It's amazing how the world changes. One day people tell you "There's so much pressure on you to conform to the world".
Then when you actually go out into the world, the world tells you "Tolerance! It doesn't matter who you are or what you think! Tolerance!"
Is there any way to fix this problem?
I think a lot of people who preach the first phrase are either speaking from experience of scare tactics. I'm not gonna discredit them completely, because there really are people who try to make you conform to whatever they want you to conform to.
But also, many of those people who are using the first phrase as scare tactics, generally are lie-ers. First off, if they're trying to scare you, they're not really giving you a choice. They're the ones that are very closed minded people. But you know what's a shame? Many of these people are in Christian circles. They are so concerned about "not looking like the world" or "not thinking like the world" or "don't give in to the world's style of music", that they're willing to take their eyes off of Jesus in order to accomplish their agenda.
Shame on them!
The truth is, there aren't really that many people out there trying to get you to think "their way". What is happening, though, is this:
"It's ok to believe what you believe, but just accept everyone else in the process"
This is a twisted form of tolerance. It's twisted because by attempting to be "tolerant", they are not tolerating those who aren't tolerant!
So technically, yes they are trying to get you to believe what they want you to believe, but tolerance isn't normally mentioned outside a religious context.
People just don't care what you look like, what music you listen to, etc...
This is what I'm referring to when i say "there's no pressure"
You can basically do what you want without anyone talking to you about it.
This is a problem though.
As a Christian, I don't really want to be "tolerant". To me, there IS a right way and a wrong way. I'm not going to "tolerate [or "allow"]" someone else to believe something other than Christ.
Why?
Because I don't want them to go to hell!
Does this mean I'm always upset with someone or angry at someone or not willing to talk to someone just because they don't believe in Jesus? NOOOOOOOO...
If that were the case, I wouldn't really be living a Christian life!
Therefore, tolerance is not something to be admired necessarily, rather, Jesus is to be desired. And to desire Jesus is to admire both bold/in your face while at the same time gentle and loving.
But please, don't sacrifice one or the other!
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