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In This Issue...
Articles
- A Theology of Humor by Cheryl Taylor
- Ministering With Humor by Stephanie Nance
- Christian Leaders Having Fun? by Pam Morton with Kathy Jingling
- The Health Benefits of Humor and Laughter by Dwenda Gjerdingen, MD, MS
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Book Reviews
- Anatomy of an Illness by Norman Cousins
- The Purse-Driven Life by Anita Renfroe
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The Truth about Toleration
By Dr. Charlie Self
Charlie is the associate professor of Church History at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, Missouri, and a national speaker and published author. His latest book, coauthored with Les Hewitt, is The Power of Faithful Focus. He is also frequently in the radio commenting on current events. His Web site is www.drcharlieself.com. He and his wife, Kathy, have three adult children.
Almost every day Christians hear the chorus from unbelievers, "You are intolerant! Why are you so narrow-minded?" Usually this is followed by criticism for defending the unborn and preserving the sacred institution of marriage.
How we stand for truth in a changing world is very important. All around us we see the impact of modern business, communication, education, and travel. Fifty years ago our neighbors might have been unbelievers, but they affirmed similar beliefs and ethics, even if they still needed to meet the Lord personally. Today, we are conversing with folks from the four corners of the earth.
As we stand for the gospel and biblical standards, we need to know our history and be wise in how we share with others. We know that our witness is directly connected with our love for all people and commitment to personal holiness.
Fifty years ago our neighbors might have been unbelievers, but they affirmed similar beliefs and ethics, even if they still needed to meet the Lord personally. Today, we are conversing with folks from the four corners of the earth.
Toleration in Recent History
Much of human history has been marred by intolerance and oppression, regardless of cultural or religious views. In the past 400 years, however, Christians have led the way toward a freer world. Here are some highlights in the quest for real liberty:
- Beginning in the 16th century, toleration meant that people could practice the particular faith of their nation, and some nations permitted other views as long as they were not disruptive.
- In 1789, The First Amendment to the American Constitution was the most radical expression of liberty in human political history, outside of the New Testament itself. The first sixteen words still echo around the world today: "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Toleration now means living peacefully together with our deepest differences and desiring for all the liberties we want for ourselves. Here we see complete freedom of conscience and religion, with protection against intolerance. However, this does not mean that our founders intended to exclude religious values from the public square.
- By the early 1900s, the American vision was spreading throughout the world. Even the most zealous Christian missionaries knew that people must come to Christ freely, without coercion.
- But the 20th century was also a century of atheistic, pagan, and religious intolerance as Communism (China, Cambodia, Cuba, the former Soviet Union and Vietnam), Fascism and the Holocaust (Western and Eastern European nations before and during WWII), and Islamic extremism (since the rebirth of Israel in 1948) cast their shadows over billions of souls. The record is clear: faithful followers of Christ helped to create the most tolerant nations in history. Anywhere there is freedom in the world, the gospel of Jesus Christ is present.
Until recently, toleration meant people living together with differences but sharing some common values and vocabulary. But something has changed in the past 50 years. Hostility toward Christianity is growing in the West, and there are many in academic, cultural and political leadership who want to reject even the memory of our Judeo-Christian heritage and completely redefine morality and society. This is the Post-Christian mindset we face as we share the good news about Jesus Christ and the wonderful blessings of biblical principles
Post-Christian Toleration
Since the 1960s, there are growing numbers of people who consider Christianity (and Judaism) as outdated relics or evil forces to be rejected. There are several best-sellers celebrating atheism and condemning religion. Along with this hostility are radical changes in how some define family, morality, and society. Freedom now means unrestricted personal liberty and the "right" to abortion, any kind of living arrangement, and sexual promiscuity.
Let us be people of grace, welcoming all to meet our loving Lord, loving even those who hate us, and serving those who cannot return the favor. This is our truthful toleration as God's people.
Anyone criticizing such anarchy is considered intolerant. Here is the deception: Tolerance is now defined as a compulsion to affirm behavior that is morally wrong according to Scripture (and most other world religions). When a Christian stands for the unborn, she is "intolerant" of a "woman's right to choose." When disciples of Jesus affirm biblical marriage, we are called intolerant for rejecting other definitions of "marriage," or calling unmarried couples to covenantal, heterosexual marriage.
Prohibit, Permit, or Promote — Who Decides?
As "exiles and strangers in the world," we will often be at odds with prevailing ideas. We must discern how to wisely navigate as we fulfill the Great Commandment to love and the Great Commission to lead people to Christ. Three words will help us — both in the church and in our interactions in the wider world:
- What do we prohibit? What actions are destructive to peace? Within the church, we are called to hold each other accountable to clear standards, while gently helping each other when we fall short (Galatians 6). As we engage the political and social spheres, we can unite with people of conscience to protect the broken, poor, and vulnerable.
- What do we permit, even if we disagree personally? In our churches, devoted followers of Christ will disagree on some cultural matters. It is vital that we not allow our tradition to unfairly enslave others. It is also essential that our personal liberty never harm a sensitive soul (Romans 14). In our public life, we must tolerate other faiths and ideas, without being forced to agree with others' choices. If there is an unmarried couple next door, we can pray they come to Christ and marry, but we should also be their favorite neighbors.
- What do we promote as beneficial to believers and to society? Within our churches, we must lovingly call God's people "to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with [our] God." (Micah 6:8, NIV). For the good of our congregations, we must adhere to the biblical standards of integrity and morality, while creating an environment of unconditional love and acceptance. For the watching world, they need to see that biblical principles lead to real peace and prosperity as people are connected to Christ and each other and live for more than the moment.
In truth, Christians are to be the most tolerant people of all, pleading with women and men to come to Christ and find eternal life. "Freely [we] have received, freely [we] give" (Matthew 10:8, NIV). Such peacefulness, however, is never an endorsement of the self-destructive lifestyles we see today.
Let us be people of grace, welcoming all to meet our loving Lord, loving even those who hate us, and serving those who cannot return the favor. This is our truthful toleration as God's people.
