Tolerance not Compromise

By:  Dale Weckbacher

John 14:6

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

NKJV

The first amendment of the U.S. Constitution says the following:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The original purpose of this amendment was to place a restriction on the government in order to prevent them from passing legislation prohibiting free speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of religion.  The founders of the United States had fought a bloody war with the British Empire in order to gain their liberty.  The founders understood that power can corrupt and it was their desire to place limits designed to prevent the new republic from turning into a government resembling the tyranny from whom they had won their independence. 

As time has passed however, some leaders in government, corrupted by the power their position grants them, have begun to interpret the first amendment as empowering the government to restrict religious practices so as not to offend someone of another religion, or those choosing to be atheists.  This interpretation has led to court rulings ordering the removal of nativity scenes, the Ten Commandments, and even prayer in schools and other public places.  Anyone daring to display something that professes their faith in a public place finds themselves asked, or ordered, to remove it in the interest of tolerance. 

In Matthew 10:32-33 Jesus said the following, "32 Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.  33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”  (NKJV)  In other words, anyone professing faith in Jesus Christ as savior is commanded by scripture to profess or confess their faith before men.  Therefore, if some government official or some legislation prohibits the free expression of faith, it prohibits a Christian from practicing their faith as outlined in scripture. 

On the surface, it might appear that the calling of Christians is to be intolerant of those of other faiths.  However, Jesus also said the following in the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.”  (Matthew 5:9, NKJV)  Jesus was a man of peace proven by his willingness to give his live when he could have, as the Son of God, ordered the destruction of those that crucified Him.  Those that have dedicated their lives to following Jesus Christ understand the command to confess and profess their faith but also understand they are to be peacemakers and profess their faith in a peaceful manner. 

The calling of Christians is not to profess their faith through coercion or force but instead to let their words and deeds demonstrate the change their relationship with Jesus has made in their lives.  The prayer of most Christians is that when people see the positive change their relationship with Jesus Christ has made in their lives, they will want a similar relationship.  The founders understood this and it was their desire to preserve the free expression and practice of religion among the citizens of the country and therefore proposed and ratified the first amendment to the U.S Constitution. 

Tolerance does not have to mean compromise.  If ones religion is beneficial to someone, their lives should reflect these benefits.  This is where I believe those practicing radical Islam fail.  Their religion offers little if any benefit to others, especially women, and therefore those practicing radical Islam must use threats of force or coercion to bring others over to their faith. 

In addition, the first amendment right to practice ones religion ends when the practice of one’s religion results in threatening someone’s right to life, liberty, or the pursuit of happiness as declared in the Declaration of Independence of the United States.  We as citizens of the United States therefore have no obligation to extend freedom to practice radical Islam in the United States for as we have seen recently, those practicing radical Islam believe they are somehow doing god’s will when they behead someone not practicing their faith thus depriving them of their right to life. 

Christianity or any other peaceful religion has first amendment protection to express and practice their faith in the United States.  However, this does not mean they must tolerate religions using threats of death, injury, or coercion to convert others to their faith.  Religious tolerance does not include compromise with religions proselytizing through force or coercion and we who practice our faiths in a peaceful manner must stand against these violent religions.  After all, Jesus did teach that peacemakers would see God.