Truth vs. Tolerance

We hear a lot about tolerance these days. Things that were considered sinful and shameful just a generation ago are widely accepted today. In our post-modern society, anything goes. If we speak out against such things as abortion and gay marriage, we're called 'haters' and 'judgmental.'

I respect the right of everyone to have their own opinion, whether it's on politics or religion or anything else. But there comes a time when we must stand up for the truth and defend the way of righteousness. We must measure our beliefs based on the truth found in God's Word. It is the standard by which we should judge everything.

But non-believers, and even some believers, don't want to hear the truth. "Do not judge," they tell us and they love to quote Matthew 7:1-2: "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged."

That is probably the most misinterpreted verse in the Bible. It's not judging when you are agreeing with what God has said. God has set a standard, commanding us to love what He loves and hate what He hates.

His Word spells out certain sins. Galatians 5:19 says, "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like."

WOW! Some of those hit pretty close to home! Jealousy. Envy. Who hasn't had those feelings at some time in life? But the Bible plainly says those who live this way will not inherit the kingdom of God.

No one likes to hear that they're in the wrong or living in sin. But what the Bible calls sin IS sin, and we must take a stand against it, even if society labels us as intolerant. Whether it's a "small white lie" or drinking or adultery, it's sin and it's wrong. As believers, we have a responsibility to speak the truth and warn others. We must do it boldly, but do it in love.

We may not be popular if we speak (or write) the truth, but we should care more about what God thinks about us than what people think. Our society may have changed its standard of right and wrong, but God's standard will never change.