Below you will find an article in our town's local college newspaper, and then my response to it. I was actually impressed that they published my response to the article. The first article is from "The Penn," the newspaper and then following is my response to it.
Tolerate and be tolerated
Posted: 9/15/06
Your mom or dad has probably already told you: If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.
The GLBT forum Wednesday night brought up a lot of ideas, some of them focusing on intolerance. IUP may not have the most diverse of student populations, but that's no excuse to single-out or exclude anyone.
Tolerance doesn't mean you have to march with Pride in the homecoming parade or hug every minority student on campus. It means being sensitive, being aware and being compassionate.
Tolerance starts with seeing people as people. Everyone walking around in the Oak Grove or eating dinner in the HUB has something in common with everyone else. Perhaps you and that random guy are huge "Family Guy" fans. Maybe you both love thin crust pizza.
The next time you think about doing something intolerant - like shouting a slur, vandalizing someone's property or even harboring preconceived negative thoughts about someone - remember that he or she is a person, just like you.
Imagine what it would be like if people criticized you for something you couldn't help. What if people harassed you for being tall or having brown eyes? What if people assumed that because you were right-handed that you acted a certain way? It wouldn't be fair or kind.
You don't have to love everyone, but you don't have to hate anyone, either. If you disagree with the way someone acts or dresses, keep it to yourself. That person isn't going to change, especially not because someone else wants them to.
There's no excuse for prejudice in Indiana and no reason for disrespect. Intolerance is more than rude - it's just plain mean.
© Copyright 2006 The Penn
http://www.thepenn.org/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticlePrinterFriendly&uStory_id=c43640a1-0153-4477-9675-dad580405660
Here is my response to the article.
Tolerance more complicated than blind acceptance
Posted: 9/23/06
As I read the Penn Editorial, "Tolerate and be tolerated," I felt compelled to respond as the definition and examples used are misguided and utilize a false philosophical notion. You are trying to compare the idea of eye color and your dominate hand, which are ingrained in your genetic make-up from conception with being GLBT, which is not in the genetic makeup. This has been proven time and again by science. Making such a comparison is propagating false information and trying to have someone form your opinion regarding an issue. It is a fact that many people in the GLBT have chosen to leave the lifestyle and live completely heterosexual lives. Any real research would demonstrate this fact.
Another misguided premise is your definition of tolerance itself. Merriam-Webster defines the type of tolerance you are talking about as "a: sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own b: the act of allowing something." It does not say one has to accept it, nor does it say one should not try to convince another to change their thoughts about something through meaningful and respectful dialogue. To use the editor's line of questioning: Would not someone try to talk their best friend out of using heroine if they had a problem with using the drug and it was killing them? What if someone believed that living the lifestyle of GLBT was just as dangerous to their friends and believed by telling them in a respectful manner that they are helping them? Would one be seen as all right while the other is seen as intolerant? By the editorial summary, we should stop all alcohol and drug treatment centers because those people will not change, either, as there is more scientific evidence that alcoholism can be passed generation to generation then there is that someone is born GLBT.
Just about every major religion witnesses because they believe people can change. Muslims and Christians in particular believe that people are capable of change from any practice they deem as sinful or unholy. By your definition you are not being tolerant of other faiths' intolerance toward GLBT. Those religions should demonstrate love, but they should not have to accept it as a healthy lifestyle, nor should they be silenced in presenting their opinion in a loving manner, hoping to change the other's opinion. Just as the editor is trying to do in his/her editorial.
I can love my brother or sister and not agree with their lifestyle. I can love my best friend and believe that his/her drug use is wrong. I can love my wife or husband and believe that their overeating is going to kill them. I can also love the people in GLBT and still disagree with their lifestyle. I believe in all those instances it would be alright to offer help in changing in a loving and respectful manner, and let them decide whether to accept it or not.
Alan Seymour
© Copyright 2006 The Penn
http://www.thepenn.org/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticlePrinterFriendly&uStory_id=fd2d1f53-81a5-4a0f-b6a5-30881c68f32a
Monday, September 25, 2006
Monday, September 18, 2006
RANSOMED!!
1 Peter 1:18-19 states, “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” This verse has become the central verse of the College Ministry where I serve.
We have named ourselves Ransomed based off the verses above, because we want to emphasize the price that was paid for us on the cross by Jesus Christ for our sins. Then we want to live out what that means in our lives for others to see and hopefully they will come to realize their need for a Savior.
I had to give my testimony at the two services at my church this past Sunday and it was an interesting experience, especially after just teaching on 1 Peter 1:18-19 on Friday night and telling everyone what we are about and are going to be about as we outreach to the campus near our church, Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). Do we ever truly take out regular time to think about what it means to be ransomed from our sins? That Jesus took upon Himself our sins so that we may enjoy eternity with Him in Heaven. The physical pain would have been nothing compared to taking on the spiritual pain of suffering for us; having God turn Himself from Christ the man as He took on our sins.
If we truly understand what was done on that cross and believe that Jesus is our Savior defeating the sting of death through the crucifixion and resurrection, then why don’t we live like it? Don’t we all have those areas where we know we should be acting and living differently? Instead of doing anything about it we rationalize that it is not as bad as what others do, or tell ourselves that he or she is doing it so it cannot be that bad. Maybe we are afraid to offend someone by walking away from the dirty joke, or walk out of the movie because of what others may think of us. Is it more important for us to worry about what others think or Christ? When you stand before Him in judgment of how you presented yourself here on earth as believers, how are you going to respond?
Christ paid the ultimate price and if you accept Him as Savior and Lord then you are His and not your own. We need to live like it and not worry about what the world thinks of us, but worry if we are making the One proud who paid the ransom and took the penalty of sin upon Himself because you nor I could do it for ourselves.
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;” (1 Peter 3:15). One way to demonstrate that we realize what happened when the price was paid is to tell others and be ready to defend your faith, and the only way we can do this is by studying His word and spending time in prayer and meditation.
I am going to end with a couple of verses, Romans 12:1-2, which tells us how to live. If we owe Him everything then we should be willing to do whatever He asks us to do in our lives. “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
We have named ourselves Ransomed based off the verses above, because we want to emphasize the price that was paid for us on the cross by Jesus Christ for our sins. Then we want to live out what that means in our lives for others to see and hopefully they will come to realize their need for a Savior.
I had to give my testimony at the two services at my church this past Sunday and it was an interesting experience, especially after just teaching on 1 Peter 1:18-19 on Friday night and telling everyone what we are about and are going to be about as we outreach to the campus near our church, Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). Do we ever truly take out regular time to think about what it means to be ransomed from our sins? That Jesus took upon Himself our sins so that we may enjoy eternity with Him in Heaven. The physical pain would have been nothing compared to taking on the spiritual pain of suffering for us; having God turn Himself from Christ the man as He took on our sins.
If we truly understand what was done on that cross and believe that Jesus is our Savior defeating the sting of death through the crucifixion and resurrection, then why don’t we live like it? Don’t we all have those areas where we know we should be acting and living differently? Instead of doing anything about it we rationalize that it is not as bad as what others do, or tell ourselves that he or she is doing it so it cannot be that bad. Maybe we are afraid to offend someone by walking away from the dirty joke, or walk out of the movie because of what others may think of us. Is it more important for us to worry about what others think or Christ? When you stand before Him in judgment of how you presented yourself here on earth as believers, how are you going to respond?
Christ paid the ultimate price and if you accept Him as Savior and Lord then you are His and not your own. We need to live like it and not worry about what the world thinks of us, but worry if we are making the One proud who paid the ransom and took the penalty of sin upon Himself because you nor I could do it for ourselves.
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;” (1 Peter 3:15). One way to demonstrate that we realize what happened when the price was paid is to tell others and be ready to defend your faith, and the only way we can do this is by studying His word and spending time in prayer and meditation.
I am going to end with a couple of verses, Romans 12:1-2, which tells us how to live. If we owe Him everything then we should be willing to do whatever He asks us to do in our lives. “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Friday, September 08, 2006
IS JESUS YOUR LORD???
I believe it was Augustine who said, “If Jesus is not Lord of All, then He is not Lord AT All.” This is a very powerful statement, because it should lead one to think of areas of our life where Jesus is not Lord. It also makes a powerful statement as to how we see Jesus.
We tend to want to make Jesus like a dog, where He is always excited to see us, even when we are cruel, but at the same time we can tame Him and control what He does and how He invades our space. This is not at all who Christ is and is not even remotely close to how the great figures in Scripture speak when they speak about Him.
We tend to want to make Jesus like a dog, where He is always excited to see us, even when we are cruel, but at the same time we can tame Him and control what He does and how He invades our space. This is not at all who Christ is and is not even remotely close to how the great figures in Scripture speak when they speak about Him.
Psalm 101
1 I will sing of mercy and justice;
To You, O LORD, I will sing praises.
2 I will behave wisely in a perfect way.
Oh, when will You come to me?
I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
3 I will set nothing wicked before my eyes;
I hate the work of those who fall away;
It shall not cling to me.
4 A perverse heart shall depart from me;
I will not know wickedness.
5 Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor,
Him I will destroy;
The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart,
Him I will not endure.
6 My eyes shall be on the faithful of the land,
That they may dwell with me;
He who walks in a perfect way,
He shall serve me.
7 He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house;
7 He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house;
He who tells lies shall not continue in my presence.
8 Early I will destroy all the wicked of the land,
8 Early I will destroy all the wicked of the land,
That I may cut off all the evildoers from the city of the LORD.
This Psalm describes that we should be the ones being tamed by Christ, and not the other way around. David talks about how he is making God Lord of all in his life. He talks about behaving in a perfect way. How do we do that? The only way that I know of is by spending time with Christ in His Word and in prayer. By submitting ourselves under those God has put in our lives to help teach us His ways. By keeping garbage out and only letting nourishment in, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” Phil. 4:8.
The Psalm then talks about what we let into our eyes, and that we should not allow wicked things into our eyes. How well do we do at this? How well do we protect others from this? When a Victoria Secret commercial comes on T.V., do you turn the channel or allow it to penetrate your eyes? Why was the television show, “Desperate Housewives” the number one show in America if Christians are not watching it?
I was given a movie to watch, “The Inside Man,” and was told it was good, and the story plot may have been excellent, but I had to turn the movie off within 5 minutes because they must have used the “F” word 20 times in that 5 minutes. I had to ask myself if the college students I worked with were with me would I be watching this. Would I want my daughter to watch a movie filled with such language? The answer is a big fat NO!! Why do we rationalize putting these things into our heads when in fact I bet that if Jesus was down here walking with us we would not watch or say half of what we do, yet He has sent His Spirit to be with us continually and we some how forget that. Myself included.
There is a disconnect today in morality and Christianity, from Sunday to the rest of the week. We have a hard time lining up with what Scripture tells us about who Christ is and how we are suppose to act once we accept Him as Lord and Savior. What would happen if everyone who called themselves Christian started to live their lives by what the Scriptures tell us in our daily lives and not just while we are at church? I believe there would be a dramatic change in every area of America, from government to the media, from schools to churches. It would end the life of most of the shows on T.V., pornography would almost disappear, and there would be a revival of our entire nation. There is a figure that says that 1 in 10 men are addicted to pornography. How many call themselves Christians, and yet allow themselves to be succumbed by such filth? Christ surely is not Lord in this area! Is that worse then watching a movie that every other word is swear word? Neither one is filling your mind with anything productive.
Here is the challenge. Look where Christ is not part of your decision process and make Him Lord of it. If He is Lord of everything then there is no area that He should not be first in. Our beliefs and theology should not start with “I,” but with “Him.”
“IF JESUS IS NOT LORD OF ALL, THEN HE IS NOT LORD AT ALL.”
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