I’m intolerant of tolerance. If ingested, tolerance becomes a parasite that attaches to a soul and devours excellence and replaces it with “whatever. “ Then the infected one, like a vampire, attacks others, drinks their life blood, and infects them also. Eventually, this results in a land in which Tolerance is king. In the land, the people believe nothing without reservation, never act with conviction, and withhold commitment to anything but tolerance. There is no honor, because nothing but tolerance is worthy of honor and tolerance forbids anyone achieving individual excellence. The best anyone can hope for is to be tolerated.

I will not live in that land. I have no desire to be tolerated by God, or others. The land I would choose is the Kingdom of God. Only in the Kingdom, can I be forgiven, loved, and then received without reservation, and then, over time, be able to better imitate Christ as the places in which I fail and fall short are lovingly pointed out so I can attempt, with the grace of God, and the support of friends and family, to act more in accordance with God’s ways. I will then attempt to give others the forgiveness given me and encourage excellence in virtue and accomplishment

All this came from reading the newspaper. Recently, as I read the letters to the editor, a writer described what he considered to be the faith’s main two points. The context was a “hot button” issue to which the Biblical perspective was offensive to the writer. He spoke about love and tolerance as he responded to a previous letter in which Biblical standards was strongly endorsed. I found myself troubled by every aspect of the written dialogue and began meditating about it.

First, the “tolerant’ writer seemed offended by the apparent self-righteousness of the “Christian.” Jesus spoke about the foolishness of trying to remove a speck in another’s eye when your own has a stick in it. Proclaiming Truth with self-righteousness seriously taints the message. Although I accept Biblical teaching about “normal” actions that God calls sin, it seems that I must take the perspective that the most abhorrent sin to God is my sin. This is the heart of humility and God says He resists the proud. Those outside the grace of God will resist me also if I don’t approach them as fellow sinners with the same need of forgiveness as I have. But having a speck in your eye or my stick in mine is not acceptable. Both must be removed. God is not tolerant of my sin or theirs. The goal is forgiveness, not tolerance.

Secondly, what human actions define our beliefs? Faith in God? Of course! Hope in His promises? Without reservation! Love for God and those around us? Without love, all other words and actions are meaningless! But what is even more foundational? What must come first, before absolutely anything else? The answer is found in Acts 2 as the Church is established. God has done miracles to get everyone’s attention. Peter then uses the opportunity to speak about Jesus and the people’s sin. Join the story in progress:

“When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Repentance is the first step. To repent means to change direction. I, we, always go in the wrong direction without God’s help. My proclivities are indefensible and so are yours. They take us away from God. Repentance and forgiveness are the only way to access the promises of Christ. He loves us in spite of sin; He never tolerates us. And He commands us to do likewise to others. Tolerance removes the need for forgiveness and so removes us from the possibility of ever following after God. It replaces truth and life with a human platitude. Not a good trade, if you ask me.