Another example of what Christians believe is the story of the Centurion’s Servant. The centurion, who was a different race from Jesus, realised that Jesus would be unclean if he entered a non-Jewish house, according to Jewish law. The centurion believed that Jesus would be able to heal his servant from where he was. Jesus did so, saying “I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” Jesus admired the simple faith of the gentile. Christians believe from this story that they should respect other religions and appreciate customs of other religions.
To show how Christians should respect the way others do things is the story of Peter and Cornelius, Acts 11: 1-18. In the story Peter dreamt about the Kosher and non-Kosher food, mixed up together and now all regarded as unclean, God said to Peter in his dream, “Do no call anything impure that God has made clean,” as god has made everyone and everything clean, so Christians should not disrespect anyone, or any religion, race or gender. Peter would not have entered a gentile house unless God had come to him in his dream, showing that the gospel is for all. All must know about God’s kingdom.
Christianity teaches that everyone is equal in the eyes of God and so it would be wrong to make anyone feel inferior or suffer because of any difference between them, as it says in Matthew 22:39 – “You shall love your neighbour as you love yourself.” Jesus also based his teachings on other people about love, as shown in John 13:34 – “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” Christians believe that everyone should be treated equally, as told in Galatians 3:28 – “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Deuteronomy also gives many passages that describe how Christians should act towards their fellow man, as in 24: 14-15 – “Do not take advantage of a hired man who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother Israelite or an alien living in one of your towns. Pay him his wages each day before sunset, because he is poor and counting on it.” Christians believe that everyone should treat each other the same, and accept and tolerate other religions and respect other customs and the way others do things, and not act differently to anyone at all. Many passages teach them about how to treat everyone else, as well as themselves. Christians can refer to Leviticus 19: 33-34, “When an alien lives with you in your land, do not ill-treat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt.” This passage says that foreigners are to be well treated because the Jews were ill treated in Egypt.
In conclusion, Christians believe in religious tolerance and understanding, with respect for other races, religions and genders.