Are Christians intolerant? 1 of 3

An increasingly common refrain (in this instance, from the NY Times):

People who think they have the truth are dangerous. Everyone has the right to determine what is true for him or herself. No one should try to press their view of truth on others.

Hmmm…Is this not someone attempting to make a statement of  final truth?  Does this person not think that “they have the truth”? Come on, think about it, the above is a completely self-defeating statement.

Not only that, but it’s imploring others to abandon their flawed positions, and adopt this enlightened perspective. They’re straight up proselytizing.  They are doing the very thing they think they are forbidding.

Intolerance will not be tolerated!

So, are Christians intolerant because we claim to know truths?  Are we intolerant because we hope to convert people?  Those who criticize us for attempting to convert others are certainly trying to convert us!  Those who criticize us for having standards are claiming that we don’t meet up to theirs.

So where’s the breakdown?  Maybe we need to reconsider the definition of tolerance.  That’ll be part two.

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3 Responses to “Are Christians intolerant? 1 of 3”

  1. sheldon January 31, 2010 at 11:41 pm #

    No, we aren’t intolerant when following the true Christian creed of compassion. However, just because we are compassionate doesn’t mean we don’t stand for the fact we really do have the RIGHT and ONLY answer to existence, purpose, truth, and more. Going through “God is there and he is not silent” and it’s really refreshing to hear once again the truth of God’s way that we follow being the RIGHT answer for the world.

    That quote above is exactly what that book addresses, relativism. The scourge of our time, and really according to Shaeffer a new idea for popular belief. Relativism at its very core makes NO sense. Just as Shaeffer says absolutes exist, ie can’t randomly walk through a brick wall. Solid’s exist, rules exist. MORALITY and TRUTH exists. GOD exists.

    making me want to go back and finish that book now :-)

    Reply
  2. aaron February 1, 2010 at 12:24 am #

    …and you’re making me want to go start it!

    Reply

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  1. Are Christians intolerant (2 of 3) | Aaron McCarter - February 3, 2010

    [...] 0 Comments 03 February 2010 “The trouble with religion is it’s intolerant because it presses other’s to adopt a particular set of beliefs.” That statement is, by it’s own flawed definition, intolerant. Tolerance cannot be pretending that we don’t have conviction about the truth.  That’s just dishonest.  Those who protest the concept of “absolute truth” do so because they have strong set of beliefs about what’s absolutely true, and they hope to convert you to that belief system. It’s all very hypocritical. So tolerance isn’t a lack of belief, it’s a standard for how you treat people who don’t share your beliefs. Jesus taught and requires a radical and surpassing brand of true tolerance. Jesus says: “Let’s go beyond simply those who disagree with you, let’s talk about your enemies.  Let’s talk about the people who are out to get you, and have deliberately attacked you.” Matthew 5:44
Matthew 5:44, “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute
you” Luke 6:27
“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” Jesus demands of us to forgive them, to pray for them, and to serve them as better than  ourselves.  He requires us to completely empty ourselves of any ill-will, to refuse to see ourselves as better than them, and then to seek to help them at any cost. That’s radical tolerance. And here’s the reality: the absolute best thing I have to offer anyone is the truth about Jesus.  The most good, loving, kind and tolerant thing I can do for anyone, is to tell them about Jesus and to invite them into the family of God. However, if I don’t first drain every ounce of ill-will toward that person and replace it with the love of Christ, my efforts will be insincere and unproductive…because they will be intolerant.  I’ll just be another negative Christian caricature, another punch-line on South Park. [...]

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