Tolerance?

We live in a very relativistic culture today when it comes to morality, religion, etc. Many think that what one person believes should be treated just as valid as what the next person believes. Not only that, many tend to get their panties in a bunch when someone comes along and says that someone else's beliefs are not valid and that there is only one truth. Words Words like "tolerance" and "open-minded" are thrown at those who insist there is one truth and one way to heaven.

For believers, this sort of thing is just nonsense. Two plus two cannot have multiple correct answers. You can say it's three, four, and give. Sure, all the answers could be wrong -- but they cannot all be right. It's the same way with views on God, period. There is only one truth. Christians believe that the one truth about God and his relationship with man is revealed in the pages of the Bible. I as a Christian, who accepts the Bible as God's Word, cannot be "open minded" to a view which says that Jesus is not God, or that his death meant nothing, that says we are essentially good people, or that we can get to heaven by doing more good deeds than bad, or that there is no God, or that homosexual behavior is acceptable, or that sex outside of marriage is acceptable, or that getting drunk is acceptable, and so on. When you come up against God's Word and don't agree with it, you're wrong, period.

So what about all those other beliefs? We certainly can't accept wrong views as equally acceptable, but we also want people to come to know the Lord, not push them away. In this age of "tolerance" what do we do? Let's look at some examples.

Example 1. I love the account of Elijah on Mount Carmel. And I'll admit I love it for the wrong reason. It's Elijah versus the priests of the false God Baal, engaging in a "let's see whose god is real" contest. The priests go first. They do their thing. Nothing happens. Elijah mocks Baal, saying "Shout louder! Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping." Okay, that's why I love it. A big "Ha, forget you!" to the fake god. But ignore my own shortcoming and look at what happens next. Elijah calls on the LORD. BAM! He comes through in big way. And guess what? The people (people watching, not the priests) saw this and believed in the LORD.

So, number one, we show people God is real like Elijah. How? With unwavering faith in the LORD, with immense hope of the things to come, and with loving words and actions. In other words, live a life filled with faith, hope, and love.

A note on the last one, love. It's really important, and we screw it up too often. But even when we don't, the world gets ticked off at some things we do anyway due to a hardened heart and blinded eyes. Really. If I yelled at someone "Hey, jump off that train, the bridge is out and you're going to die!" that would be a totally fine act of love. But if I tell someone "Hey, quit living that lifestyle, repent, and turn to the LORD or you risk an eternity in hell" it doesn't have the same impact. It just makes people mad, yet it's the same thing.

Example 2. Hezekiah, a king of Judah who took over an idolatrous mess from Ahaz. He purified the temple, invited all Israel and Judah to come celebrate the passover at the temple, called the people to return to the LORD, prayed for those who had their hearts set on seeking God, and encouraged those who were serving the LORD. He was a motivational kind of guy, with a passion for the LORD. What happens next? The people go out and smash the items of false worship and bring in tons of stuff to the temple for the LORD.

So, number two, we call people to turn the LORD and encourage those who do, both passionately.

Example 3. Paul, the greatest missionary who ever lived. Specifically Paul in Athens and in Corinth. In Athens he was taken to the Areopagus so he could share with a bunch of people. In his preaching he tried to relate to the culture of the day, calling them "very religious" and playing off their altar "to an unknown god" and quoting one of their popular poets. He tried to relate to them. Only a few believed, but sadly there is no "Church at Athens" recorded in the Bible. Bummer. Then he went to Corinth to preach. In his first letter to them later he says "I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." Beat down in Athens, he changed tactics and got to the heart of the problem and the solution provided by Christ.

So, number three, we focus on Christ and the significance of the cross.

All the talk of some abstract concept of God, all the hand-holding and trying to fit into someone's existing beliefs, and all the dancing around the point doesn't help. Point in case. I was talking to a Muslim friend of mine the other day, and we talked about things like respect, honor, and similarities in our beliefs as far as moral behavior is concerned. My point to him in the end? There's a lot of "good moral stuff" in many of the world's religions. That's not the issue. The issue is Christ. He came to die as a sacrifice for sins to pay a price we cannot, because there is no way we can "earn" our way into heaven by good works. The cross is central.

In this age of "tolerance" what do we do, then? We speak the truth, in love, but we don't bend it, back down from it, or beat around the bush. We back up what we believe to be true with our words, our actions, and our very lives. We stick to the heart of the issue -- the problem of the sinful human heart and what that means. We do this all passionately.

Yeah, people don't want to hear it and think we're obnoxious sometimes. And sometimes, we are. We'll screw it up. When we do, we repent and go to God with it -- asking him to help us do better the next time so that his light and love are spread. We're not perfect either. That's quite clear in all of the Biblical heroes. That's okay, because, after all, heaven is not a place for "good" people. It's a place for forgiven people.

Grace and Peace friends.