Tolerance Intolerance

Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day in Westminster, MD

If the battle against Chick-Fil-A illustrates more than anything else it’s the fallacy of tolerance. Christians are often criticized as being intolerant when we uphold biblical values and teachings. But this creates a logical error in our opponents. By refusing to tolerate our position on things such as marriage they are in fact committing the very act they charge us with. The reality is that they are being intolerant of Christianity. But should this be any surprise? The world system is completely opposed to Christ. Every thought and action perpetrated by the unbeliever is anti-christ. This is what John is speaking of in his first epistle.

“…even now many anti-christ have come, by this we know it is the last hour.” – 1 John 2:18

Before we are drawn to Christ by the Holy Spirit to become “children of God” (1 John 3:1) we were enemies of God. James illustrates this quite forcefully in James 4:4 when he said, “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?”

It should be noted that the term world in these verse refers to the world system, not the created world or people in general. The creation reflects the glory of God and we should have a compassion for people. But as Christians we oppose that which defies God and we know the world system stands against Christ; “therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:19)

So next time you hear such hateful words being uttered against Christian virtues don’t be shocked. Instead remember that this is a symptom of the disease called the sinful nature and be spurred on to bring the cure of the gospel.