TruthPoints

11.28.07

Divine Intolerance

If there is a watchword that describes the American mind-set today, it is the word tolerance. Many folk in the Western world worship at the shrine of tolerance.  In the shaping of public opinion and the forging of national policy, many embrace a broadmindedness that says any values, if sincerely held, are equally valid.

It is as if there are no absolutes today. The only absolute is that there are no absolutes. In our day, people tolerate everything except intolerance.

Webster defines the word tolerance like this: “The allowable deviation from a standard, sympathy, or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing or conflicting with one's own."

That, in a nutshell, is the American mindset.  There is an openness that embraces almost anything morally, politically, or educationally.

According to George Gallop, America's pollster, 67 percent of Americans today believe that there is no such thing as absolute truth.  In other words, right and wrong varies from situation to situation. It may be wrong for me, but right for you.  The consequences of such thinking are terrifying.

Like ancient Israel, we have become a people who have forgotten how to blush. Nothing shocks us anymore.  Tragically, we have become desensitized toward sin. In the name of tolerance, we have now opened the floodgates to embrace every form of wickedness.  All people want is tolerance. An absolute standard of right and wrong is becoming a dusty page of ancient history. Who is to say which abnormal perversion will be accepted next? What "alternative lifestyle”, will be next to be embraced?

As the church, we are beginning to feel the tightening noose of the world around us. If we are not careful, we will soon be choked to death by public consensus. Yet, Paul warns us, "Be not conformed to this world…”  (Rom 12:2).  The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews says of the Lord, “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness.” (Hebrews 1:9). Here we see what George Duncan called, “The Divine Intolerance”. There are some things God loves and some things God hates – He is intolerant of them. There is an intolerance in the very character of God. He loves sinners but hates sin.

I am certain you know the difference between a thermostat and a thermometer! A thermostat regulates the temperature while a thermometer simply registers the temperature.  If given the choice, a wise person would always choose a thermostat over a thermometer.  A thermostat is much more valuable than a thermometer because of its power to bring about change.

I am convinced that SouthPoint Church has been planted here to be a thermostat, to be an agent of change in the community. It is time for us to speak up boldly but politely concerning the truth – truth that meets life.  It is my prayer that each of us will be granted the necessary courage to stand up, by our words and deeds, to a world system that is anti-God.  “Stand up, stand up for Jesus ye soldiers of the Cross”.

Pastor David