Articles
Intolerance a Requirement Andrew Kidd
In this day and age, when the world is praising the virtues of tolerance, how can the Bible’s message of intolerance of wrong be relevant? Have you noticed that there was no room in the Old Testament for negotiation between the God-fearing and the idol worshippers, the righteous and the unrighteous? Christ Jesus whipped the money-changers out of the temple, and taught, “If thine eye offend thee, pluck it out.” In this last example,we get a hint of what the message of intolerance really is, for we can be certain that Jesus did not intend his listeners to follow his words literally!
Mary Baker Eddy states, “The demands of God appeal to thought only.” (S&H) From this, we can safely conclude that the requirement of intolerance, evident throughout the Bible, is to be applied to thought, and should not be written off as primitive and belonging to an ancient time, but should be embraced today. Never before in the history of man has this requirement been more imperative. Never have the insidious suggestions of materialism/idolatry been more prevalent, through the media and the invasive influence of human institutions.
It was Mrs. Eddy’s revelation to fully recognize that the battle between good and evil was not between good and evil people, but between true and false thinking, that the Science behind Jesus’ life and teaching addressed thought, and only thought, and that a wrong thought can be no more tolerated than can an error in mathematics. In both cases, they lead to a wrong result. In the case of wrong thought, the wrong result equates to sin, disease, and death.
Throughout her writings, Mrs. Eddy identifies this mental battleground, and the need to destroy error with Truth. “The flesh lusteth against the Spirit.” The flesh and Spirit can no more unite in action, than good can coincide with evil. “It is not wise to take a halting and half-way position or to expect to work equally with Spirit and matter, Truth and error. There is but one way — namely, God and His idea — which leads to spiritual being. . . . timid conservatism is absolutely inadmissible. Only through radical reliance on Truth can scientific healing power be realized.” “Truth has no consciousness of error. Love has no sense of hatred. Life has no partnership with death. Life, Truth, and Love are a law of annihilation to everything unlike themselves, because they declare nothing except God.” (S&H)
How does this apply to us right here, right now? Have we been tolerating the slightest self-condemnation, resentment, fear of someone or something, pride, limitation, etc.? If so, it is time to rise in rebellion, to become intolerant of these godless sentiments. “Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike good. God has made man capable of this, and nothing can vitiate the ability and power divinely bestowed on man.” (S&H)
One may ask, where in all this is Jesus’ message of compassion and forgiveness. The answer is, “Everywhere.” Right thinking opens the way for God to shine through us, allows Principle to operate — and that Principle is Love. When we are intolerant of wrong thoughts in ourselves, we are empowered, building on the Rock. This is what lets the Christ operate through us, when compassion (not sympathy) kicks in, and we love with power. Then we can truly declare, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Phil.)