"I will perform against Eli all the things which I have spoken concerning his house… because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not." (1Samuel 3:12-13)
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).
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY
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.
THE REAL BIGOTS
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.]
FALSE RELIGION
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.
CONCLUSION
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.
Tolerance of evil is Satan's delight
Oh, tolerance of evil is Satan's delight
And wherever we go
We will carry on the fight
And the truth of the Lord
Shall be known, shall be known
And the truth of the Lord
Shall be known.
[To an arrangement of the tune, “They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love.”]
