04/17/2024
A few weeks ago, I preached on the topic of tolerance. If interested, you can listen to that message here. Typically, once a sermon is delivered, I’m ready to move on to the following week’s subject matter. Maybe it’s because the material is still fresh, but I keep running into discussions, posts, and news on "tolerance" and the need for people to live their authentic lives and be validated.
Before the late twentieth century, tolerance was defined as “accepting the existence of different views”. With this definition, we should be a pluralistic society where different views can be debated and explored with civility in the public arena. Citizens should not be allowed to impose their convictions on others or use the power of the state to coerce belief.
However, the new definition of tolerance is, “the acceptance of different views” (21st century). This is an entirely different matter altogether. To accept a different view from your own means you are no longer opposing it. We have thus moved from allowing the free expression of contrary opinions to the acceptance of all opinions as being equally valid and true. To disagree and call something “wrong” is now considered intolerable and discriminatory,
Tolerance is a challenging topic and requires disciplined thinking to help us navigate through the landmines of our culture. On a very practical level, we need space to think through these issues for our own faith and to walk with others who may struggle with doubts. One of my favorite verses in this regard is found in the one-chapter book of Jude, “And have mercy on those who doubt” (Jude 1:22, ESV).
According to a recent Barna OmniPoll, 79% of all US adults agree that “people can believe whatever they want, as long as those beliefs don’t affect society.” How can beliefs not affect society? If I believe I am a 22-year-old Ninja warrior, my belief will affect society, beginning with my family, my work associates, and my friends. My belief will also affect all of the possible social interactions I would have in the future. My belief will affect how I integrate into society, and it ultimately will lead to socio-political decisions that will have to be made on how to address . . . me. Laws will be established. Other laws will be changed. All because I believe I am a 22-year-old Ninja warrior.
This witless example shows how witless our culture has become.
Beliefs do matter. Worldview matters. When society removes our moorings from the concept of transcendent truth, we are all left to find our own truth, and if it’s not “out there,” we have to find it inside. What we find inside, however, is not very truthful; in fact, it can be downright deceptive. Experience and Scripture bear witness that “the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9, ESV).
This is not a call for us to go back to the “good old days” when life was simpler, and the world seemed much smaller. We can’t go back; that ship has sailed. What we can do is move forward by living well, loving well, and speaking well. This is grace and truth. This is the way of Jesus, my friends. This is what He calls us to in an age of deep confusion where wrong is called right, and right is called wrong. But let us not give up the fight for love and truth, believing that the way of Jesus is better, greater, and filled with all goodness and hope. And that’s what our world desperately needs.
