The most famous verse in the Bible is famous for two reasons 1) It tells us why Jesus is important to us and to God and 2) It tells us who can be a believer and have salvation so that they can live in the Kingdom of Heaven with the Lord:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

God loved us so much that He sent His son Jesus to us here on earth in human form, to pay the penalty of all our sins, so that anyone -- WHOEVER -- believes in him will not suffer and perish when they die, but have eternal life in Heaven.

God didn't say that this only applies to the Jews, or to white people, or to those who have money, or Americans, or those who are conservative Republican. WHOEVER. It means anyone and everyone.

I am a total people person -- I'm in sales, so I have to be. I love people of all walks of life. I love learning about different cultures. I had a grand time several years back when I stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge in Walt Disney World. I met people who worked there that were from Africa. I loved learning about the history and eating the (very yummy!!) foods. I love the diversity in my workplace -- I've got colleagues from every nationality, religion and culture. I love that about my city, too. Where I live has a very high Indian and Asian population. In fact, when my employer just recently sent out a memo asking for volunteers for our county's reading literacy program for English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) adults, I jumped at the chance.

I've known some homosexuals in my lifetime and I loved each one of them -- a few are still great friends/colleagues that I talk to now and then. I'm considering joining our prison ministry to reach out to women who have been incarcerated. I love Oprah -- I think she's awesome. She's probably one of the most successful people in the world, with influence and a sphere of influence that far surpasses any county's leader.

So where am I going with all of this???? I just wanted to simply explain that even though I love/like/respect all walks of life and all kinds of people doesn't mean that I can be accepting or tolerant of certain behaviors.

Here's an example: I love my husband more than anything else here on earth. Literally not a day goes by where I don't in some way thank God for him. He is the best blessing and gift that I could've ever possibly received. We are loving, affectionate, compatible and each other's best friend in every single way. Yet if my hubby suddenly came home one day and told me that he started smoking -- and that there was nothing I could do or say to get him to stop -- I would absolutely not tolerate it.

I wouldn't divorce him. I wouldn't leave him. But you bet your butt that I would tell him that I think it's wrong, and that I would insist that I don't want that around me in my life. I wouldn't want any evidence of it around me. Some might argue that example by saying that smoking is harmful to others, so it's a bit different than other kinds of sin or behaviors. But to be truthful, if he went outside to smoke and then sprayed himself with something to mask the smell, it would still be offensive. I used to be a smoker, so knowing he was going outside would be temptation for me. I love him, so knowing that he's harming his own lungs would be so heartbreaking for me. Bottom line is, it's wrong to smoke. And even though this man is my soul mate, I just would not be able to accept this about him. And you bet your butt I would do everything in my power to convince him to stop.

A lot of pastors these days, especially the "televangelists," are preaching about tolerance and acceptance. They try to say that Jesus was about love, and that he talked to everyone from the lowly tax collector to the outcast prostitute. That's true. But what was he doing when he was talking to them? Trying to change their behaviors. Trying to help them to see that how they've been living and the things they were doing were wrong.

Again, I adore Oprah. I respect her and like her very much. But I can't accept or tolerate her new teachings by Eckhart Tolle. They're wrong. Eckhart Tolle is teaching that Jesus was some kind of spirit Zen master, and that we are all God. It's simply not true.

I love my gay friends. I'm grateful and happy to have met them. But I can't support and accept the gay marriage movement, simply because of my beliefs in Christianity. God himself, as well as Christ, said numerous times that it's wrong.

People continually say that it's important to love and accept everyone. I agree that it's important to LOVE everyone -- to not hold grudges or have biases or discriminate against anyone. But I don't agree that we have to accept and tolerate behaviors. Look where it's got us (read my last post). Accepting someone's bad behaviors does not equal love. In fact, it's the opposite. If you truly loved that person, you would help them understand that what they are doing is wrong. If you discovered that your teenage son was smoking pot on a regular basis, you wouldn't stop loving him. Yet certainly you wouldn't shrug and say, "Oh, I have to accept him for what he is," and then let him smoke it in your house. You would try to get him to see how it's harmful and leads to other things (and is illegal).

Or, imagine if your very best friend in the world who has been married to her husband forever just told you that she was cheating on her hubby. You still love her. Would you accept and tolerate her behaviors? Or would you try to work with her to show her how wrong that is, and that she's breaking the family apart? What if your niece came to you telling you in confidence that she was pregnant, and she wanted to have an abortion. Would you just shrug and say, "It's her decision -- I have to accept that?"

We all have a responsibility to help each other. If I was doing something morally, eternally wrong and couldn't really see that... well, I would definitely want someone to talk to me about it. To help me with it. Even if they don't want your help, you can't just sit back and let it go -- you have to try.

It's like with politics. Right now, both of our candidates are low on the positives. But Obama in particular stands for several things that the Bible says is wrong. I can't just sit back, shrug, and say, "Oh, well. Most of the country loves him. I guess I just have to accept him for who he is and go with the flow." No way. I stand up. I make my message heard. I vote for what is right (or more right, in this case).

Christians are a very loving group. I know that, because I see that in church. Everyone hugs everyone. The Christian members of my family (Randy's side) are so willing to help and always saying supporting, comforting things. My co-workers who are Christian are some of the most loving, huggy, supportive people I've ever met. They are all the kind of people who donate, help and assist anyone and everything. They don't see color or race or age or demographics. They have no discrimination towards anyone and everyone that they want to love. They try to focus on the positive versus the negative, and they never make people feel badly or try to instigate arguments. They're peaceful... humble... full of life, laughter, love. They are the true extension of God's love and Jesus' outreach.

Yet all of those Christians have a core belief system that keeps them grounded. They have all of the "rights" and the "wrongs" spelled out clearly before them in the Bible. The message is not, "Love and accept everyone for who they are, and tolerate all behaviors and beliefs." The message IS: "Love everyone, and accept the fact that they might do wrong things. Help them to see that, and work with them to make things right. Pray for them, that God might protect them and help them to understand."

If someone says, "Oh, I believe in God -- in whatever form he might be. God will love and forgive everyone. We are his children. I don't have to believe in Christ to go to Heaven," -- well, they're wrong. The entire New Testament of the Bible teaches us that the only way to clear away all of the bad behaviors (sin) from our lives so that we can get to Heaven is by believing in what God gave us: His son. If people deny that... if people laugh at that or get angry at that doctrine and then come up with their own "version" of what they think the truth is, it is up to us to help them see differently. It's our responsibility to love all of those people as our neighbors, and guide them onto the right path. They may or may not listen, but we have to try. We cannot just shrug and say, "Oh, so-and-so is a nice person. I'll accept what they're saying and just love them for their beliefs and for who they are. Buddhism is okay because they grew up with that." Love does not equal acceptance. I'm not saying spend 24/7 teaching them right from wrong. But it you've known someone for 10 years who is an atheist, and you're a Christian who hasn't talked one word about God or Christ, you aren't really their friend. It's not about making nice and walking on eggshells so that everyone likes you, and in return you like and accept everyone else. It's about loving your neighbor as you love yourself, and gently helping them so that they might see the truth.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians 4:29)


Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. (Proverbs 14:34)

When calamity overtakes you like a storm,
when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

"Then they will call to me but I will not answer;
they will look for me but will not find me.

Since they hated knowledge
and did not choose to fear the LORD,

since they would not accept my advice
and spurned my rebuke,

they will eat the fruit of their ways
and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.

For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
and the complacency of fools will destroy them;

but whoever listens to me will live in safety
and be at ease, without fear of harm."
(Proverbs 1:27-33)


He (Jesus) answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' ; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' " (Luke 10:27)