The following 3½-minute talk is a compilation of several sound bites in “Tolerating the Intolerable,” a presentation given by Josh McDowell to the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ (later renamed Cru) in Orlando prior to October, 2002. The speech aired on Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk on December 11 and December 12, 2013.1
While the 3½-minute presentation below faithfully represents the broad sweep of Mr. McDowell’s message, many details have, of necessity, been left out. During the two Family Talk Broadcasts, Josh speaks for 35 minutes. I would strongly encourage you to listen to both broadcasts in their entirety.
Moreover, please be aware that this compilation also is a part of a larger article at wordfoundations.com that cites numerous other sources on the biblical response to the modern definition of tolerance, something Josh calls positive tolerance. Please read that article to learn even more.
Each sound bite is designated by a bullet.
- Negative tolerance would be defined by the Random House Unabridged Dictionary when it says tolerance is to recognize and respect others’ beliefs, practices without sharing them, or to bear or put up with someone or something not especially liked.
- Now, there’s a new tolerance out. Now the new tolerance is called “positive tolerance.” Positive tolerance, basically, says this: Every single individual’s beliefs, values, lifestyle, and truth claims are equal!
- Now, here’s the basic difference between negative tolerance and positive tolerance. Under negative tolerance the word was permission, whether they [were] gays, lesbians or what. We want permission from society to live our lifestyle in peace. And we say, OK, you can—we don’t agree with you, but you have permission to do it. Under positive tolerance, it’s added a word. Now it’s not only permission, but praise. The new phrase is permission and praise. In other words, We not only want your permission; we demand your praise, and if you do not give us praise, then you’re intolerant, and you’re a bigot. And under positive tolerance, if you do not give praise to another person’s beliefs, values, lifestyle, or truth claims, as you do your own, then you are intolerant and a bigot.
- The Scriptures never call me to be tolerant under positive tolerance. Now the closest to negative tolerance would probably be 1 Corinthians 13 — “Love endures all things.” That has nothing to do with positive tolerance. I cannot adhere to or endorse or propagate tolerance as it’s believed today and still name the name of Jesus Christ, and stay true to the Word of God. The Bible does not call us to be tolerant. It calls us to be loving. Jesus said, “Love your enemies. Love those who hate you. Do good unto those who hate you.” And one of the greatest marks of the believer will be love. The real mark will not just be our love for each other but our love for those in the world.
I cannot adhere to or endorse or propagate tolerance as it’s believed today and still name the name of Jesus Christ, and stay true to the Word of God.
—Josh McDowell—
- The opposite of intolerance is not tolerance. It’s love. The philosophy of today is that we are to set aside truth in order to love. Jesus never did that! We are to speak the truth in love, and we are to love truthfully. Love does not set aside truth, and truth never sets aside love.
- Tolerance and love cannot coexist. It can’t! In Micah 6:8—you’ve all heard it— “What does the Lord your God require of you but to act justly and to exercise lovingkindness” — tolerance and Christian love cannot coexist! You see, tolerance says, I must be indifferent. If I see and injustice or what, I must be indifferent. If I see a lifestyle that I believe is detrimental to that person, I must be indifferent. Because the moment I step in to change, I’m being intolerant. I’m saying there’s a lifestyle, there’s a truth, there’s a value, there’s a belief [that’s] higher — hierarchy — [and tolerance says all beliefs are equal].
- What does the Lord your God require of you but to act justly, and to exercise lovingkindness? You see, you cannot act justly unless you can discern right from wrong, because doing that which is just is living out that which is right! You cannot exercise Christian lovingkindness unless you can discern right from wrong, because love always identifies with that which is right and speaks against that which is wrong.
1Josh McDowell, “Tolerating the Intolerable,” Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk, aired on December 11 and December 12, 2013. Mr. McDowell’s presentation had aired earlier on Focus on the Family. A CD copy of the Focus on the Family broadcast indicates that the program “last aired in October of 2002.” Josh’s website is www.josh.org.
Mr. McDowell’s talk © 2018 Josh McDowell Ministry. All rights reserved. No part of these Materials may be changed in any way or reproduced in any form without written permission from Josh McDowell Ministry, 2001 West Plano Parkway, Suite 2400, Plano, TX 75075. www.Josh.org. +1 972 907 1000. Used by Permission.
This page is part of a larger article.