, trample the Son of God in their ignorance.

Paul said be ready to give an answer to those who ask about the things they see in our lives. That would be the first place to begin... have something in our life that would show we are different.. something to reflect a Mighty and Living God.

And remember, in America, in our many differences, we must heed the words Paul spoke about one part of the body needing the other.

If our hearts are true to the Lord, and we are on His agenda and not our own, when the right time comes, He will open the right doors for us to speak.. at the right time, right place, and the right words. It will be those Words, that will be quickened by the Holy Spirit to convict and change the heart that is being spoken to.


His servant,
stacie

[daveleau]

We are taught to love one another. In this, we must never disrespect a person, but we can disrespect their beliefs. Tough love is just that: love. If it takes disrespecting someone's beliefs to change them, then it is ok to do so. But, we must use it sparingly, as disrespect also pushes people away, frequently.