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WHO IS TOLERANT?

The Road to Confusion

The history of the United States of America is rooted in the Bible. While all the founders were not born again Christians, the belief in ethical theism was evident in the freedom and equality wording of our founding documents. They believed right and wrong were absolute, unchanging, and decided as well as communicated to men and women by God through natural law and biblical truth.

Sadly, this philosophy came under attack in America at the beginning of the twentieth century. Follow this road that has led to the present confusion:

The Turn of the Century Enlightenment said the Bible is not true.

Early twentieth century Liberalism said Christ is not God.

Early twentieth century Relativism said there is no absolute truth or evil.

Freudian Psychology of the 1920s advocated sexuality without conscience or guilt.

Marxist Materialism of the 1920s espoused no personal responsibility or guilt, just the guilt of society.

The Nietzsche Philosophy of the 1920s said God is dead.

Joseph Fletcher's Situation Ethics of the 1960s stated there is no absolute right or wrong.

A Supreme Court Decision in 1980 rejected the display of the Decalogue in the Kentucky school, suggesting that they might obey it.

Values Education was introduced in the 1990s, advocating loving man without loving God. Thus secularism became the basis for public education. Examples: A Texas Tech biology professor said he would not recommend any students for medical school if they did not believe in evolution. The Creation Research Institute is battling the State of Texas to offer science degrees, opposed because they teach creation rather than evolution.

Today is characterized by Postmodernism (or relativism)—the belief that man is the author of truth.

Lost on the Road

The world around us is lost on the road searching for truth. Just as Pilate during the trial of Jesus Christ said, “What is truth?” (John 18:38), those who deny absolute truth search for worldly wisdom while acting in ignorance.

Relativism is the belief that man is the author of truth; one person cannot tell another person what is true for him. One man’s truth is just one man’s truth. But Bible Christians understand that because all men are sinners, this depravity has eliminated his ability to think right. Therefore, he must rely upon a source outside himself to find the truth.

God the Creator, Controller and Sustainer of the universe is that source of truth. He has revealed truth through the created natural law, through the conscience of man created in His image, through the propositional truth of the inscripturated Word (the Bible), and through the person of Jesus Christ Who is God in the flesh.

The consequence of the road to confusion has left the world that is without the Bible as truth and Christ as God lost in their own ignorance but with a God conscience that leaves them without excuse (Romans 1:18–20). The unregenerate world changes the truth of God into a lie, with an end result of doing and condoning those things that are against natural law (Romans 1:25–32).

Now we are asked to tolerate them in their “lost on the road” condition while they pursue their endless quest to figure out where they are and where to go from here without consulting any roadmap outside themselves.

Rewriting the Road Map

The correct old tolerance asked us to be forbearing with someone or something that we did not especially like. We did not have to say that he was also right. We did not have to say that he had to decide right or wrong for himself. We did not have to condone his opinion or actions.

The new tolerance says “all values, all beliefs, all lifestyles, all truth claims are equal” (Josh McDowell in The New Tolerance, Tyndale House, 1998). If so, Christianity should be treated as “an equal”. But extreme intolerance is shown toward Christianity as being intolerant. This is an illogical and self-refuting position. But true Bible Christianity is not intolerant of sinners who need to be set free from their enslaving sins that destroy them.

We are asked by the new tolerance advocates to tolerate evil (not good) that departs from natural law. We are supposed to silently tolerate “mere animals” destroying themselves as those Israelites who forgot the true God, followed false gods and defiled themselves with their own inventions (Psalm 106:34–43).

The Right Way to Go

The Bible asks true believers in Christ and followers of His way to demonstrate a forbearing tolerance. Christ was tolerant with the sinful woman in John 4. He respected the person that religion despised, offering her satisfaction.

God is tolerant of sinners and the hurting:

“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30).

We are to be forbearingly tolerant while seeking to win them to Christ and freedom from slavery to sin. “I will respect you as a person, but I must tell you the truth and plead with you to follow the right way to be free.”

“Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

“Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:10–12).

At the End of the Road

Those who reject the Bible as true and Christ as God are lost on Hopeless Way, heading for a Christless eternal destiny called Hell, forever banished from the presence of God paying for their sins, having rejected Christ’s payment when He shed His blood on the cross.

Hell will contain far more people than heaven throughout eternity. Christ said, “Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13, 14).

It is a priceless privilege to hear the Word of God. It is a fearful thing to reject it. The Church’s task is not to make the world better, since the Church can never get along with the world of the devil. Instead, seek converts one by one to become sojourning citizens of heaven.

DECLARE YOUR CORE VALUES

Background

Totem is “an Algonquian term describing , among some peoples, an animal or natural object considered as being ancestrally related to a given kin or descent group and taken as its symbol” (Webster’s Dictionary).

The totem pole is “a pole or post carved and painted with totems, often erected in front of the dwellings by Indian tribes of the NW coast of North America” (Webster’s Dictionary).

The meanings of the designs on totem poles are varied depending upon the cultures that make them. While some totem poles may recount familiar legends or notable events, some poles are erected to celebrate cultural beliefs. Poles are also carved to illustrate stories, to commemorate historic events and to symbolize special events. But these poles have never been the object of worship.

The vertical order of images on the totem poles is believed by some to be a significant representation of importance. This representation has led to the phrase “high on the totem pole”. Others believe the totem poles were designed in a reverse order of importance, suggesting that “low on the totem pole” meant the highest object of importance. The truth is there has never been any requirement as to vertical order.

Application of the Totem

Pastor Jerry Lancaster, staff and leaders of Starkey Road Baptist Church in Seminole, Florida recently convened a leadership retreat utilizing this theme. Just as the symbols carved on a totem pole declare the values and culture of a community where the totem pole is placed, churches also have totems that declare their core values.

The pastors delineated ten totems that they desire to use as a lens through which they look at their responsibilities. They know these set a high standard that can only be accomplished by God’s grace and power.

The Church’s Totems

1. We value prayer, depending upon God for wisdom, and looking to Him for divine enablement to do His will.

2. We value worship as an awareness of God’s grace and an expression of gratefulness in all we do (Luke 4:6b).

3. We value people and want to express love for all people as demonstrated by Christ (I John 4:19–21).

4. We value the strengthening of the family and want to encourage, strengthen and provide the tools necessary for a godly home.

5. We value compassion as the motivation that compels us to reach the hearts and souls of all people (Acts 1:8).

6. We value discipleship—a relationship whereby a believer is brought under the discipline and instruction of Christ (Matthew 28:19–20).

7. We value ministering with heart fueled by passion that is a product of a healthy relationship with Christ.

8. We value unity, desiring to walk together in Spirit-led likemindedness.

9. We value integrity, wanting to live the Christian life without duplicity.

10. We value team ministry as a dynamic whereby our hearts and abilities are aligned in such a way that we unselfishly work toward the same goals and purpose.

Challenge

Perhaps you can benefit from these ten totems in your church ministry, seeking to “be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (I Corinthians 15:58).

Totem poles are typically not well maintained after their erection. Strive to keep your totem pole as good as new.

SUPPORT THE MISSIONARIES

Recent reports indicate that contributions have declined in many churches. Often the church’s missionary budget is the first to be cut. Consequently, many missionaries are experiencing financial shortfalls due to support terminated from churches and individuals. In many other instances the devalued dollar against other currencies has deprived many missionaries of their full support. (Hopefully, recent improvement of the dollar value will continue.)

New missionaries in pre-field ministries are experiencing difficulty scheduling church meetings and raising support. One faith mission agency recently reported that 250 newly appointed missionaries were seeking support—a significantly greater number since much more time is typically required for the candidates to gain full support.

Furloughing missionaries serving under faith mission agencies must replenish their support level before they are allowed to return to their appointed field of ministry. Many are being kept from their ministry due to lack of support. I recently learned of a missionary wife who was allowed to return to their rented house in another country while here husband remained in the United States to continue seeking financial support (not good).

Causes of Declining Support

1. Economic conditions are causing declining income and unemployment. Consequently, tithes and offerings have declined.

2. The cost of living has increased, causing some to say they can’t afford to tithe or give sacrificial offerings. Survival is the mindset, while depending on themselves for financial management rather than depending on the Lord.

3. Younger generations are less inclined to give Christ first priority in financial management by evidencing trust in firstfruits tithing, by refusing to limit spending to needs and by lack of prioritized budgeting with tithing as the first priority.

4. More and more missionary support comes from individuals rather than from corporate church treasuries. When churches slack on missionary support, individuals often tend to personally support the missionaries as personal friends. Individual support is dropped more frequently than church budget support.

Solutions for the Support Crisis

1. Develop stewardship in the church. This is more than fundraising that typically appeals to present contributors. The goal of stewardship development is to gain greater participation in tithing, personal and family budgeting and sacrificial offerings.

2. Incorporate missionary support into a single treasury system in the church. Encourage undesignated tithing plus sacrificial offerings into this single treasury that can support more and more missionaries through the local church rather than through individuals.

3. With these first two solutions in place, discourage personal support of missionaries not supported by the church. Furthermore, promote larger levels of support for the church’s supported missionaries rather than encouraging individual support with many missionaries supported by the church with lesser amounts.

Stronger relationships are built with the congregation when the church has a limited number of missionaries who have to generate fewer sources of support since your church carries a heavier load.

4. Limit the number of missionary support candidates who are brought before the church. Develop a global representation plan for missionary support rather than random selection of known candidates or appealing personalities. A global plan aids you in answering the numerous support appeals that come to the church.

Assistance from the Church Development Consultant

Church Development Consultant Joseph Miller provides on-site church consultations for ministry, facility, and stewardship/funding development. Space needs analysis for facility development, adult ministries, and organizational matters are his specialty as he is in his thirtieth year of consultation ministry. Select What We Do and read The Road to Development Success at www.BuildMyChurch.com to learn the steps that Consultant Miller would lead you through, beginning with an on-site church development consultation related to ministry, facility, and funding. Check out the Design Gallery to see a phased church facility master plan that is the result of the consultant's preliminary study in a local church.

Contact our office at Discovering Life Ministries (e-mail: dlmclub@earthlink.net) for more specific information concerning a seminar or consultation. We have developed a network of church design and building professionals to recommend who can assist you with your building project. You may request a personal phone call; the consultant will respond as soon as possible.

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