True Tolerance

Romans 12:17-18 “Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.”

I remember watch Pastor D. James Kennedy (now gone to be with the Lord) on television and hearing his sermon on the new tolerance being taught today. He states correctly that as Christians we believe in tolerance towards others; that being the traditional definition and understanding of that word. The 1913 Webster’s dictionary defines the word “tolerance” as the power or capacity of enduring; or the act of enduring. The endurance of the presence or actions of objectionable persons, or of the expression of offensive opinions, known as toleration. Meaning that “tolerance” is being willing to put up with, endure, and bear with those whose views or lifestyles are different from others' views, without agreeing with them. Every Christian should be tolerant in the correct and historical meaning of that word. Just as Jesus said, we should treat others as we would want to be treated … we should tolerate others. It is what the Bible means in the love chapter of I Corinthians 13: "Love endures all things."

Isaiah 5:20 “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

However, today there is a new and insidious meaning of “tolerance” in our culture and being taught in the curricula of this country, which essentially means forced acceptance of things that the Bible calls evil. It is one thing being taught to our children today and that it is the dominant theme of the post-modern curriculum. The "new tolerance" means: Not only do you put up with and endure and bear with those who have different views, habits, and/or lifestyles than your own, but you agree with their views as well. Furthermore, you hold that their lifestyle is equally true and equally valid as your own and, therefore, there is no possible way that you could be intolerant, because there is nothing to be intolerant of. You must even be willing to promote and endorse that other lifestyle, since it is every bit as good as yours.

John 3:19-20 “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.”

Kennedy explains that our politically correct secular society has invented a new post-modern civil right—the civil right for my feelings not to be hurt. He states that tolerance is the last virtue of a depraved society. When you have an ungodly and immoral society that has blatantly, proudly, violated all of the commandments of God, there is one last virtue they insist upon: tolerance for their immorality. They will not have you condemning what they have done as being wrong, and they have created a belief system in which it is not, and in which they are no longer the criminal or the villain or the evil person, but you are! And so they call evil good, and good evil.

Acts 5:28-29 “We gave you strict orders never again to teach in this man’s name!” he said. “Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him, and you want to make us responsible for his death!” But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.”

What God, in His Holy Word of sacred Scripture, says is “sin in His eyes” is sin that leads to eternal damnation, which must be repented; not celebrated. God is in the forgiveness, reconciliation and salvation business, but that includes accepting Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, confessing our sins and willingly leaving the old sinful lifestyle behind to walk in godliness with the Spirit as a child of God. I am proud that our church’s Pastors, staff and Elder Board of Directors has affirmed that our church shall embrace the traditional meaning of tolerance as the Bible meant and shall stand against the “new tolerance” definition when it opposes that holy Word of God. That is true tolerance. We are the light of the world. Shine truth.

In Christ, Brian