Musings on Faith #5
On Religious Tolerance
On Religious Tolerance
We all know John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (KJV)", but today I want to discuss the verse following, John 3:17, which is the favorite verse of my dear cousin Charlie. This verse says "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." It strikes me that if Jesus Christ came to us in the flesh, not to condemn but to save, that it is incumbent upon us not to condemn others. Too often Christians fall into the trap of judging other Christians by the narrow standards of their own doctrines and theology. Too often I have heard individuals of one denomination or another "condemning" fellow Christians of another denomination and judging them not to be true Christians because of the particular translation of the Bible they use, or the way in which they observe the Lord's Supper, or what they believe about the Lord's Supper, or some other theological difference. All Christians need to observe and respect the faith of their fellow believers, and not get hung up on doctrinal technicalities.
I was raised Southern Baptist, and my doctrinal beliefs are Southern Baptist. However, in my 59 years on this earth, I have had the blessed good fortune to know wonderful, genuine Christian believers of
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many different doctrinal backgrounds, including all of the well-known Protestant denominations, as well as Catholics. I even had the opportunity, years ago, of meeting a Coptic Bishop. The Coptics are the Christian denomination of ancient Egypt, who survived the Arabic invasion of the Middle Ages and continue to worship the Lord today. What I found in sharing with this devout man of God was that his faith and mine, his beliefs and mine, his relationship with God and mine, were all so very similar. It was a profound revelation to me.
No, we are not to condemn, nor to judge the faith of others, but, representing Christ, to seek to witness to the lost in hopes that our efforts, through the Holy Spirit, will lead them to a saving knowledge of our Lord. Neither are we to condemn those who do not know our Savior as their own. Yes, we may condemn actions and behaviors, but we do not have the authority of God to condemn the person. Rather than condemn, we are commanded by Christ to love, and in that love to reach out to the lost and share with them the wonderful love of Jesus, and the great, victorious plan He has for their lives. Oh, that we may obey His will in our daily witness!
Yours in Christ, Tom Woodard
many different doctrinal backgrounds, including all of the well-known Protestant denominations, as well as Catholics. I even had the opportunity, years ago, of meeting a Coptic Bishop. The Coptics are the Christian denomination of ancient Egypt, who survived the Arabic invasion of the Middle Ages and continue to worship the Lord today. What I found in sharing with this devout man of God was that his faith and mine, his beliefs and mine, his relationship with God and mine, were all so very similar. It was a profound revelation to me.
No, we are not to condemn, nor to judge the faith of others, but, representing Christ, to seek to witness to the lost in hopes that our efforts, through the Holy Spirit, will lead them to a saving knowledge of our Lord. Neither are we to condemn those who do not know our Savior as their own. Yes, we may condemn actions and behaviors, but we do not have the authority of God to condemn the person. Rather than condemn, we are commanded by Christ to love, and in that love to reach out to the lost and share with them the wonderful love of Jesus, and the great, victorious plan He has for their lives. Oh, that we may obey His will in our daily witness!
Yours in Christ, Tom Woodard
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