Tolerance Gone too Far

1. Tolerance Gone too Far Pacific Apologetics Center Evidenceandanswers.org

2. 2345 Nuuanu Ave Hon. HI 96789 808-595-4700 Patrick Zukeran Pacificapologetics.org

3. EvidenceandAnswers.org

4. Tolerance Gone too Far Pacific Apologetics Center Evidenceandanswers.org

5. True Tolerance • “To recognize and respect others’ beliefs and practices without sharing them.” (Webster’s) • Values and respects the individual’s beliefs without approving of or participating inhis or her beliefs and behaviors.

6. 3 Pillars of True Tolerance • There is objective truth and it is our duty to pursue the truth • Parties in dispute think they know what the truth is • The best chance of uncovering the truth or of persuading others is the unhindered exchange of ideas. • Tolerance is rooted in biblical teaching.

7. Bible and Tolerance • “An alien is to be treated as one of your native born …” • Leviticus 19:33-34 • “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” • Gal 3:28

8. Honoring Women • “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with youof the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. “ • 1 Peter 3:7.

9. Bible and Tolerance • “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” • Galatians 6:10 • “Live in harmony with one another… If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. • Romans 12:16, 18

10. Bible and Tolerance • “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. • Mt 5:43-45

11. Things Jesus and His Apostles Did Not Tolerate • Sinful behavior (Mk. 9:47, 1 Cor. 6:9)

12. 1 Cor. 6:9-10 • Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. • 1 Cor. 6:910

13. Things Jesus and His Apostles Did Not Tolerate • Sinful behavior (Mk. 9:47, 1 Cor. 6:9) • Greed and Unjust treatment of individuals (Jn. 2) • False teachings (Gal. 1) • False views of salvation (Mt. 7:13-14)

14. Jesus and False Teachings • “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. “ • Mt 23:27–28).

15. New Tolerance • Relativism: Absolute truth does not exist • The truth about reality cannot be known. • It is arrogant for anyone to think they have the truth and others are wrong

16. New Tolerance • All values, beliefs, lifestyles, and truth claims are equally valid and true. • No one has the right to judge another person’s view as right or wrong.

17. New Tolerance • 57% of Christian teens adhere to the new tolerance • 80% of Americans 18-36 believe in the new tolerance.

18. Islam Day in Hawaii • "We are a state of tolerance. We understand that people have different beliefs. We may not all agree on every single item and issue out there, but to say and highlight the negativity of the Islamic people is an insult to the majority of believers who are good law-abiding citizens of the world.“ • Democrat Senator Will Espero • “Hawaii Lawmakers Pass Bill to Create 'Islam Day’” Fox News.Com, 6 May 2009,

19. Dangers and Failures of the New Tolerance • Should all beliefs be tolerated? • Are all beliefs equally valid and true?

20. Are All Beliefs Equal? What about the KKK? Nazi Germany? Taliban?

21. “America is the world oppressor” and “Israel must be wiped off the map.” “A world without America and Zionism is attainable and surely can be delivered.” - MahmoudAhmadinejad

22. Jihad and Non-Muslims • (9:5) “Fight and slay the pagans wherever you find them, and seize them, beleager them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem.” • (9:29) “Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Prophet, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.”

23. Surah 4:34 • Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and (as to) those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in the sleeping-places and beat them; then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great.

24. Hadith • The Prophet said, "Isn't the witness of a woman equal to half of that of a man?" The women said, "Yes." He said, "This is because of the deficiency of a woman's mind." • (Volume 3, Book 48, Number 826: Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri)

25. Relativism and the Culture • “Without any insight into the vacuous and dangerous philosophy that they have unwittingly accepted, teenagers are facing a rapidly changing world armed with a worldview that places them at the center, lifts up personal experience and emotion as the arbiter of decency and righteousness, and rejects historical experience as relevant to today’s world….It will ultimately undermine the capacity of America to be a beacon of goodness, sanity, morality, and purposeful faith.” • George Barna, Real Teens, (Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 2001), p. 97.

26. Karl Popper • “If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them. • Karl Popper in The Truth About Tolerance, 144.

27. Failures of the New Tolerance • All beliefs are not equally valid and true. • The New Tolerance can not be lived out.

28. Bernard Madoff • Stole 50 billion dollars in largest ponzi scheme • Should we tolerate his behavior, or do we have the right to judge?

29. 9/11 • Was this wrong? • Should we tolerate their belief system?

30. British Prime Minister David Cameron • “…the decades old British policy of multiculturalism, the belief that all cultures, values and lifestyles are valid and true and should be tolerated, has failed miserably and now England and other European nations have become one of the largest breeding grounds for radical Islam.”

31. British Prime Minister Cameron • “… the policy had allowed Islamic militants leeway to radicalize young Muslims, some of whom went on to “the next level” by becoming terrorists, and that Europe could not defeat terrorism “simply by the actions we take outside our borders,” with military actions like the war in Afghanistan. “Europe needs to wake up to what is happening in our own countries,” he said. “We have to get to the root of the problem.” • “Cameron Criticizes ‘Multiculturalism in Britain,” New York Times, Feb 5, 2011.

32. Failures of the New Tolerance • All beliefs are not equally valid and true. • The New Tolerance can not be lived out. • There are universal moral absolutes which every healthy society must stand for and defend.

33. Right and Wrong are Absolute • Right and wrong, the moral law code, are rooted in the character of God. • Since God is ruler and creator, He is sovereign over all creation, and His laws apply to all. • Since God is outside us, His laws are objective. • It is unchanging since God’s character does not change (Malachi 3:6)

34. “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged…” (Matt. 7:1-2). Did Jesus Teach the New Tolerance?

35. Matthew 7 • Jesus taught the disciples to judge truth from error. • Matthew 7:15-20 • Matthew 10:11-15 • 1 Corinthians 5:5 • 1 John 4:1-3

36. Matthew 7:13-14 • 13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. • Isn’t this judging?

37. Matthew 7:15-23 • A Tree and Its Fruit • 15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. …18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

38. Matthew 7:21-23 • 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ • Isn’t Jesus judging?

39. Matthew 7 • Jesus is teaching in Matthew 7 not to judge hypocritically or by a false standard. • Jesus is NOT saying it is wrong to judge; rather, it is wrong to judge others while overlooking your own sin.

40. Applications for Today • Christians must be discerning, able to identify ideas that are false and dangerous. (Col. 2:8) • We must not bow down to the new tolerance but have the courage to stand against false ideas. • We can demonstrate civility when disagreeing with others. • Those who stand for truth can expect hostility from the culture in rebellion against God.

41. Resources