Man, big BIG subject IMO.
I'm going to try and sort out my thoughts here so I hope this comes out on "paper" the way it is in my head.
We are told to be sly as a serpent and gentle as a dove - a bit of a contradiction on the surface one can say.
Jesus said "turn the other cheek" but he also flipped the money changers tables.
Paul said we are to live at peace with others so long as it is up to us.
We also read that Paul "debated daily" in the public squares and you can read in his letters that they were hot - HOT debates. I mean they stoned him and left him for dead one time!
Can you imagine seeing Paul a few hours later walking back into town with the blood and hair all matted and dried on his head walking up to those who debated him and still not waivering on his stance! WOW! (While I have no proof, my personal belief is Paul was raised from the dead there.)
Act 14:19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.
Act 14:20 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city.
You can also see Paul "writing people off" too...so I guess my point is, it got heated a lot around them in thier day talking "religion" and Paul did not waver on the truth to appease. He did not change his message to make people "feel" better. He also practices kindness and was a peacful man.
I personally don't pull any punches. I'm a between the eyes kind of person, even with myself. But I'm also very kind and loving.
I don't believe shouting in public as someone said "if you divorce you are going to hell" is being "steadfast". I think that is losing focus of the gospel and putting the cart before the horse.
But telling a believer that their stance on "forgiveness" or "salvation" for instance maybe out of line with the bible and debating it is being steadfast.
So is taking a stand that Islam or whatever does NOT hold the key to salvation is what we are called to do. It's what got Paul stoned.
I also believe that speaking reality is not "hate" or "intollerance". If somone is acting a certain way, it's the truth. I'm not going to say otherwise. That would be dishonest. There are as many mush mouths in the church today as misfocused "hot heads" IMO.
We also have to understand that many would be perfectly happy to silence us, and in fact it's their goal. They use "tollerance" as a stepping stone all the while being "intolerant" themselves.
Gilbert K. Chesterton Said it well.
Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions.
I hope that came out making sense.
Edit: A lot of these things were already said as I was typing them. LOL
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