Christian Tolerance

I am not exactly sure where to start this blog, but I feel like I have alot to say. Lately, Facebook has been bombarded with statuses about this ammendment that is being voted on. It has been turned into an argument of discrimination vs. tolerance. This whole thing has led to some deep thinking on my part and some discussions with friends about being a Christian and the topic of "tolerance".
In our society these days, it is very difficult as a Christian to stand up for what you believe (that being what the Bible says) and not be viewed as "intolerant". Christians voice their beliefs and are labeled as hateful. My problem with this is , when did disagreeing on something make you intolerant? I don't call someone intolerant for disagreeing with me about my beliefs in God and my faith. That is their choice. They can speak out against my God if they choose. I don't call them hateful because they don't believe just like me.
In the dictionary, Tolerance is defined as "a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward opinions and practices that differ from one's own."
You can respect someone's opinions and practices and allow them to make their own choices without stifling your own beliefs and values. Tolerance means we listen to what the other person is saying. It doesn't mean we have to agree. What it does mean is that we are supposed to be "non-judgemental". Only God is the judge of every man. But He has given us His Word to judge our own lives by.
As Christians, we should be modeling our lives by Christ. Christ was love embodied. But He did not tolerate sin. He loves us and accepts us as we are, but he doesn't tolerate the sin in our lives. As Christians, we are supposed to follow his example. He ate with tax collectors and prostitutes, but that doesn't mean that he accepted all of the decisions they made in their lives.
I speak out on this because I'm tired of the word "tolerance" in the capacity it is being used now. Frankly, I don't think the world is very "tolerant" of Christians.
All I know is that Christians are called to love, to meet people where they are, to embrace all people, to take care of the poor, but we are not called to compromise our values and morals. We are no better than anyone else. We all fall short of God's standards.
I have many, many friends that believe differently from me. But I love them, dearly. Just because I don't agree with them on every aspect on their lives doesn't mean I can't be friends with them or be part of their lives.
I read this really great quote about the difference between tolerance and love.
"Tolerance seeks to be inoffensive. Love takes risks. Tolerance costs nothing. Love costs everything." -Josh McDowell

If you are reading this and are offended, please know that wasn't the purpose of this. This wasn't to start a long argumentative conversation about the ammendment. Frankly, I'm sick of the arguing about it. This post is to simply let loose my inner musings on the difference between what the world says tolerance is and what it really is.