Is Modern Tolerance an Aspect of Love?

Would you rather be loved or tolerated? Our secular culture has replaced “love your neighbor” with tolerance. The traditional practice of tolerance recognized and respected other’s beliefs and lifestyles without necessarily agreeing with them. Today’s definition demands endorsement.

In theory, tolerance goes both ways. In practice, respectful and permissive attitudes are reserved for people whose opinions align with the current narrative. Those who support this form of tolerance shame and censor anyone who expresses opinions that oppose their own.

“We must obey God rather than any human authority.”

This isn’t new. In Acts 5:27-32, the Jewish leaders were furious with the disciples and commanded them to stop talking about Jesus. The disciples refused to be silenced, not because their rights were infringed upon, but because Jesus had given His life to save people from their sins and bring them eternal life.

Censoring biblical truth robs people of knowing Jesus, the Prince of Peace and author and sustainer of life.

Our cultural tolerance harms the groups it claims to protect. It uses these people to justify censorship of biblical morality, justice, and truth leaving whole generations to build their lives on sand (Matthew 7:24-27).

Jesus said the truth will set you free. Suppressing Judeo-Christian values destroys a culture.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10 NASB).

  • States that forbid counselors from offering biblical help to someone with gender dysphoria are legislating cruelty.
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  • Forbidding teachers from telling parents their children struggle with this is wicked, not only to the parents but to the children. (Using the biblical, not popular meaning of wicked!)
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  • Encouraging youth to go on drugs that permanently sterilize them is heinous. Punishing those who warn against this is diabolical.

A Warning for Us

“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3 NIV).

We resist being shoved off track, but we may unknowingly allow ourselves to be nudged off. Do you remember Abraham’s nephew Lot? Lot chose to raise his family in prosperous but wicked Sodom. Peter describes Lot as a righteous man, tormented by what he saw and heard day after day.

“Later, God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and turned them into heaps of ashes. He made them an example of what will happen to ungodly people. But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day” (2 Peter 2:6-8 NLT).

Yet, in Genesis 19 Lot, playing the protective host, offered his two virgin daughters to a band of thugs to “do what you like with them.” We haven’t slipped that far, have we?

Beware of Clever Phrases

The godless masterfully entrap the young and unsuspecting with catchy phrases (2 Corinthians 11:13-14). Under the guise of inclusion, they promote immorality in cartoons and classrooms. A current buzzword among young adults is “reproductive rights.” I’m sure you know they’re talking about the right to kill a baby up to the time of birth. Do they know the meaning of reproductive?

A professing Christian posted that she’s personally against abortion but supports a woman’s right to choose. I wonder, are people who say this also personally against arson, robbing banks, and mugging people but believe people should have the legal right to choose violence? The elected leaders who supported the looting and burning of private and public property by special interest groups showed they do.

What is the role of government? According to scripture, it is to protect us from evil, not protect evil.

What is the role of government? According to scripture, it is to protect us from evil, not protect evil. #faith, #wisdom Share on X

“For it [government] is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a servant of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil” (Romans 13:4 NASB).

Like Lot, we Christians haven’t done the best job of shining our lights or sharing Christ’s love in our dark world. Let’s protect ourselves and our loved ones from our culture’s cunning by abiding in and sharing God’s love. His love beats worldly tolerance any day.

Strength Finder

Scriptures to ponder:.

  • “Even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.” ~ Proverbs 12:10 (NASB)
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  • “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” ~ Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

Click here to comment.

Resources

Little Strength, Big God covers the lives of the men and women listed in Hebrews 11 that became strong in battle.

Blessings,

 

Sometimes I link with these great sites:

#InstaEncouragements, #TellHisStory, #Let’sHaveCoffee, #Grace&Truth

 

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22 Comments

22 Comments

  1. Michele Morin

    Evil is so subtle and it is so easy to wander off the path when we’re not paying attention!

    • Debbie W. Wilson

      Michele, it is. It is easy to want to “belong” to the group and not see where the group is headed.

  2. Barbara Latta

    You are right, Debbie. We as Christians haven’t done enough to shine our light (me included) to stop these evils. Decades ago Christians (that I heard) thought we weren’t supposed to get involved in politics. Now look at the mess that caused. We let unrighteousness take over government. Thanks for addressing this important topic.

    • Debbie W. Wilson

      Barbara, it certainly is a spiritual battle. Like Paul, we need the prayers of the body for boldness to speak the truth in love. Thanks so much for adding your thoughts!

  3. Joanne Viola

    We need to be very careful of what we tolerate as it will often present itself and even sound good. “Censoring biblical truth robs people of knowing Jesus.” Jesus said the truth will set you free. We need to know His Word so that we know truth and can share it as opportunities present themselves. Good word for us all.

    • Debbie Wilson

      Thank you, Joanne. I think sometimes we forget the higher stakes involved with this.

  4. Susan M. Mannion

    Hi Debbie,
    This morning my friend Cyndi sent me this blog. It was so helpful in recentering me this morning. I was wondering if I could be added to your email list.

    Thank you for spreading His good news!
    Susan Mannion

    • Debbie Wilson

      Thank you, Susan. I added you to our email list. Blessings!

  5. Lisa Blair

    Biblical love to tolerance to endorsement is an eye-opening cultural shift, Debbie.

    • Debbie Wilson

      Lisa, I like your succint description!

  6. Ann Musico

    “What is the role of government? According to scripture, it is to protect us from evil, not protect evil.” But I think it’s pretty clear to see our government is not functioning according to the Biblical definition.

    • Debbie Wilson

      I agree, Ann. I’m still amazed that this has happened.

  7. Barbara Harper

    Amen. I’ve often marveled that those becoming homosexual and transgender can only go one way in society’s eyes, and people who tell them otherwise are thought cruel. But why can people go from straight to gay and not the other way around? And why can people change genders one way but not the other way? The world seems to be lacking in common sense as well as spiritual sense. And “reproductive rights” does sound like a misnomer.

    It’s hard to go against the flow, but it is unloving to withhold the truth. Most won’t want to hear it, but some few will.

    • Debbie Wilson

      Barbara, I agree. I think it is clear, they don’t really believe in choice, tolerance, or peace. 🙁

  8. Nancy E. Head

    Thank you for this statement of truth: “Censoring biblical truth robs people of knowing Jesus, the Prince of Peace and author and sustainer of life.” May we be outspoken truth tellers. God bless!

    • Debbie Wilson

      Amen! Thanks, Nancy.

  9. Jane Williams

    Debbie, thank you for the refreshment of your message, full of clarity and truth.

    • Debbie Wilson

      Thank you, Jane. We need to help each other stay sane in this crazy time.

  10. Yvonne Morgan

    I would rather be loved than tolerated. And I would rather know God’s truth that the watered down version so many share today. We must be messengers of Godly truth in our lives. Thanks Debbie for the great, encouraging message

    • Debbie Wilson

      Me too, Yvonne. May we be good ambassadors for Christ!

  11. Linda Irwin

    True words. So many people and churches are fitting in with the world and are not prpared to take a stand for Biblical truth.
    Chruches are becoming secular and just a social gathering and avoidubg the hard facts of what is happening around us today.

    • Debbie Wilson

      Linda, sadly, I agree. May we walk in the light of God’s word and trust Him even if we feel alone.

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