Intolerance is the mark of...
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Intolerance is the mark of a great deal of religious expression and yet seems far from the ethos of Jesus. Here he tells his guys to be expansive in their attitude toward those who don't cross the t and dot the i in a kosher way. He tells them labels are not nearly as important as compassion and effectiveness. Is it too much to say Jesus thinks our deeds are more important than our creeds?
Some folks are so narrow in religion you could sleep two of them in a twin bed. So rigid in regulations you just know the rubber band will pop and self-destruct at any moment. So elitist in categorization you wonder how they find anyone to meet their standards.
In his book, The Hammer of the Lord, Colin Morris writes, "To damn a system and hate those who uphold it may have the virtue of consistency, but it is not an option open to a follower of Jesus" (page 95). I agree. it is more Christ-like to accept people than it is to approve of them.
Charles Laymon relates more directly to this Scripture when he says, in They Dared to Speak for God, "Jesus had a purpose in mind when he criticized the disciples for discouraging those who cast tout demons in his name, but who were not one of them. There is room for all and we should not too readily turn from a true word of God because it is spoken by another person who does not walk with us?" (page 19). I agree. I've heard a lot from God from very unlikely sources. As Carlyle Marney said, "salvation always comes out of Galilee (from unexpected places)."
- Barnhart
Some folks are so narrow in religion you could sleep two of them in a twin bed. So rigid in regulations you just know the rubber band will pop and self-destruct at any moment. So elitist in categorization you wonder how they find anyone to meet their standards.
In his book, The Hammer of the Lord, Colin Morris writes, "To damn a system and hate those who uphold it may have the virtue of consistency, but it is not an option open to a follower of Jesus" (page 95). I agree. it is more Christ-like to accept people than it is to approve of them.
Charles Laymon relates more directly to this Scripture when he says, in They Dared to Speak for God, "Jesus had a purpose in mind when he criticized the disciples for discouraging those who cast tout demons in his name, but who were not one of them. There is room for all and we should not too readily turn from a true word of God because it is spoken by another person who does not walk with us?" (page 19). I agree. I've heard a lot from God from very unlikely sources. As Carlyle Marney said, "salvation always comes out of Galilee (from unexpected places)."
- Barnhart
