Tolerance, in our current culture, both politically and socially, is often defined as open-mindedness, broadmindedness, leniency, acceptance, and forbearance. Consequently, as Bible believing, evangelical Christians, we are often accused by unbelievers, as well as some religionists, of being totally intolerant. Isn’t it interesting that those that strive to accuse faithful believers of intolerance have no room in their philosophy for our views or beliefs, which in essence clearly displays their own shrewd, hardheaded, hypocritical intolerance? Perhaps, with that in view, we should consider the teachings of our Lord, Jesus Christ in Luke 6:22, recognizing that we are blessed when others reject us due to our faith in Him!
Paul Thomas Mann (1875-1955 — a German novelist, short story writer, social critic, philanthropist, essayist, 1929 Nobel Prize in Literature) once stated, “Tolerance becomes a crime when applied to evil.” That quote should boldly and unreservedly challenge every Christian to consider one’s own view/perspective of “tolerance.” While it may be very difficult to distinguish between a political/social view and that of a purely biblical perspective, the Truth of God’s Word should serve as the unshakable foundation for every believer’s political/social view of tolerance! Committed, Bible believing Christians are actually some of the most “tolerant” people on the face of the earth. We don’t kill those that disagree with us, nor do we condemn individuals whose values and behavior doesn’t align with ours. In I Corinthians 6:9-11 we are reminded of the absolute, inalterable Truth: …
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (by perversion), nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. (Also see Galatians 4:8)
While our Lord may appear to be tolerant of sin, in reality He is completely intolerant of sin (See Ezekiel 18:20 & Romans 5:12). However, He graciously and mercifully provides all humanity with a way out of their sin, as well as an escape from one’s past and the dominating control of human nature!
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together]with Christ (by grace you have been saved). — Ephesians 2:4-5
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. — Ephesians 2:9
Then, as believers, we become intolerant of sin in our own lives because one’s nature has changed, and God’s transformation process creates in true believers a desire to be “Holy, as He is Holy” (See I Peter 1:16 & I Peter 2:5) in contrast to remaining a sin-filled individual and living according to values and ideals that stand in contradiction to God’s Word and His Truth.
Needless to say, the concept of tolerance becomes difficult due to the fact that God loves every human being in spite of his or her sin, but at the same time literally hates sin (See Proverbs 6:16). Unquestionably, the original definition of tolerance and the way in which the word is used today are quite different. Tolerance once meant acknowledgement of differing beliefs and accepting that others had the right to believe differently. In this way, we as believers are to be absolutely tolerant.
However, since tolerance has come to mean accepting that other beliefs are valid or true … we must reject those beliefs – and even stand against them when they are sin and promote values contrary to those of our God! Actually, to embrace the world’s type of tolerance makes no logical sense and precludes any personal opinion or belief in full acceptance of whatever other belief may be presented. Therefore, tolerance, as it’s now presented, rejects the possibility that objective truth actually exists, even though Jesus Christ came to give/reveal truth (See John 1:14, John 1:17, John 8:32, & Romans 6:16-23).
Christians can acknowledge the right of others to have different beliefs, however, we cannot allow those beliefs to go unchallenged. Therefore, it’s inevitable that the world will call us intolerant, but we can mitigate the damage by being intolerant in the way God instructs us. First, we must know what we believe (See I Peter 3:15). Second, we must effectively share and teach what we believe and why we believe it (See II Timothy 2:23-26). Certainly we are called to tolerate – and even to love — people, yet without accepting their false beliefs, sin packed values, and humanistic/pagan/hedonistic agendas.
— Pastor Frank