If you haven’t read it yet, here’s part 1.

“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.