There are always people around who are holier than others - because each of us progresses through stages of faith at different times. I am surrounded by people I know are holier than me. Am I to shun them? They can't help that they are more geared to a life of faith than I am at my current stage. Does this mean they must shut up and have no views because it appears that they are closer to God than I am? Ridiculous. If you can't stand to hear views from people who you consider are coming across "holier than thou", you might want to look at "WHY". Can you better receive views from those less holy than you? Maybe that should tell you something.I'm going to answer/question your post point by point:
-Please explain to me the "stages of faith". My belief is that Jesus Christ is the son of God, and he died for our sins. Period. What stage am I in?
-You say you are surrounded by people who are holier than you. How do you know that for sure? Do you have some sort of scale you're basing this on? In my opinion, only the Almighty knows.
-Please tell me where I said I could not stand to listen to people with other viewpoints.
-I don't need to ask "why" to you or anyone else on this earth. I will find out on my judgement day.
I stand by my statement that Kid Rock has a good heart, more so than most entertainers these days. He was willing to stand up for our country, and our troops. That's more than I can say for many.
By stages of faith I meant our walk with God. When we accept Christ and are baptised, we are just starting and may not know anything about God's instructions.
As we go through life's experiences we may develop a stronger relationship with God and seek more and more to follow His plan. We are young and grow and develop, we are also young as Christians and grow and develop.
I remember wondering how my grandmother could be so interested in the Bible and have such a great love for God in her life. I just could not understand it. It just was not there for me.
Then I hit some really hard places in my life where I had to turn to Jesus to get through it. It was bad - but one of the blessings was that I felt Jesus was with me and helped me each day - or I could not have made it. These experiences develop love and more closeness.
I know understand my grandmother's interest in God. A lifetime spent turning to God for help strengthens the relationship. The harder the times, the more we turn to God and the relationship becomes stronger.
So - all I mean about the stages of faith is that we grow closer as we seek God in our lives.
Where I was surrounded by those holier than me......
Many at church are there every service as normal life, that is hard for me. I was a "fringer" most of my life and I'm trying to get more involved. It is hard to suddenly turn from a backrow Sunday sitter to involvement in church work, attending many services and having expectations. Yet, I heard the sermon that "you are not here to sit here on Sunday and do no more. You are to use your talents to help God - so get busy."
True - only God knows who is holier, but I see lots of them doing so much more than I ever will.
Other people's viewpoints and ask "Why"
I really don't know you so I was speaking in generalities with the viewpoints gleaned from reading the thread and answering the general points of "holier than thou" comments and the general disdain of those speaking against KR. As to ask "Why", when people are offended at other's viewpoints which they feel are HTH, maybe it is because they don't want to hear objections to something they condone. Then why? (again just replying to the general indication you presented)
You are right - we all find out on judgement day, but would seem we might question ourselves before then too.
Finally, I don't know KR and if he is as you say, I too defend him. I just object to obsenity being pushed on our young and apparently that has been somewhat of a problem.