Imperfectly Thinking Out Loud About Differences...

Unfortunate as it is misunderstandings happen daily. The need to be correct destroys a ton of relationships! You say something, and someone else disagrees, then when you disagree in return, you are the bad guy! State the facts, and agree to disagree. Healthy discussions are great! War is never good! War presents fatalities. Whilst intelligent conversation edifies!
The Ecclesiast Solomon wrote there is a time and a purpose for every season under the sun. A time to love and a time to hate. (Ecclesiates 3) It was written that Abraham Lincoln hated slavery so much that he risked his political career, and ultimatey his life to abolish slavery. But in the same instance I believe that he grew to overcome hate, by loving the man that he said was inferior to his own race.
I pray that we would embrace the differences of culture. That the world and every nation in it, could see and understand that different is not always bad. Different doesn't mean that we have to change our faith, just that we have to understand that not everyone's faith, doctrine, or belief will be the same as our own. I don't hate you because you believe differently. I hate the fact that some hate others because they do. I hate the fact that rather than communicating in love, we belittle or make an attempt to belittle others and their ways of thinking.
Paul wrote to the church at Corinth and said, "But by the grace of God I am what I am" (1 Corinthians 15:10) I know people that believe in almost anything, some that believe in nothing at all, and some that do not know what to believe. Some Republican, some Democrat, and some that don't vote at all. How do I love them? Hopefully like I am supposed to..."and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." (Romans 13:9b)
If we acknowledged God, and loved Him with all of our heart, soul, and strength, and we loved our neighbors as much as we loved ourselves, we would not have to worry about trying to follow 10 commandments. Rather we would see that Jesus made the most complex issues so simple. Turned 10 into two. No mention of Polytheism, idolatry, swearing, braking of the Sabbath, murder, adultery, theft, bearing false witness, or coveting in John's qouting our Savior in his writing...Why? because if we placed God first and foremost, and loved Him above all else, with our entire being, and we loved each other just as Christ loved us, then we would not have any need or worry about what wrong anyone would try to bestow upon us!
If you disagree then that's cool, I agree to disagree. But to jump on a bandwagon just because your friend (including me) said that it was good, is not my thing. Try it for yourself, and if it doesn't work at least you can say that you tried. Make sure you make some effort however, because my endeavor is not to help send you on an impossible quest. But rather to simplify your journey. Peace to all in whatever language you speak...