kamphau@oktext (Mark Kamphaus) (07/10/90)
In article <Jul.8.00.33.21.1990.6095@athos.rutgers.edu> mike@turing.cs.unm.edu (Michael I. Bushnell) writes: >It is precisely that tolerance which enables the Church to function. >Paul gave a good example. Certain Christians felt that it was wrong >to eat the meat of animals sacrificed to pagan deities. Paul >admonished them to understand that such feeling was not universal, and >that they shouldn't force their ideas on others. At the same time, >the others were to be politic and not press the issue. Each side >could coexist quite happily with the other when it was realized that >they could tolerate eachother's differences in moral understanding and >leave the issue at that. I assume you are referring to ICor8 here and are far from the context. Paul is saying that there are no other gods or pagan deities for the meat to have been sacrificed to. There were christians who were strong that recognised this and those who were weak who did not. Paul confirms the strong belief, but cautions that they should refrain from trying to force it upon their weaker brothers and should abstain if the act would cause others to stumble. Also notice Paul does make the distinction with regard to the measure of the persons faith. He never said they were equal beliefs as you imply. Paul did not advocate tolorence with each others differences in the area's of right and wrong and within the church. ICor 5 is an admonishment *against* the church because they have been tolorent. What Paul says enables the church to function is not tolorence but the diversity of the call of the members (elders, teachers,...) mark