OK, I can handle diversity. I even celebrate it. Diversity keeps life rich and prevents boredom.
As a Christian (with a Kierkegaardian existentialist perspective), I can consider many as Christian brothers and sisters who may have different doctrinal beliefs that I. They may be Catholic, may be Baptist, may even be "Reformed," and I'll find it quite easy to fellowship with them. Our differences do not overcome our unity through the Holy Spirit.
Recently, however, I've realized there are a number of people calling themselves "Christian" with whom I just cannot consider fellowship. I can value their lives as creations of God, I can care for their welfare, as I am called to do.
But I cannot consider them to be fellow Christians.
Certain things are what they are. I'm male and can't claim to be female. I'm white and can't claim to be black. I'm a native-born American and can't claim to be Canadian or European.
I am who I am either because of biology or belief.
So when some people claim to be Christian, but believe blacks are poor because they are lazy, or claim that God "called them to be president," or that God called them to "cure gays," or that God requires them to keep women in subjugation to men, then I have to ask:
Where do you get such ideas?
From Jesus?
No, that can't be, because he never said these things.
From the Bible?
Well, yes, what Christians call the Old Testament does have some strange rules, but we have to put them in context. Of time and of purpose.
From God speaking to you?
Yes, God does still speak, but he doesn't give private lessons. No, God hasn't told Pat Robertson who will win in 2012, but to keep it secret. God never even spoke to the great prophets of scripture that way.
Look, we can agree to disagree over the proper age for baptism, over the administering of the sacraments, over which Bible translation is more "true" to the original, over whether clergy should wear robes (I don't think they should), and so on and so on.
So long as we are united in our belief in the saving grace of God through Jesus Christ, then we are brothers and sisters united by the Holy Spirit.
But if you believe a Christian should denigrate another based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, social class, ethnicity or income, then you are not a Christian.
I'll still regard you as a fellow human being, created in the image of God, but I will not, will not, will not, consider you a Christian.
How you regard me is your choice.
How I regard you is something you have no say in.
