I am quite fussy about how language is used and while I am quite open to criticism, I take strong objection to being labeled with words concerning which a critic refuses to provide a clear definition.
Far too often I hear/read of Christians (in general) being labeled/libeled/slandered as being intolerant because they disagree with some popular view in the public square.
The accusation is very shallow in my view because, I think critics think that disagreement is necessarily being intolerant. Commonsense should inform that such a view is indefensible. If we can’t disagree with anyone or any idea, then change is impossible! We ought to be thankful that scientists no longer maintain laws or theories that have been proven to be wrong, etc.
My former lecturers in philosophy, Profs. William Lane Craig and J.P. Moreland, in their book Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview, inform: “According to the classical sense of the principle of tolerance, a person holds that his own moral views are true and those of his opponent are false. But he still respects his opponent as a person and his right to make a case for his views…The modern version of tolerance, popular in the general culture, goes beyond the classical version in claiming that one should not even judge that other people’s viewpoints are wrong.” (Pages 415-416, their emphases)
Tolerance, properly understood, is putting up with what you disagree with. Technically then, with reference to ideas or persons, one is intolerant, if and only if one disagrees disrespectfully, dismissively, unchristianly!
So then, share your Christian convictions publicly, winsomely, respectfully, logically despite the negative names you attract.
“It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house [Jesus] has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!” (NIV, Mt. 10:25)
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