May 1, 2003, Vol.3, No.9.
Two new articles every two weeks.
Bible Question? E-mail
us.
THIS ISSUE: "Religious
Intolerance" (see below)
and "What About the Thief
on the Cross?"
Religious Intolerance
by Keith Sharp
Introduction
Pope John Paul II was strongly opposed to the war in Iraq.
He recently issued this statement:
War must never be allowed to divide world religions. I
encourage you to take this unsettling moment as an occasion to
work together, as brothers committed to peace, with your own
people, with those of other religious beliefs and with all men
and women of good will to ensure understanding, cooperation and
solidarity. ("Watertown Daily Times," March 30,
2003)
 This
is a most remarkable change from Catholic attitudes of former
years. "The Syllabus" is the "name given to two
series of propositions containing modern religious errors condemned
respectively by Pius IX (1864) and Pius X (1907)." (Catholic
Encyclopedia online, www.newadvent.org) Among other ideas
repugnant to modern society, this document condemns as heresy
the idea that anyone can be saved outside the Catholic Church,
the belief in the separation of church and state, and the belief
in freedom of religion.
Perhaps no attitude holds firmer sway in Western society today
than the opinion that everyone should accept all beliefs as equally
valid. No one should condemn another. The only thing broad-minded
folks won,t tolerate is intolerance.
Since I am a Christian, a follower of Christ (Acts 11:26),
the will of Christ is my standard (Matthew 28:18; Colossians
3:17). According to the will of Christ, the New Testament, should
we be tolerant of other religious beliefs?
Proper Tolerance
Certainly there is a proper realm of tolerance. The Lord did
indeed command, "Judge not, that you be not judged."
(Matthew 7:1)
And yet other New Testament teaching clearly demands that
we in some sense judge others. "Now I urge you, brethren,
note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the
doctrine which you learned, and avoid them." (Romans 16:17)
Parallel passages could be multiplied.
The truth is, the Lord condemns certain kinds of judging,
whereas He demands that we judge in some ways. The context of
Matthew 7:1 makes it clear that the Master there prohibits hypocritical
and hypercritical judging (verses 2-5). Immediately after this
admonition, He demanded, "Do not give what is holy to the
dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them
under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces." (verse
6) How can we obey this command without judging who are "dogs"
and "swine"? The Scriptures also prohibit unmerciful
and unforgiving judgment (Luke 6:36-37; James 2:13), judging
in matters of opinion (Romans 14:1-13), and setting oneself up
as the judge of another's final destiny (James 4:12).
Proper Intolerance
But there is also a realm in which the Lord demands that we
be intolerant.
If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome
words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine
which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but
is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which
come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings
of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose
that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.
(1 Timothy 6:3-5)
We must not tolerate damnable error nor those who promote
it. Nor should we tolerate those who promote their own uninspired
opinions to the dividing of God's people. "Reject a divisive
man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such
a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned." (Titus
3:10-11)
There is only one Savior and one way of salvation (John 14:6).
There is only one church that belongs to Him (Ephesians 4:4;
1:22-23), and that church is not to be divided into sects (1
Corinthians 1:10-13). There is but one faith (Ephesians 4:5),
and we must "contend earnestly" for it (Jude 3).
Improper Intolerance
But there are other forms of intolerance that are absolutely
wrong. It is sinful and wrong to try to force one's faith on
another. The Lord clearly separated civil rule from religious
faith (John 18:36;
2 Corinthians 10:3-6). The Lord invites all to come to Him
(Matthew 11:28-30; Revelation 22:17), but He forces none. The
compelling power with which He brings the lost to Himself is
the story of His love for them as revealed in the Gospel (2 Corinthians
5:14-15).
It is wrong to refuse to listen to those with whom we disagree.
When false teachers introduced heresy into the first century
church, the apostles and elders allowed them to have their say
to the whole church and then answered them (Acts 15). Truth has
nothing to fear from free speech. Only those who are wrong and
know they are wrong refuse to hear the opposite view or try to
forcibly silence those with whom they disagree (cf. Acts 4:18-21;
5:27-29; 7:51-60). Persecution is the tool of falsehood not truth.
Conclusion
Bigoted intolerance resulting in persecution is sinful and
destructive. The people of God have always been its victims.
But tolerance without conviction is equally destructive. When
Jesus declared, "Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice"
(John 18:37), Pilate uttered the popular philosophy of our day,
"What is truth?" (verse 38) Pilate then condemned Jesus
to die. Intolerant bigots clamored for the Lord's death. But
a tolerant man with no conviction decreed His death.
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