TOLERANCE AND GOD

We are living in a very difficult time in our world. We live in a world where tolerance is often demanded by those in our society and our government. One definition of tolerance which I read said, that: "Tolerance is being forced to put up with something with which you disagree" .

Recently in California a law was passed saying that if a boy feels that he was really a girl or a girl feels that she is really a boy; that they must be allowed to use whatever dressing room or shower room they desire in the public schools. In other words a boy may join you daughter in the school showers and you daughter may join the boys in their school shower. Also, a law was passed that said that if your son or daughter had these inclinations that you are forbidden (by law) as a parent to seek counseling for them. This is some folk's idea of what tolerance should be like.

As I consider this I think their idea of tolerance is just plain crazy! It's not unlike the Calvin and Hobbes cartoon which was run not long ago.

Calvin and Hobbes are shown walking through the snow. Hobbes asks: "How are you doing on your New Year's resolutions?"

Calvin replies: "I didn't make any. See, in order to improve oneself, one must have some idea of what's 'good.' That implies certain values. But as we all know, values are relative. Every system of belief is equally valid and we need to tolerate diversity. Virtue isn't 'better' than vice. It's just different."

Hobbes replies: "I don't know if I can tolerate that much tolerance."

Calvin response was: "I refuse to be victimized by notions of virtuous behavior."

That in a nutshell is the problem. People demand tolerance of their ideas based upon the concept that there can be no right or wrong, no good or bad. This flies in the face of all of us who were raised with strong moral and ethical values. Yes, I will readily admit that my values are based upon God's Word, the bible, but then to begin with so were most of the laws of our land.

To declare that there is no true right or wrong, no definable good or bad is ludicrous. There have to be constant's by which we can guide our society or it will crumble around us, which is what I am afraid is beginning to happen. It is like declaring a three egg omelet is good, because it only had one bad egg in it. You can say it is good, but that does not make it so.

We see developing in our country a path, a way that is taking us away from everything that made us a great nation. "The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the godly will flourish. There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death." (Proverbs 14:11-12, NLT) Is there truly no right or wrong, no good or bad? God say that there is. Notice what he says in Revelation 21:8 "But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars, their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death, (an eternal separation from God)."

Some today are saying, "Who is this God? He's not real! He is only the remnants of an old mystical teaching. Psalms 14:1, tells us: "Only fools say in their hearts, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!" You can be tolerant of evil or you can decide that there really is a right way to live. The choice is yours!