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Often times, people advocating politically correct
tolerance want others to be tolerant of them, but don't
want to be tolerant of people who disagree with them.
For example, homosexuals want us to be tolerant of
their beliefs and behaviors, but they don't want to
be tolerant with our belief that homosexuality is a
sin.
Christians Are Zealous Partisans
God commands Christians to be zealous, which means we
have to be partisan.
- "Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous
for what is good" (1 Pet. 3:13)?
- Jesus "gave Himself for us to redeem us from every
lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for
His own possession, zealous for good deeds"
(Tit. 2:14).
"Zealous" means "marked by fervent partisanship for
a person, a cause, or an ideal" (Merriam-Webster
Online Dictionary. 2009. Merriam-Webster Online. 30
July 2009 http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zealous).
And Vine's Dictionary says that a zealous person is
"an uncompromising partisan."
As Christians, there are some things we can't tolerate,
if we obey God's command to be zealous.
Tolerating Everything is a Sin
As children of God, we must understand that godly zeal
means we can't tolerate everything.
If we tolerate everything in the world, we won't be
zealous. Rather, we'll be breaking God's command and
living in sin.
So, as Christians we must understand there will be
times we can't be politically correct.
There will be times when the world wants us to be
tolerant, but we must obey God and be partisan toward
God and His word, as a result of godly zeal.
Everyone is Intolerant of Something
The fact is, everyone is intolerant of something.
Ironically, even people pushing tolerance are intolerant
of people they deem as intolerant.
For example, advocates of tolerance tell us to be
tolerant of people based on race (of which I agree).
Then, they're intolerant of people who disagree with
them. So you see, they are tolerant with one group of
people, and intolerant of another group of people, based
on their beliefs.
Why? Because they are zealous for racial equality,
and not zealous for prejudice.
The point is, everyone is zealous for something; therefore,
everyone is intolerant of something. So when worldly
people criticize us of intolerance, it's helpful to
understand they're intolerant also.
The difference is that we have different beliefs.
We are zealous for different things, resulting in intolerance
for different things.
Tolerance Demands That People Tolerate Our Intolerance
As Christians, we believe we must be zealous, and thus
intolerant of sin. Furthermore, we believe that total
and complete intolerance is sin, and that we'll go to
hell unless we repent.
Therefore, anyone in society who believes in tolerance,
must tolerate our intolerance.
If not, they become intolerant, and do not live by
their own code of conduct.
As God's children, we should demand that people respect
our rights.
For example, Paul demanded that his rights be respected
in Roman society, and appealed to Caesar. As a result
he accomplished the Lord's will, and preached in Rome.
Likewise, we should appeal to our government when
our rights are being taken away.
People must respect the fact that God commands us
to be zealous, which means we're partisan (intolerant).
Where Do We Draw the Line?
God commands us to be zealous. So we must be partisan
toward things for which we are to be zealous (enthusiastic,
eager, fervent, intense, and passionate).
We are zealous for what is good, and for good deeds
(1 Pet. 3:13; Tit. 2:14).
Therefore, we must be intolerant of sin, not in a
worldly fashion but in the way taught by God, with love,
kindness, long suffering, and patience.
Furthermore, as we become mature in the faith to teach
God's word, we must speak out against sin by speaking
the truth in love (2 Tim. 4:2; Tit. 1:9; Eph. 4:15).
With this, people of the world must be tolerant, because
we are acting by faith through God's word.
In other words, people of the world who advocate tolerance,
must be tolerant with our godly intolerance, because
we are acting by faith in God's word.
Conclusion
Politically speaking, everyone is intolerant of something.
But sometimes, we differ on what those things are.
As Christians, we are guided by God through His word,
as to what we should tolerate and what we shouldn't
tolerate.
As citizen of a country allowing the free practice
of religion, we should demand that people respect our
beliefs, even when we're intolerant of sin and speak
out against it.
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