There have been some new questions come in. We will deal with them soon. But for now let's consider this lesson, then consider the questions next week.
Tolerance. It seems like a great word. It implies kindness, acceptance, even patience. But it is not a biblical word or concept. God has always been a specific God. He makes the rules and expects us to follow them. And, of course, more than rules, He wants our hearts. But in the New Testament he said, "broad is the way that leads to destruction....narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." I would suggest that those who follow the narrow way should not be "tolerant" of the broad way as hard as that may sound to us.
So what is the broad way? There is not room here to fully describe it, but Romans 1:18-32 gives us some ideas. Here is a little of it: "the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men......uncleanness, in the lust of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies....even the women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful......." Here is another hard statement to the Corinthians, a corrupt society where just about "anything goes" and everything was "tolerated", (kind of reminds us of our society, doesn't it?). 1 Cor. 6:9-10, "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 homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God."
We can see that God is quick to condemn sinful practice and sinful thinking. And tolerance of the "broad way" is not God's way. The Bible is not soft on these things and neither should we be.
In a soon to be published lesson we will address the first of these specific sins, that of homosexuality. This will not be a popular position by today's standards, but it will be right out of the Bible. Be patient and open minded with me here. Thanks for reading; you are important!
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Hi Mike,
ReplyDeleteI have a question on the topic of tolerance versus being judgmental of others on sin. Is there anywhere in the New Testament (this is important point in my faith as to the new covenant that Christ created) that ranks sin? Unless you tell me different, I believe that sin is sin to God with no demarcation between sins.
Clearly, I agree with you that if tolerance means some type of rationalization that a specific sin is not so bad (or maybe not a sin at all) is wrong. As Christians, we all know what is right and wrong as to our personal actions. But, in the context of your blog, isn't tolerance really how we treat other people -- both Christians and non-Christians?
In our religious life, we know what is right and wrong. But in the secular world in how we treat others (which creates laws), how should Christians conduct themselves regarding other's sin?
Your perspective on gays will be interesting as its a good example of the "tolerance issue" you raise. For Christians like me, its not a question of tolerance for the sin -- its a question of tolerance in how to treat someone.
Steve