Intolerance

1. Definitions

            Intolerance n. – The fact or quality of being intolerant.  1. The fact or habit of not tolerating or enduring (something); inability, or unwillingness, to tolerate or endure some particular thing; incapacity of endurance.  2. spec. Absence of tolerance for difference of opinion or practice, esp. in religious matters; denial of the right to differ; narrow-minded or bigoted opposition to dissent.

            Tolerance n. – 1.  a. The action or practice of enduring or sustaining pain or hardship; the power or capacity of enduring; endurance. 3. The action or practice of tolerating; toleration; the disposition to be patient with or indulgent to the opinions or practices of others; freedom from bigotry or undue severity in judging the conduct of others; forbearance; catholicity of spirit.

            Tolerate v. – 1. trans. To endure, sustain (pain or hardship). 2. To allow to exist or to be done or practised without authoritative interference or molestation; also gen. to allow, permit. 3. To bear without repugnance; to allow intellectually, or in taste, sentiment, or principle; to put up with.

1. Baptists are historically the only truly tolerant religion.

            Rhode Island was founded by Baptists and was the first state in the history of the world to have religious freedom be the law of the land.

            I am not intolerant of other religions or beliefs.

            I endure other people’s false beliefs without authoritative interference.

            I endure the pain and irritation of hearing lies.

            I do not deny someone their right to believe a false doctrine or to be wrong.

            I have never persecuted someone for their beliefs, nor would I.

            In fact, I vehemently defend people’s rights to believe and say whatever they want.

III.   What intolerance is NOT.

            Hating evil is not intolerance.

            Psa 97:10 – Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

            Psa 119:128 – Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.

            Condemning false doctrine and evil is not intolerance.

            Mat 22:29 – Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

            Gal 1:9 – As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

            Gal 3:1 – O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

1. We should try to get people to change though persuasion, nor persecution.

            2Co 10:3 – For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

            2Co 10:4 – (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

            2Co 10:5 – Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

1. Rebuking someone for a their sin or converting them from their error is not an act of hatred, but rather of love.

            Lev 19:17 – Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.

            Jas 5:19 – Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;

            Jas 5:20 – Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.