Are you saying we are to be tolerant of false Doctrine?
Why did David say he hates every False Way?
Should we love wolves come into the Church to devour?
David Miller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Gary wrote:
> how does tolerance factor into your
> world view? E.g., is tolerance global
> or is it of certain people?
Tolerance is global. God is our example in this. If God were intolerant,
he would have wiped out the world long ago. Instead, we find him to be very
patient and longsuffering toward the workers of iniquity. He does not
condone the wicked. He constantly speaks to them concerning their need to
repent and do what is right. However, he seeks for a voluntary
understanding and submission, not one that is appropriated by force. There
are many other factors involved, however, and sometimes we see him come down
hard as an object lesson to the rest of us (e.g., I'm thinking right now of
Ananias and Sapphira).
Gary wrote:
> is love associated as closely with tolerance
> as it is with unity?
Yes.
Religious groups generally tend to be intolerant. This is human nature, not
God's nature. This is why we have different sects. People congregate
around commonly shared beliefs and shun those who do not receive the same.
Such is the root of denominationalism, and extreme sects which severely cut
off others are considered cults. An example of this would be the attitude
of Jews not to fellowship with Gentiles, or of males separating from females
in the meetings, or separating from others because of dietary restrictions,
or separating because of doctrinal disagreements of the Godhead, the
Trinity, modes of baptism, the need for holiness, grace, etc. Even when the
base of the separation is a truth, if it leads to unloving behavior between
individuals, it is wrong.
Concerning the community of believers, the local church, I really see only
one thing which we are to be intolerant about. We are to be intolerant of
sin, which is defined as any action that does not have love as its source.
This is because fellowship is adversely affected by the sin of even one
person. There is no room for sin in the body of Christ.
Regarding the word tolerance, I should perhaps make it clear that tolerance
does not mean that we think certain viewpoints are free to be shared
unchallenged. It means that we allow views to be shared, and we readily
challenge false views, and admonish one another to change views that are
contrary to truth. Tolerance should give freedom to the _expression_ of
viewpoints, but it does not give a license for anyone to embrace falsehoods.
An example: as a parent, suppose my child comes home from school and she
tells me that she doesn't believe in God anymore because she learned in
school that evolution through natural laws explains our existence. If I was
intolerant, perhaps I would yell at her and send her to her room without
supper until she apologized to me for articulating such terrible ideas. On
the other hand, if I am tolerant, I would simply take time to instruct her
properly about problems in her viewpoint and show her many good reasons to
continue believing in God. In fact, I would probably do it in a loving and
cheerful way while we were having supper together.
Peace be with you.
David Miller.
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"Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org
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