Tolerating Sin 

   “America, it is said, is suffering from intolerance – it is not.  It is suffering from tolerance.  Tolerance of right and wrong, truth and error, virtue and evil, Christ and chaos.  Our country is not nearly so overrun with the bigoted as with the broadminded.”  (Bishop Fulton J. Sheen) 

   There are some truths that must be accepted, without which there can be no salvation.  The problem we face is a society that wants to redefine or eliminate those truths that offend them.  In the name of tolerance and a misguided attitude of love for all, many choose to remain silent rather than speak up and risk being considered close-minded or intolerant.

   “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6: 23).  Refusing to recognize and reject sin is the wide road to hell.  Society today would have us believe that sin is only opinion, open to debate.  What is evil in your opinion may not be in theirs.  Even worse, we are expected to tolerate the atrocities committed by this falsehood.  Toleration, acceptance and support of sinful acts is itself a serious sin.

   “I am the Way, the Truth, and the life.  No one can come to the Father except through me.” (John 14: 6).  There is no path to salvation that does not go through Jesus and the truths He taught.  Just saying I believe in Him does no good unless I follow His way, accept His truth, and live my life according to His will.  Christianity requires not just believe but action guided by that belief.

“If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and accept his cross every day and follow me. (Luke 9: 23).  How many of us are willing to carry the cross?  There is no question that we will all face difficulties or crosses in life.  How we deal with those are what define as Christians.  We must pick up whatever cross we are called to bear and follow our Lord even if it leads to Calvary.

   We live in a world willing to accept and even support virtually any sin rather than upset or offend the sinner.  If we lack the courage to stand for what we know is truth, we are part of the problem.