We live in an age where truth is considered to be relative, and no one supposedly has any business telling anyone else what is right and wrong. It is considered ‘hateful’ of one to tell another person that they are doing something wrong.
The way people talk these days, it seems as if all the world’s problems might be solved by tolerance. If we would just tolerate everyone and everything, the world would be a much better place. If we would just accept people the way they are, and not try to shove our views down their throat, the world would be such a peaceful place. If only people only stopped judging people for the way they live, or the way they dress, or the way they believe ….
Allow me to be blunt for a moment: This is absolute and utter nonsense. This view of tolerance is both impossible and hypocritical. It is impossible to tolerate everyone’s beliefs and views, and no one does so. If I believe I can steal all I want, will that be tolerated? According to this view, I could steal all I want, tell people not to ‘judge’ me for it, and thus evade justice. Of course, such an excuse would not be accepted in such an instance – if I am a robber, I will be punished for my crime, thus proving the impossibility of such a view of tolerance.
Continuing my example above, if I were to steal something from this 21st century postmodernist , he would be very quick to ‘judge’ me, saying that it was wrong of me to do so, without any respect to the fact that his worldview permits anyone to do what is right in his own eyes without having to face ‘judgement’ for it. The hypocrisy of such a one is thus made evident – he professes to tolerate anything and everything, but in reality, there are things that he cannot tolerate.
Look at the gospel. What could be more antithetical to this view of tolerance? It is made abundantly clear that he who does not believe on Christ will not see life, but he will rather have the wrath of God abiding on him (John 3:36). Jesus makes it clear that He is the only way, and NO ONE can come to the Father but by Him (John 14:6). If Christianity and the gospel are true, all other beliefs regarding God are false. Thus, the postmodern 21st century unbeliever will hate the gospel – it runs contrary to everything he believes. And, by the way, in hating the gospel, he will be further demonstrating his inability to tolerate anything and everything.
Having said that, I will now share with you something I saw on Facebook the other day.
There is a good deal wrong with this. Behind it lies the mentality discussed above – I don’t get to tell anyone what is wrong. Subtly, it diminishes the gospel and promotes an unhealthy type of tolerance. I will go through this point by point.
1. Yes, I am a Christian.
Good. That’s great.
2. No, I don’t hate gays.
Good. Neither do I. However, chances are, the word ‘hate’ is used in a different sense then I would use it. I believe that being homosexual is morally wrong. This does not mean I hate homosexuals – I certainly don’t. However, to some, believing that homosexuality is wrong would be equated to hating those who practice it.
3. No, I won’t shove the Bible down your throat.
I’m not sure what that means, but if you are planning on preaching the gospel, you must make it clear that the Bible is your authority.
4. No, I won’t tell non-Christians they’re going to hell.
Then what business do you have showing them the way to heaven? If you do not tell them that they are sinners and under condemnation because of their transgression against a just, holy, and righteous God, they will not see their need for Jesus. The gospel will be worthless to them.
5. And no, I am no better than anyone else.
True, but if you are saved, you are a new creation. Christ has taken out your heart of stone and given you a new heart. It is your desire that others experience this transformation. This statement could lead to the impression that the gospel did nothing for you.
6. I was saved by the Almighty King, and was put on this planet to love Him and the people He made, and to share the gospel. Period.
Yes, true – but without telling people that they are sinners and under condemnation, you’ve stripped the gospel of its power – it’s really no gospel at all, but a remedy to a nonexistent problem.
There is so much more that could be said about this, but as it is, it is after midnight, and I do not feel like embarking on a very long and eloquent discourse about it.
I will close with Proverbs 14:12.
Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
May God grant us, that we go not down the way which seems right, but the way that is right, and that we would lead others to it – giving them the pure, undefiled, and entire gospel of Christ.
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