This document discusses the misguided notion of modern tolerance and contrasts it with biblical tolerance. It provides statistics showing that most Americans believe that many religions can lead to eternal life and that there is more than one true way to interpret religious teachings. The document argues that tolerance becomes misguided when there is a lack of understanding of absolute truth, concern for truth, conviction in truth, and commitment to truth. It concludes that we must choose between truth and the modern concept of tolerance.
2. The Bible Commends Tolerance (in the
sense of patience, forbearance and longsuffering)
• We must be tolerant while endeavoring to
keep doctrinal unity.
(Ephesians 4:1-3; Colossians 3:12-13)
• We must be gentle even to those in error.
(2 Timothy 4:2; 2:24-26)
• We are to be kind even to our enemies.
(Luke 6:27-28)
• But the modern notion of tolerance means we
must never regard anyone else’s opinions or
beliefs as “wrong.”
Biblical tolerance is for people;
Modern tolerance is for ideas.
3. Religious Tolerance in America Today
• 70 percent of Americans with a religious
affiliation said they believe that many religions
can lead to eternal life
– Mainline Protestants (83 percent),
– Evangelical (57 percent)
– Historic black Protestant churches (59 percent)
– Roman Catholics (79 percent)
– Jews (82 percent)
– Muslims (56 percent)
• 68 percent said that there is more than one
true way to interpret the teachings of their
own religion.
4. Tolerance is Misguided When There Is…
Lack of Comprehension concerning the
absolute and exclusive nature of truth.
(Psalms 119:160, 89; 1 John 2:21;
John 14:6; Acts 4:12)
Lack of Concern for truth. (2
Corinthians 13:8; Matthew 12:30)
Lack of Conviction about the truth
(Galatians 2:4-5; 2 Corinthians 11:4, 19-20)
Lack of Commitment to the truth
(Proverbs 23:23; 2 Timothy 2:2-4; 1 Kings
18:21)
