I was reading the 'aims' of a worship service held in a hospice. It had two aims. The first was to provide a service of worship for Christian believers and the second was to provide a period of reflection for all, regardless of faith (and all the other inclusivities). This second aim is clearly so as to appear inclusive and not offend anyone. However, the two aims are rather mutually exclusive.
If you are holding a service of worship for a particular religion, it is not easy to bring in other faiths without compromising your own beliefs. I would not feel comfortable in worship service of another religion and for most religions, they would not feel comfortable in a Christian service.
And there's nothing wrong with that! It's all about having a faith which we really believe in.
At the Baptist Assembly (held in Plymouth recently), Amy Orr-Ewing spoke powerfully about tolerance of other faiths. She said there was nothing intolerant in saying we believe that only in Jesus can you be saved and go to heaven. We are intolerant only if we do not respect others with differing views.
So the PC lobby have turned 'tolerance' on its head! They suggest it is intolerant to say that your religion is right and others are wrong. What in fact is intolerant is them objecting to you saying it.
A basic Baptist principle is freedom for everyone to practise their own faith, or to have no faith. That is far more tolerant than many PC people would want!
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