"RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE"

As we look throughout the Holy Scriptures, the message of Christ was always one of love. Yet He never once taught religious tolerance, this has become a fabrication of man. When speaking to the Pharisees and teachers of the law, Jesus said, "You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men'" (Matthew 15:7-9 NIV). Does that sound like He is tolerant of their religious ideas? By no means. In speaking with them in another passage Jesus says, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God.......you belong to your father, the devil" (John 8:42-47). This does not look like Christ is indulging these folks.

If Jesus did not teach religious tolerance, where do we get the idea? It must be something man devised for the sake of himself and not God. The question we must ask, and answer, is "How important is doctrinal purity?" In a world where anything goes, are we allowing anything that comes down the pike to become the norm when it is pronounced as religious teaching or belief?

In Romans 16:17 the apostle Paul, as he was inspired of God's Holy Spirit, says, "I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them" (NIV).

As "The Church" gathers each Lord's Day to honor God and the sacrifice of Christ, doctrinal purity is something that must be maintained. When anyone or any group begins to allow practices or teachings that are contrary to God's Word to enter their lives, problems are not far behind. God was, and is, very serious about the teachings He gave the apostles to give to us. Let us make sure we are doing and saying only those things that God has already approved of in THE WORD. Worship God this Lord's Day, not with your lips only, but from the heart as it is written.
You have probably seen billboards or signs that say "Go to the church of your choice." I want to encourage you to go to the Church/worship of God's choice.