Now this, THIS is a good blog.

Trinitie

nah, man, I like it.

Trinitie

Was Jesus intolerant? Yes
Are acceptance and approval the same thing? No
Does loving someone mean looking past their sin?
No, God is Love and he doesn't look past our sin. In fact he hates sin so much that he can't even look at it. God demonstrated his love by sending his son to die in our place. That isn't looking past our sin. What it is is facing the problem straight on and finding a solution.

Is it possible to truly separate a person’s actions from their character?
No, a person's actions show us the nature of their character. All of us are born with a sinful character and our actions show that. The only method the Bible gives us of determining a person's true nature is based on their actions or their fruit.

If Christ hung out with the “undesirables”, does that mean I should too? Yes, but we are not to participate in their sinful activities.

Can two people with opposing convictions maintain a healthy relationship? No, "Can two walk together, unless they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3)

Does growing up as a Christian mean truth gets blurry? No. Why would you think that?

Can I quiet the noise of the church long enough to hear the Voice of God?
Maybe you are in the wrong church.

Are there really any right answers? Jesus is the answer.

Simple truth has never been enough.

The world is not a simple place.

Simple truth is for children, who are not yet prepared to deal with the complexities and confusions that are the natural state of the world.

Nostalgia for one's childhood is tempting, but it's better to seek out a complex, mature truth as we mature into complex beings in a complex world.

Ok....I'm going to attempt to tackle this one.....just my two cents of course.

1. Was Jesus intolerant? No. I think he loved and accepted people where they were, despite what they did.
2. Does acceptance = approval? No way. You can accept someone without approving of their actions. I accept that George Bush is my President, even though I don't approve or war. Hell, go for the gold, you can even love someone without approving of what they do (I don't love George). I think people have trouble coming to terms with the places that others "don't look like them" or "act like them" because they think they have to approve of everything a person does in order to be around them. In most cases, folks are not asking for your approval, they are asking for your acceptance and love. You can accept someone and love someone and desire relationship with someone even if you cannot come to grips with their actions. But I guess its something you have to decide for yourself!
3. Does love mean looking past sin? Yes. You are not the judge. Leave it to God. He can handle things himself. You have not been nominated for that position.
4. Separate actions from character? YES. Just because a person does something does not make them something. Make sense. And, just because someone doesn't do something that aligns with your beliefs or definitions of right and wrong does not make everything about them worthless.
5. Hanging out with "undesirables"? I say - Try it. You might like it. Jesus seemed to enjoy himself. Hey, we're the ones with the great stories - lots of drama. No, honestly, you might find that the "undesirables" are more desirable because they don't come with the judgements, etc. that others do. They might just accept you for YOU. It could be an enlightening experience.
6. Opposing views and a healthy relationships - Yes. Yes. Yes. I guarantee it will make life more fun. Don't focus on finding people who are like you - step outside the box and you might find that you are missing out on knowing some great folks.
7. Blurry truth? Absolutely. Look at how many people leave the traditional church after seminary or after a tough experience. The more you learn, the more blurry everything gets. Personally, I think that, if there is a higher being, he rather enjoys watching you bump into things because your vision is blurred.
8. Noise of the church - I had to leave it entirely to even remember who I was. Remember, God is not confined to those wall. Hey, you might even find him amongst the "undesirables."
9. Right answers? Mine of course! No really, that's a good question. My friend, we are just all trying to get by. If you figure that one out, let me know!

Good luck as your sort this all out!

Concerned Friend & Gideon,

Thank you for taking the time to toy with my questions. Your answers were well thought out and insightful. I appreciate your responses, and I hope I will someday reconcile all the things that make faith so difficult.

P.S. Gideon, -- I saw you at my little home town church last Sunday, but I didn't know you were you until my grandmother told me later. Otherwise, I would have introduced myself.

Concerned friend--do I know you?

Indirectly! I know your questions very well, however, as I have struggled and grappled with them myself not long ago!

This reply is for stutefish: I realize your comments were made more than two months ago, so you or anyone else may never read this, but I have to say... My heart goes out to you. Your bitterness seeps between the lines. I believe simple truth is not only enough, but the only truth. You are right when you say the world is not a simple place. It is not. But scripture tells us we should have the spirit of a child. A child's innocence is a gift. Although the state of today's world and the effects of alcoholism, drug addiction and other tragedies, often rob children of their innocence, it is never too late to seek God's simple truth -- to let go of our "complex, mature truth" and to seek a renewed innocence in faith.

We miss the moment when we are consumed with the analysis of our "complexities" -- a tragedy in and of itself. God resides in the moment. It is the moment in which we find our truth. I experience the sunlight of the spirit when I keep it simple, when I innocently trust God as a child trusts a mentor--a mentor who, in this case, will not falter in her/his humanity. A childlike faith--a simple truth-- is my interpretation of God's will.

Please don't misunderstand. I did not mean to attack. I meant only to offer honest sympathy. I may be wrong about the bitterness, but that does not change my truth about the necessity of "simple truth" and seeking God in the moment rather than missing the moment as I analyze what we've labled as the "complex, mature truth." Yes, there's no denying reality, but that does not mean we must dwell under the weight of humanity's "complexities and confusions." I believe we are spiritual beings having a human experience, not the other way around.