Tolerance

Tolerance means to put up with. Plain and simple right?

Not in today's society. Tolerance has come to mean something completely different. It is no less than complete acceptance of other's lifestyles, actions, thoughts, etc... It is used to further the agenda of those who want to push sinful behaviors such as homosexuality, abortion, humanism among others.

Unfortunately, this attitude has begun to pervade the church.

There is absolutely no place in scripture that says Christians are to be tolerant. We are commanded to love others but never are we told to be tolerant of sin. In fact, we are told exactly the opposite.

11 But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you."
1 Cor 5:11-13 (NIV)

Many claim Christ but continue to live in sinful lifestyles. We are all sinners. I am talking about sin that a person has not turned away from and is practicing on a daily basis.

We are told that if these do not repent, we are to expel them from the church? Is this harsh? Sin corrupts. If a believer is refusing to turn away from a sin, we must expel them from the church (until repentance takes place) in order to protect the rest of the body from this corruption.

It is our job as believers to lovingly warn our brothers and sisters in Christ and to encourage them in repentance.

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.
2 Tim 4:2 (NIV)

What is the next step? Do we tolerate the murder of the handicapped? Theft? Polygamy? Why stop there?

The only way to be truly "tolerant" of others is to not be "tolerant" of those who disagree, which by the new definition, is not tolerance at all.


In His Service,

Angela