Tolerance or Pluralism

Dictionary Definition of Tolerance.

1.   A fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward opinions and practices that differ from one's own.

2.   The capacity for or the practice of recognizing and respecting the beliefs or practices of others.

3.   Sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own.

4.   Lack of opposition for beliefs or practices differing from one's own.

5.   The act or capacity of enduring; endurance.

6.   The act of allowing something.

Tolerance as defined by culture is a myth, and worse, it is a smokescreen to stop churches from spreading the Gospel.

In April 2009, President Obama spoke at Georgetown University’s Gaston Hall. A monogram “IHS” which represents the name of Jesus and which normally perches above the stage in Gaston Hall where the President spoke, was covered over with black wood during the President’s address. University spokesman Andy Pino said, “In coordinating the logistical arrangements for the event, Georgetown honored the White House staff’s request to cover all of the Georgetown University signage and symbols.”⁹

Oprah Winfrey may be the most spiritually influential person in the US. One-third of those polled by beliefnet.com responded that “Winfrey has had ‘a more profound impact’ on their spiritual lives than their clergy persons,” and USA Today called Winfrey “a spiritual leader for the new millenia.”⁶

Winfrey has wielded her deep influence to promote Westernized New Age beliefs to her estimated 6.9 million viewers per day, but what does she think of a single way to God? As she said in one show, “there couldn’t possibly be just one way.” She is dogmatic in her lack of dogmatism. “I’m a free-thinking Christian who believes in my way,” Winfrey has said, “but I don’t believe it’s the only way, with 6 billion people on the planet.”⁷

And most Americans agree with Oprah. According to a 2008 survey by the Pew Forum on Religion, 70% believe “many religions can lead to eternal life.”⁸ Our country has shifted from a belief in religious tolerance to a belief in religious pluralism.

As the world grows more intolerant of biblical Christianity, there is more pressure on churches to compromise the Gospel. Many churches have neglected the message of salvation in favor of social causes—civil rights, environmentalism, political reform. These politically safe issues draw no criticism from the media.

But the church can never be accepted by the world without compromising the truth of God’s Word. Our message will always offend some people, even though it is preached with a spirit of love and kindness. Remember Jesus’ words, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18).

The answer to a culture which hates Christ is not to downplay Christ. We can never please the world without giving up that which makes us Christians.

As Christians, we must do our part to preach the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ around this world in these needy days!
We must also pray for our leaders and to take every opportunity to share the message of Christ and the uniqueness of His claims with each and every one of them. And finally, may we pray today for revival in our land as we seek God’s face in this needy hour.

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1. Gilgoff, D. (2009, February 29). A New Tradition for Obama’s Presidential Events: Opening With a Prayer. US News & World Report. Retrieved fromwww.usnews.com.
2. The New York Times. (2008, January 2). Catholic and Muslim leaders to meet in Rome. Retrieved from nytimes.com.
3. Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. (2009, December 9). Many Americans Mix Multiple Faiths. Retrieved from www.pewforum.org.

4.Banks, A.M. (2008, July 9). Oprah’s ‘gospel,’ influence concern some Christians. USA Today. Retrieved from www.usatoday.com.

5. Chappell, P. (2010, July 06). The Tolerance Myth. Retrieved from www.ministry127.com