Intolerances


And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. 
But he who endures to the end will be saved.
Matthew 10:22 

My mother moved into a nursing home in early 2012. She is 80 years old and not in good health. She never hid from anyone her love for the Lord and that she was a Christian lady. She continued, as she would have at home, to read her Bible, read Christian literature and talk about the Lord to others. What she never expected were the snide remarks about her faith.  Some comments are mild "you are too religious" but others are far more hurtful, especially to someone who is frail and fragile.  You might think that these comments were coming from young people, no, some are said by people older than my mother.

My dad and I were having a discussion about this and I mentioned that if a newspaper (online) runs a story about Christians, the number of comments that are aggressive, nasty and openly hostile towards Christians out weigh anything that is tolerant, kind or supportive towards Christians. It appears to be "open-season" for attacking Christians at the moment and what my mum occasionally endures is typical of the wider community.

However, most people would not say these sorts of comments to a person of a different faith . . . Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or even atheists.  People wouldn't (generally) be openly rude a to  Muslim, so why a Christian?

THE level of intolerance raised against Christians and their festivals is at an unacceptable level this year.  If this same level of intolerance was displayed towards the Muslim community you would have full-blown jihad on your hands. (source)

People don't need to agree with my mother but it would be nice if they had a heart and treated her as they would like to be treated - with kindness and a caring attitude.  How hard can it be to be tolerant towards others.  A silly question, as our track record through history is very poor.  However, in saying this, Christians too, need to be tolerant towards others and that does not mean you need to compromise your faith, but at least not be rude or openly nasty towards a politican you don't agree with, people of different faiths and those who are gay to name a few.

I also think Christians, if around a person who has strong anti-Christian views, shouldn't push Christianity onto them. The Lord will work in His own way on those people.

We just need to be kinder to others. Not a lot to ask.  As words do hurt.

If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

John 15:18-20

Comments

  1. I have noticed the same thing in my mother's community ~ & I find it so weird as many are afraid to die yet refuse to consider there may actually be a God & there might just be something to this Christianity business. There is a reason the present generation is so completely godless.

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  2. The same is here in Europe. Maybe in Poland not so much, but most atheists think, that all Christianity is Roman Catholic Church (which is very strong in politics) and every bad thing in RCC they put in all churches - that's why Polish atheists are more and more aggressive.
    And there is one more thing - political correctness. It is fashionable to attack Christianity.

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    1. You are spot on - it is fashionable to attack Christians:(( its very sad and will only get sadder.

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  3. Dear Joluise,

    ah my heart sorrowed with you over the unkindness of ignorant folk.. perhaps it reflects their own insecurity spiritually speaking - they can see the joy your mother has in the LORD ans feel inadequate and strange sense of loss perhaps and so react in this way..

    .. who knows?

    .. but as the LORD says- in Proverbs, "A soft answer turneth away wrath but grievous words stir up anger"..

    .. so pray for your dear frail mum for grace, strength, comfort above all wisdom be given her in her life till the LORD comes for her..must be very hard for your dear dad, love in Him, Shaz in oz.x

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    1. Thankyou so much, my mother will be delighted to know that there are other Christians praying for her situation. Yes, Dad does find it hard and he too is puzzled by the comments from people his own age, people in their 80's - the every group you would think would be more kind to others.

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  4. So sad to read of your mum's bad treatment. The positive is that at her age she is still being a witness for our Lord. Why pick on Christians? We are known to turn the other cheek and forgive those who persecute us. We may find our soft ride here is Australia is coming to an end.

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    1. I have to agree with you, our soft ride is most certainly coming to an end. But I was surprised at the comments coming from people in the older (over 8os group) - you would think they would be the least likely.

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  5. Nothing scares and rattles satan & his demons more than the name of Jesus. There is no power in any other religion, there is only power in the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. That is what I tell myself when persecution comes, and it will continue won't it until the Lords return. I admire your Mother for standing fast in her faith, what an amazing testimony, I will be praying for her this evening as I fall asleep. xo

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    1. MY mother is a strong woman and will always stand fast no matter what and this is a test that perhaps she didn't expect to face and to be honest shouldn't have to (not at her age). She is finding that her faith is helping those in the nursing home that are dying and do want to hear about the Lord Jesus Christ. Even a few words and holding hands provided so much to other in needs.

      Thankyou so much for your prayers, they mean so much.

      Blessings. xx

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  6. The father of a friend was street preaching some years ago in Newfoundland and a young man came up to him and asked him why he believed the Bible to be different from any other book. His reply, take a copy and walk with it under your arm for a day at school and see what happens!

    I agree with the comment above, I do think our soft ride is quickly coming to an end. Immoral life styles are so in vogue, and it's not even a question of acquiescing, but if we fail to embrace them, we are now quickly condemned. I don't advocate going out of ones way to be hated but simply not compromising is enough to provoke angst these days. "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake" (Luke 6:22).

    Nick

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  7. Nick, I have been pondering your first paragraph and it is so very very true - the Bible is like no other book, it frightens people so much that they have killed those with the Bible in their possession. Why are they so scared of it? Are they scared because they know it is true or afraid that it might be.

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  8. Yea I'm also surprised its coming from the older folks! You're mum is an inspiration! May God continue to use her where she is!

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