When it Comes to Truth, Tolerance is a Travesty

Crosswalk.com ^ | August 16, 2003 | Hank Hanegraaff

[NewLand]

Q: Why are Christians so judgmental and unloving?

A: Because we live in an age of tolerance where almost anything goes, openly questioning or criticizing other people's belief systems can quickly get you labeled as judgmental, narrow-minded, bigoted, hateful, and even ignorant. With regard to Christianity, Matthew 7:1 is often quoted (or should I say "misquoted") as discouraging Christians from putting other religious teachings and practices to the test: "Judge not, that ye be not judged."

This interpretation of Scripture, however, is simply mistaken. The Bible clearly speaks out not against passing judgment in general, but against rendering inaccurate and unfair judgments (John 7:24). In 1 Corinthians 2:15 Paul tells us that Christians are called to make "judgments about all things." Our judgment, though, should not be based on what God has not revealed; but rather, on what He has revealed (v. 13).

God's revealed Word, the Bible, tells us that Jesus Christ is the only way we can possibly reach God and that there's no alternate route (Acts 4:12). It stands to reason, therefore, that other beliefs offering alleged alternate pathways to God only lead to dead-ends. And if we as Christians really want to follow our Lord's teaching to love our neighbors, we can't escape our responsibility to warn them about spiritually destructive roads paved by non-Christian belief systems (Prov. 14:12). True love and compassion should move believers to sound warning cries, even in the face of opposition, to avert countless lives from heading toward eternal separation from God.

Let's realize that when we call teachings into question, it's only because we're concerned about the eternal destinies of people. Let's also keep in mind that Scripture doesn't command us to simply rail against false teachings; rather, it encourages us to offer biblical reasons with gentleness and respect (1 Pet. 3:15). Always remember that when it comes to personal relationships, tolerance is a virtue; but when it comes to truth, tolerance is a travesty.

[Terriergal]

ping!

[from occupied ga]

Yep - I agree that morality is not determined by public opinion. There are 10 fundamental rules that determine right and wrong, but the ACLU is trying to get them banned.

I wonder why the ACLU is so hot on the first amendment, but lives in terror of the second?

[Terriergal]

I wonder why the ACLU is so hot on the first amendment, but lives in terror of the second?

Don't ask pertinent questions. It makes the liberals nervous. You never know when they'll crack and turn violent.

[exmarine]

The NEW Tolerance (that is what we are really talking about) is the offspring of moral relativism. In the vacuum created by a refusal to believe in objective right and wrong, the culture and govt. have stepped in to tell Americans what they SHOULD value (according to the relativistic values of the culture and govt), and the culture/govt insists that we value tolerance (over truth), that we accept homosexuality as morally normal. The New Tolerance is COERCIVE in nature - it stokes the fires of the thought police and tries to FORCE people to accept the cultural/govt value system.

Here is my answer to the American culture and the govt: I DEFY YOU! I WILL CONTINUE TO BELIEVE IN RIGHT AND WRONG AND I WILL SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE MORAL ABOMINATION OF HOMOSEXUALITY AND MULTICULTURALISM. Sue me.

[exmarine]

The NEW Tolerance is tolerant all points of view EXCEPT the Christian one. So the Tolerance people are in reality the MOST INTOLERANT people in the United STates. Christians tolerate homosexuality, we simply DO NOT AGREE that it is morally right - and NEVER WILL. So the new tolerance is in practice the exact opposite of what it purports to be. It screams and demands tolerance, yet it is vehemently INTOLERANT. I call that HYPOCRISY.

[eyespysomething]

People have become confused between the words 'tolerance' and 'acceptance'.

I can tolerate a lot, and not accept it.

[Dataman]

YES! Especially diversity!

Tolerance of diversity will only be reached when everyone is of the same mind.

[Dataman]

Repeat after me - I hate tolerance, i hate everything that does not conform, i hate diversity, I hate all other cultures, I love to hate because by rejecting or deviating from my version of truth, you have originated hate which I must reciprocate.

A very good description of the new tolerance: self-refuting mindless 1984 double-speak. By loathing the diverse element for not being "tolerant," you become intolerant.

[Dataman]

You're a breath of fresh air. That was an exercise in futility, wasn't it?

[Dataman]

? ? ? ? ? your point?

If you've been following what has been happening to the evolution threads, you'd notice how the new tolerance is only one-way: You have to tolerate me and my unpleasant behaviors but I don't have to tolerate you.

[Dataman]

I wonder why the ACLU is so hot on the first amendment,

They are not hot on any ammendment. It is only a temporary tool to keep the sewage pipes wide open. We are already seeing the Constitution become Sovietized (The Soviets used to prove they had freedom of religion by showing it was in their governing documents).

[Dataman]

Here is my answer to the American culture and the govt: I DEFY YOU! I WILL CONTINUE TO BELIEVE IN RIGHT AND WRONG AND I WILL SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE MORAL ABOMINATION OF HOMOSEXUALITY AND MULTICULTURALISM. Sue me.

Glad you're not against us!

[MEGoody]

"A: Because we live in an age of tolerance where almost anything goes, openly questioning or criticizing other people's belief systems can quickly get you labeled as judgmental, narrow-minded, bigoted, hateful, and even ignorant."

Except, of course, if you are openly questioning or criticizing Christianity. Then you are 'labeled' as open-minded, tolerant, logical and analytic. LOL

[Dataman]

The new tolerance:

[MissAmericanPie]

Tolerance, diversity, multi-culturalism, are all weapons designed to rob us of something, freedom to defend morality, our Constitution, our culture, our future.

I try to tell everyone, that an agenda is afoot to implement FTAA by 2005. If you read the FTAA site, it has alot to do with urging judges, hemisphere wide, to find a way to levey harsher sentences on cases involving xenophobia, and hate speech.

This is another weapon to silence those, via the prison system, that wish to hang onto their sovereignty, national identity, and culture, and who object to globalism and the element of Free Trade that calls for open borders.

The FTAA agreement sidelines the Constitution in favor of placing American citizens, all citizens of the western hemisphere, under international law. There is no free speech under international law. In fact, international law is devoid of many individual freedoms. This will be our fate in 2005 if we remain silent on the issue of treaties.

[LiteKeeper]

If you've been following what has been happening to the evolution threads, you'd notice how the new tolerance is only one-way: You have to tolerate me and my unpleasant behaviors but I don't have to tolerate you.

I haven't entered any of those threads in a while. Logic is obviously not welcome if you are a evolutionist. How dare the creationists try to employ critical, logical thinking to any debate! (BTW - I R 1 - a young earth creationist, that is)

[NewLand]

"There is nothing wrong with Tolerance."

Did you read the article? The entire point is that we should not be tolerant of different 'versions' of the truth. Tolerance of human frailties and conditions are virtues.

Question: why is the 'killing gay people' example so often used? Do you realize how many Christians are killed every year just for being Christian? Neither is right, obviously. Just wondering...

[NewLand]

? ? ? ? ? your point?

Sorry, it was meant just for ChewedGum. I just copied you because his reply was to you...I know you are all too aware of that MESS!

[NewLand]

Sorry...it was meant for halflion, NOT chewedgum. Oops!

[NewLand]

I'm not sure I know Steve Taylor... but I'm a big Third Day fan! Stephen Curtis Chapman, Michael Smith, etc.

Please tell me some song names from Steve Taylor, maybe I do know the songs but don't recognize the name. FReepmail is OK. Thanks!