A Culture of Intolerance

In case you haven't noticed, today's culture, particularly within the United States, has moved decidedly toward a position of intolerance. Over the last forty years, as Protestants and Catholics have tried to resist secularism in their personal lives, they have bemoaned the fact that its evil influence has infected our culture and devastated America's values.

The result has been a push by Christian and para-church organizations to reclaim culture through political action on issues like abortion, feminism and gay rights. Their goal is to transform culture through legislation--to make it so that one must adhere to Christian values or be guilty of violating civil law. It is no secret that many Christian activists want to turn America's democracy into a theocracy--where compliance with Christian values is required.

As you can imagine, such a move would result in widespread intolerance and persecution. If you question that this could really happen, just spend a few hours listening to conservative and liberal talk radio. It is already affecting how conservatives and liberals talk about each other. They have moved from expressing their views through civil discourse and dialog to vilifying one another through false representations, lewd accusations and derogatory slurs. Unfortunately, this effort by both sides to control culture is promoting less tolerance in general. Many have become dogmatic, critical and hateful.

What characteristics should Christ's followers display in today's world?

Do the following texts describe what many "conservative Christians" are saying and doing today?

1. John 16:33 - "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

2. Matthew 5:38-39 - 38 - “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also."

3. John 18:36 - "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

4. Matthew 5:43-44 - 43 - “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you..."

5. Matthew 5:5 - "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

6. Romans 13:10 - 10 - "Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."

7. Philippians 2:2-4 - "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others."

8. 1 Corinthians 13:4 - "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up..."

9. 1 John 3:14-15 - "He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him."