Tolerance?

Well it would seem that the PC police and the vocal minority have once again won another battle. In the name of tolerance A&E Network has suspended one of its most popular stars from one of its most popular shows. And by the most popular I mean the one show that keeps all of A&E’s otherwise garbage line up a float. I guess they could always fall back on such quality entertainment as Rodeo Girls, Bonnie & Clyde, or Hoarders. Tolerance…what is tolerance? Tolerance is defined this way: “the ability or willingness to tolerate something, in particular the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with.” Tolerance is what we hear screamed for from the left, especially from the homosexual community. The tolerance spoken of today does not pertain to unlawful discrimination based upon race, gender, national origin, creed or religion but rather it is a tolerance of lifestyle. It is not enough to say we tolerate the homosexual lifestyle…no, we must embrace it and celebrate it as the norm. Tolerance in America today has become a one way street. Tolerance is alive and well unless you profess the Christian faith.  If you are a Christian, you may not voice your opinions unless you are willing to accept the consequences, including arrest (in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) or loss of job (see Phil Robertson). I will give two examples of men who were not tolerated for their heart felt beliefs.

1. Dan Cathy – President of Chik Fil-A was asked in an interview for the Baptist Press for his opinion on gay marriage. Dan Cathy stated that he believed in the biblical definition of the family unit. He was asked for his beliefs and he gave them. For this he was called out for bashing gays and being a hate monger. Of course we all know how that ended for Chik-Fil-A, a record sales day for all of those who came out in support of him. Not for his exact view on marriage, but to support his right to say that he agrees with the Bible’s definition of marriage.
2. Phil Robertson – Our most recent casualty of the politically correct war in our nation. Unfortunately, if you are famous, GLAAD and the LGBT groups pick and choose who they go after. Back in late June to mid-July Alec Baldwin went on a couple of rants that included every derogatory homosexual slur you can think of. Any back lash from GLAAD or anyone else for that matter? NO. NBC did eventually fire him from his radio show at the end of November, but that was only because the show was in the tank. It had nothing to do with his anti-gay remarks or they wouldn’t have waited 4 or 5 months to do it. But back to Phil. Phil was asked for his opinions by GQ magazine and he gave them.  No Phil didn’t call anybody “a little queen”, “a fag”, or “a little b****”  as Alec Baldwin did. No Phil had the audacity to do much worse. Wait for it…he quoted scripture (gasp). I know right? Who does he think he is? Phil had the nerve to paraphrase 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. Who is Phil to say who will or will not “inherit the kingdom of God?” He didn’t say, the Bible had already said it for him. Of course he was also hateful enough to point out that he preferred lady parts to guy parts. Although, not quite that G-rated. How dare Phil say what he believes?

So back to tolerance, here is the part I really don’t understand at all. From a common sense stand point, if some who owns a particular chain of fast food chicken shacks offends you, then by all means feel free not to buy his chicken sandwiches. If Phil Robertson has offended you with his comments feel free not to watch Duck Dynasty, wear camo, or grow a beard if it makes you feel better. Neither one of these men personally attacked anybody. Why are Christians not able to have an opinion without being called hate mongers, bigots, and homophobes? No, we have to attack and silence those who don’t hold the same view. If a Christian photographer doesn’t want to photograph a gay wedding, or a Christian baker doesn’t feel compelled to bake a cake for your gay wedding reception. The correct answer is to sue them? Because your right to love whoever you want somehow trumps someone else’s religious freedoms? If someone refused to take my money because I was a Christian, I would gladly take my business elsewhere. I wouldn’t sue them; I wouldn’t want to do business with them if that’s how they really felt.

But this really takes me to the heart of the matter about tolerance, don’t worry I’m almost done. Homosexuals do not want equal rights they want special rights. Every man and woman in this country is free to marry, there is no discrimination here. What they are not free to do is re-define what marriage is. Marriage has already been clearly defined in Scripture, it doesn’t belong to me, you, or the government. The Bible clearly defines marriage in Genesis 2:24 – “For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.” The Bible starts with a wedding in Genesis and ends with a wedding in Revelation. Marriage is not up for re-definition by anyone. So you are free to marry anyone you choose of the opposite sex. If you want to say that is not fair due to tax breaks and other financial advantages that are offered to legally married couples. That is fine with me. As far as I’m concerned the government can get out of the marriage business all-together (they never should have been there in the first place), while they are at it they can also get out of the gun business and the health care business.

To some of my Christian brothers and sisters out there who say that we should be silent on these types of issues, or we shouldn’t “get too political” let me remind you our “silence” on these issues has gotten us to where we are today. The silent majority ruled by the vocal minority. Christians who stand publicly for biblical truth being silenced, Christian business owners being shut down and ruined financially, and political leaders who are lock step with those with a pro homosexual agenda. That is what we have reaped for our sowing of silence. Oops, I’m sorry that probably didn’t sound very tolerant.