The mistaken idea that tolerance is always a virtue
and intolerance always a vice is corrupting the very heart of our
society. In the name of tolerance every evil is exalted and proudly
defended, while all those who resist and condemn evil are smeared and
demonized as hate mongers and bigots. Yet what are such smear tactics
other than intolerance and bigotry on the part of those who claim to be
tolerant? Like all who are self-righteous, the dogmatic zealots of
tolerance often reveal themselves to be extremely intolerant of
anything they disapprove of, yet they refuse to see any fault in
themselves.
In their blindness, they fail to see that neither
tolerance nor intolerance are intrinsically evil, yet both can be used
for evil. A tolerance that allows sin to prosper (because it refuses to
condemn and punish evil) is just as evil as an intolerance that
condemns people for the color of their skin, or because they speak out
against evil. The Bible tells us that God not only condemned Sodom and
Gomorra for tolerating evil, but also condemned Babylon, Gibeah, Egypt,
and other nations for the same reason (Judges 19:15-30, Genesis 19).
Therefore, tolerating evil is not a virtue, no matter how hard Satan
wants you to believe that it is. The same God that condemned Eli,
because he was tolerant of the vile behavior of his sons, still
condemns those who are tolerant of evil. We are not to tolerate it, nor
are we to be intolerant of those who condemn it (1Samuel 3:12-13,
Jeremiah 23:14, Ezekiel 3:18 and 33:8, Isaiah 5:20).
One serious problem that we face in dealing with
this error stems from the ambiguous nature of the word “tolerance.” At
one time that word meant essentially the same thing as hating the sin,
but not the sinner. However, the anti-Christian element in our society
now portrays all who condemn sin as intolerant, and that is where
Christians must draw the line. Because people must see their sin before
they will be able to see their need for a Savior, condemning sin goes
hand in hand with bringing people to Christ. That being the case, love
requires us to condemn every evil, including adultery and
homosexuality, while those who tell the guilty that they have no need
to repent are guilty of satanic hatred.
By doing nothing to restrain or punish his sons, Eli
sent them to hell. Therefore, had he really loved them, he would have
made certain that they not only knew that their behavior was evil but
regretted ever behaving that way. By failing to act in accordance with
love, he not only lost his sons but also brought God’s condemnation on
himself (read 1Samuel chapters 2 and 3).
Because some in our society would like to see all
religions worship together, they want Christians to tolerate falsehood
and condone those who contradict God’s Word. However, that would not be
the loving thing to do, for the Bible makes it perfectly clear that
there is no salvation apart from faith in Christ. If we deny that fact
(by our tolerance of false religion) souls could be lost (Acts 4:12).
In fact, we could not even be true to our God if we refused to condemn
false gods, for God is not about to tolerate false gods. He never has,
and He never will! As far as He is concerned, those who regard Him as
one God among many are idolaters, no matter how tolerant they appear to
be (2Kings 17:6-35).
When the children of Israel first entered the land
of Cannan, God ordered the people of that land destroyed because they
were tolerant of human sacrifice (abortion), immorality, and false
religion (Deuteronomy 20:17). Some time later, God’s wrath was poured
out on the children of Benjamin because they had become tolerant of
evil (Judges 19:22-30 and 20:1-48). The Apostle Paul rebuked the
congregation at Corinth because it tolerated fornication, and he
pronounced a curse on those who pervert the gospel (1Corinthians
5:1-13, Galatians 1:6-9). Therefore, it should be perfectly clear that
we are not to tolerate sin, but are rather to condemn and rebuke it.
Just as “multiculturalists” smear and demonize
Christians today, the ancient Romans smeared and demonized the
Christians of their day, calling them haters of mankind and persecuting
them unmercifully because they were intolerant of their gods. Like
modern-day secularists, “The Romans were a syncretistic people who saw
value in all religious beliefs; they wanted to be “inclusive” as
multiculturalists would say today. They were proud of the Pantheon in
Rome that displayed and honored all gods. They would gladly have
welcomed the addition of Jesus Christ to the Pantheon if the Christians
would only have agreed to give at least some obeisance to the Roman
gods. To do this, however, would have been idolatrous, unthinkable to
the early Christians who unequivocally held to God's commandment; “You
shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3)” [Under The
Influence, by Alvin J. Schmidt, page 25]
Because the situation that exists today has so many
similarities with the situation in ancient Rome, I want to emphasize
the fact that it was not the “intolerant” Christians, but the
“tolerant” Romans who tortured those who disagreed with them. Moreover,
just as the ancient Romans were intolerant, I have yet to meet a modern
advocate of “tolerance” who really wants to understand my point of
view. In fact, it is the tolerant “multiculturalists” who are
trying to force Christianity out of the Public forum, while penalizing
individuals that disagree with them as to what should be tolerated.
[For documentation read, “Persecution” by David Limbaugh, and “Child
Abuse in the Classroom” by Phyllis Schlafly.]
Since every false religion has been brought into
existence by Satan, he could care less which one people follow, just as
long as they follow one of them (Leviticus 17:7, 1Corinthians 10:20).
At the same time, he wants to sow strife and disunity among Christians,
while creating an atmosphere in which those who want peace can be led
to tolerate soul destroying error. Therefore, he is delighted when
Christians fall for the idea that it is wrong to condemn evil.
During the last three hundred years the cult of
Freemasonry has played a major role in promoting religious syncretism,
and its adherents have infiltrated most denominations by soliciting
members for their organization within Christian churches. At the same
time, the fact that many of its members come from a Christian
background helps to conceal some of the more unsavory aspects of that
organization. Nevertheless, all is not as it appears. By teaching that
all religions lead to God Freemasonry contradicts Scripture, by urging
its members to value what is good in every religion it denies that
those religions lead to hell, and by urging its members to worship with
those of other religions it promotes idolatry (2Corinthians 11:13-15,
Galatians 1:6-9).
Even though the Masonic religion claims to honor
God, because it denies that Jesus is God it is not honoring the Triune
God. In fact, it is tolerant of both paganism and occultism. Moreover,
you do not have to take my word for it. Get a copy of the book, “Morals
and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite.” That book, which
was written by a 33rd degree Mason and it is widely regarded by Masons
as authoritative, says on page 729, “The occult philosophy seems
to have been the nurse or the godmother of all religions.” On page 422
we read, “Zeus is the primitive source of all things; there is one God;
one power, and one rule over all.” Furthermore, many similar statements
are found throughout that book. Every false religion is defended, while
Christians who condemn false religion are denounced as intolerant. In
regard to that sort of tolerance, the Bible says, “But I say, that the
things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not
to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye
cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be
partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils”
(1Corinthians 10:20-21).
The very fact that the Masonic lodge opens its doors
to members of non-Christian religions while officially forbidding
prayer to be offered in the name of Jesus, reveals both its pagan
nature and its hostility to the God of the Bible.
Since we are to tolerate all that is good (Amos
5:15) and to detest all that is evil (Romans 12:9), our contempt for
evil must never be twisted into an excuse to do evil. Therefore, while
we should be intolerant of abortion in the sense that we want to see it
made illegal, a man who shoots an abortion doctor is guilty of (and
therefore tolerant of) the very crime that he condemns. While God wants
us to condemn sin, He does not want us to be nasty to those who are
guilty, as if we were more righteous than they, and He certainly does
not want us to commit crimes.