That being said, I recently received an e-mail wherein it was said, "...you should be ashamed of your apparent intolerance of other's beliefs." Understand, the intolerance of which I am accused has naught to do with any of the above factors, but deals exclusively with religious truth.

Jesus said, "...you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 9:32) Again, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6). Where will we find "the truth"? Once more, the words of the Lord Jesus, "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." (John 17:17). Among the definitions which Webster gives truth, we find "a transcendent fundamental or spiritual reality." (1) Of the rudimentary characteristics belonging to truth, we might include consistency, objectivity and exclusivity.

Truth does not contradict itself. If two statements or positions are opposed to one another, we must conclude one of three things:

• Position A is right and position B is wrong;

• Position A is wrong and position B is right;

• Position A and B are both wrong.

Truth is not based upon personal fancies, but upon discernable facts. Simply, 2+2=4. A preacher several years ago divulged to me his crooked ways by slyly commenting that he could easily demonstrate that 2+2=5. How? If you round 2.49 to the nearest whole number, you will have 2. However, if you add 2.49+2.49, and then round to the nearest whole number, you will have 5. Therefore, he concluded, 2+2 can equal 5. Like his mathematics, this man was willing to bend the word of God, so as to teach what will tickle the ears of men rather than glorify the God of heaven (2 Timothy 4:2-4). God's word is not to be rounded off! Truth is objective.

As noted above, Jesus identified the Bible, God's word, as the source of truth. If we accept Jesus' statement as valid, then the Bible is the only source for religious truth. Creed books and other writings of man may reiterate some of the truth which is revealed in the word of God, but none of these are the source of religious truth. Anything which exalts itself as equal to or greater than the Bible (ie. Koran, Book of Mormon, Watchtower Society, Pope, etc.) ought to be an offense to those who seek to walk according to the truth. Truth is exclusive.

When an accusation of religious intolerance is levied, it is useful to take a look into the Bible to see what the demeanor of the Lord and his disciples was toward those who's religious doctrine or practice opposed what they taught. Did they tolerate departures from the truth, or did they condemn such?

Jesus did not tolerate those who taught people contrary to God's word (Matthew 5:19-20; 15:1-9). He taught that the way of God is "narrow" and "difficult", and that "there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:13-14). He said that only those who do "the will of My Father in heaven" have the hope of heaven (Matthew 7:21). Matthew 23 is perhaps the best known of several texts where Jesus laid into the religious leaders of the Jews, because they taught and did contrary to the will of God.

After the disciples had spoken the gospel message, the council of the Jews commanded that they do so no more (Acts 4:13-22; 5:27-29). Their message (the resurrected Christ, 4:10, 33; 5:30-32) offended the religious leaders. The council also put Stephen to death, because he was unwilling to tolerate their corrupt ways, but instead boldly exposed them (Acts 7:51-53).

Consider Cornelius, a Gentile from Caesarea. He was described as "a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always" (Acts 10:2). With such commendable words by the Spirit of God, surely he was fine as he was, and any religious peculiarities ought to simply be tolerated. But what do we see? The Spirit sent Peter to preach the gospel to him (v 5-6, 19-20, 33-35, 47-48; 11:13-17). Cornelius had to respond to the same gospel message as others.

After Saul of Tarsus became obedient to the Lord, he journeyed preaching and teaching the gospel. He went to areas where a variety of religions were accepted. Perhaps the climaxing experience Paul had with the myriad of religions which existed in his day was at Athens. There, Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and declared, "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you..." (Acts 17:23-23). The apostle proceeded to tell these idol worshippers that God is not worshipped in the fashion which they worshipped (v 24-25), and that they should seek the Lord (v 27-28). He concluded, "...these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained." (v 30-31). Paul did not see it fit to tolerate their false religions, but to expose and call them from such things.

Numerous other examples could be cited, where the truth is exalted and those who walk contrary to the truth are called to forsake their own way, that they might walk in accordance with the word of God. It was not religious tolerance that was called for; it was unity (Romans 15:6; 1 Corinthians 1:10; Ephesians 4:1-6; Philippians 1:27). Jesus revealed that the true worshippers of God must "worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:23-24). Nothing short of this was tolerated by the Lord. Neither should we accept less.

In love, we need to preach the truth and expose error. As Paul was surrounded by a myriad of false religion at Athens, so the true worshippers of God are surrounded by a throng of false religions today. Some are opposed to Christianity, worshipping other gods and deriving their authority from sources other than the Bible. The segments of denominationalism claim to be Christian, but in both word and deed, set themselves contrary to the word of God.

Rather than accept religious diversity, we should follow the Bible pattern of seeking unity in doctrine and practice. There is a truth; there is an acceptable pattern and standard. Any departure or variation from God's plan is not tolerated by the Lord, nor shall such things be tolerated by those who desire to serve God.

We have the God-given freedom to believe what we desire. Some choose to believe the lie (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12). Let us choose to believe the truth, and encourage others to do likewise.

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(1) Merriam Webster's Deluxe Dictionary, Tenth Collegiate Edition, 1998.