"Here, no man proclaims his birth or wealth as a title to honorable distinction, or to sanctify ignorance and vice with the name of hereditary authority. He who has most zeal and ability to promote public felicity, let him be the servant of the public. This is the only line of distinction drawn by nature".
-Samuel Adams
The definition of tolerance is: showing willingness to allow the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with.
Growing up, I was taught to be tolerant of others’ viewpoints, which seemed like a good virtue.
I realize now that tolerance is not only unbiblical… The idea of tolerance, like an unchecked infection, has become rampant and pervasive… A threat to our country.
I am advocating that by being tolerant, we are shirking our responsibility as servants of God and of our country.
“Then he turned to them and said, “Which of you doesn’t work on the Sabbath? If your son or your cow falls into a pit, don’t you rush to get him out?” (Luke 14:5)
If any of us were to see a loved one walking toward a danger, out of love, we would warn them.
If they were doing something dangerous, we would correct them.
If we can clearly see the danger, while they cannot, then it is our responsibility to warn them.
How weak and how un-loving of an individual would we have to be to elevate their viewpoint and opinion of the situation to a higher value than that of their well-being and safety?
If someone is walking into a busy street and about to be hit by a car, we don’t care about how they feel. We don’t consider their opinion.
We care about the truth.
We tell them, point-blank, “watch out!”
We grab them if need be! We physically restrain them!
This is not an un-loving act.
In the same manner, when we encounter someone who, by ignorance or delusion, is holding a world-view that is a threat to themselves or others, it is our responsibility to warn them.
Carrying out this responsibility will, naturally, cause division.
“Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you.” (Proverbs 9:8)
When, after breaking a bone, you go to the doctor, that doctor is going to do something very painful. They are going to set your bone into its proper position by force. They are going to take an already painful situation and add to it.
This is not an un-loving act.
You are not going to be happy, in the moment, with that doctor.
That doctor, though, is willing to endure your anger and cursing out of a sense of duty.
Other nations have received their laws from conquerors; some are indebted for a constitution to the suffering of their ancestors through revolving centuries. The people of this country, alone, have formally and deliberately chosen a government for themselves, and with open and uninfluenced consent bound themselves into a social compact.
-Samuel Adams
We have forgotten this “social compact”
We have forgotten the duty that all of us share to each other and to our country.
Being so far removed from the formation of our country, we have allowed ourselves to be convinced that tolerance is of more value than the very fabric of our nation.
This delusion has permeated beyond public discord and has infected even our homes and personal relationships.
We have a duty and a responsibility to those we love… starting in our homes and relationships and extending out to those who live in this country.
We must speak out.
We must physically restrain, if need be.
We must be willing to endure, like that doctor, the hatred and cursing and resistance that come from someone being corrected.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34)
Jesus was willing to do it.
His willingness to speak the truth and correct those He loved led to Him being mocked, beaten, and killed.
If we are going to call ourselves His followers, we need to do the things He did and be willing to endure the things He endured.
If we are not willing, then we need to admit to ourselves that we are not His followers at all.
“So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth.” (1 John 1:6)
discerning truth
In discussing this topic with a co-worker, a point was raised: “Was Hitler being tolerant or loving?”
Lest you read this article and think I am advocating that you go off and start forcing your opinions on others, I want to explain an important point.
Your opinions are no more valuable than someone else’s.
Jesus said, concerning the Pharisees, “They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch.” (Matthew 15:14)
Paul tells us, “Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true.” (Romans 3:4)
Only when you have objective truth are you in a position to correct another person.
Objective truth does not come from popular science, today’s culture, or feelings and personal experience.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
He said, concerning the Father, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17)
This is further explained in John 1:1: “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Your opinions, feelings, and perspectives are flawed and of no more value than those of anyone else.
God’s word is eternal, perfect, and “has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3)
It is only when your house is built on that “solid rock” that is Jesus, that you are in a position to correct another person. (Matthew 7:24)
Any other position is like shifting sand and is of no value to another person.