2009 - Vol 4
The Myth of Tolerance
We live in times when tolerance is regarded as the highest virtue. From kindergarten through school and university, young people are being raised to be tolerant. Even the Church has become tolerant, though the word “tolerance” is nowhere found in the Bible.
South Africa has been a Christian country, and therefore, for most of its existence, the Christian way of life prevailed. At the same time, the non-Christian minorities enjoyed religious freedom. But even though most South Africans claim to be Christians, we are now told that we are a multi-religious and multi-cultural country and that Christians must not assert themselves.
We must be tolerant because all religions are equal. In fact, the authorities almost treat us as if we were a minority, when in fact, we are a huge majority. 70-80% of South Africans claim to be Christians, and if we really are a democracy as they say, we should proudly insist on civilized Christian principles, and not accept the standards of other religions, or those of no religion.
As a result of repeated anti-Christian propaganda, many Christians have become sadly retreatist and defeatist when it comes to confidently proclaiming the Lord Jesus Christ and actively working for Reformation.
But do we have to be timid and defeatist? After all, the Bible tells us that “the kingdom is the LORD's: and He is the governor among the nations.” (Psalm 22:27) His power and might extend far beyond the confines of the Church. Yet when talking to non-Christians we tend to say: “As a Christian, I believe this and that,” almost as if we regarded non-Christians to be exempt from believing in the true God. Or we say: “As Christians we practise such and such,” almost as if we regarded God's commands to be valid only for ourselves.
Therefore, if our hearts are truly burning for Reformation, we need to ask: Who is God? How great is He? Does His sovereignty span the universe, or is He limited to the Christian Church? Who is Jesus Christ? Is He all powerful, or does He count only with the converted?
The Bible says: “God reigneth over the heathen; God sitteth upon the throne of His holiness.” (Psalm 47:8) This means that all the world is under His command. Even the heathen must obey Him and do His will. God's Commandments are universal, and we can proclaim them with confidence.
And what about Jesus? Is He just part of the Christian Church, or is He universal? In Mathew 28 He gives us the Great Commission, telling us to evangelise, teach, train, and by implication, to reform, for the message must remain true and pure. He declares: “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.” (Matt. 28:19)
All power belongs to Jesus. It is His! And nobody else's! It is absolute! But in our multi-cultural situation we have become conditioned to thinking that the religions are equal. We are hesitant to assert that only Christ is Lord. We don't want to be called “intolerant,” or worse, to be accused of “prejudice” against other religions.
The question is: Whom are we serving and what is He like? Is God tolerant? In the First Commandment He says: “I am the LORD your God… you shall have no other gods before Me.” Throughout the Bible God makes it plain that He will not give His glory to any other god. And David warned his son Solomon, saying: “My son, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart, and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every plan and thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off for ever.” (1 Chronicles 28:9)
In the second Commandment, God says: “I, the LORD your God am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing love to thousands who love Me and keep My commandments.”
The Bible contains the full counsel of God. His will is contained in the Scriptures, and we must study and know these. The great achievement of the 16th century Reformation is that it gave the Bible back to the people, and this must be our own aim also. For today's Christians are ignorant of the Word and the Reformation Confessions They are often not jealous. Some even say: “But we all pray to the same god!” Do we? No, we Christians worship the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He is the only God, and His Son Jesus is the only Way, Truth and Life. No-one comes to the Father except through Him. The Jews do not acknowledge Jesus, and therefore their God is a different God. The Muslims acknowledge Jesus as a prophet, but not as God, and so their god, too, is different from the true God.
Unless we are convinced that there is no other name under heaven but the Name of Jesus whereby we must be saved, we have no chance of a Reformation. If we think that we can reform the world through tolerance, we are mistaken. Joining other religions (and be it only the social gospel) in their rites and prayers will bring nothing. If we do not earnestly watch, pray and act, pagan religions will overwhelm and enslave us. For only where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty (2 Corinthians 3:17).
People of other religions (e.g. Muslims and Jews) know that present day Christians are timid, tolerant, and indecisive, and they exploit this, looking to the day when they will take over and force their own religions upon us.
Therefore, let us remember that our Lord is the immortal, invisible and only wise God. His sovereignty is over all. He motivates us by His Spirit, and this Spirit is not “a spirit of fear, but of power and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). He bids us make the whole human race His friends through Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:18)
So let us turn from our sin, especially the sin of omission, and go out and tell the nations the old, old story of unseen things above, of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love, and tell them, too, what this means when applied to the affairs of men.
D. Scarborough
Gospel Defence League
PO Box 587 Sea Point 8060
www.christianaction.org.za/GDL
Dscarborough@mweb.co.za