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  %INTOLERANT CHURCH FELLOWSHIP ARROGANCE EXCLUSIVE 980324  
                                                                                                                               
     The  character  of a church can be discerned in terms                                                                     
of the forms  of  intolerance  which are  practiced by its  
members as individuals,  and by  the church  as a communal                                                                
organization.  How much tolerance is there of:                                               
                                                                                                                               
     1.  Honesty about differences in personal life styles                                     
of people  who  seek to  demonstrate  the possibilities of                                                                    
different forms of personal and communal integrity?                                     
                                                                                                                               
     2.  Gracious spontaneity and creativity which do  not                         
fit into standard forms, and are not guided by formulae?  
                                                                                                                               
     3.  People  who do not fit neatly into standard roles  
and  molds  --- in terms of which other can  manage  their                                                               
relationships with them.                                                              
                                                                                                                               
     4.  Prophets who discern and talk about the collusive                                                   
games of mutual self deception which others are playing? 
                                                                                                                               
     5.  Children who ask embarrassing questions and  want                                                                     
to  do  things which are not prescribed by traditions  and                                                                     
standard operating procedures?              
                                                                                                                               
     6.  Imperfect people who might spoil the  appearances                                                                    
of the church in the market place of public opinion.                                                                           
                                                                                                                               
     7.  People  who are willing to take fearful risks  in                                                                    
their search for growth and transformation.                                                         
                                                                                                                               
     8.  People   who   are  unwilling  to  be   firm   in                                                                    
maintaining high appearance standards  for entry into, and  
continued good standing as,  members of the church and its                                                                     
governing bodies.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                               
     9.  Novel  new ideas and ideals which have  not  been                                         
generally  accepted  by  the respected leadership  of  the         
church.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                               
     10. New leaders who are not wedded to the  traditions                                                                     
of the past.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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