The "Intolerance" of Christ
One of the worst things Christians can do to the world is to minimize or marginalize the person and work of Christ. The teaching that there is salvation in Christ alone is offensive to some folks; but it is the truth. It always has been and always will be the Church’s message; if she is to remain faithful to her Lord. If we were trying to please men, we would not be servants of Christ.
Christ warned his disciples that the world would be offended at the gospel. “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own … but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you” (John 15:19). But this world needs Christ more than Christians need to be liked.
Let’s think carefully about this. Why would Christ, being the good teacher that he is, instruct his disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations … teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you”; if all paths to God were right? Why would he want “disciples of all nations”, “obeying everything” he commanded if there was another way?
By the world’s definition of intolerance (merely saying that someone is wrong); Christ was intolerant. He told the Samaritan woman that she was wrong – “You Samaritans worship what you do not know … for salvation is from the Jews” (John 4:22). If Jesus is right, then salvation is, one, necessary and, two, available only from “the Jews.” But then that would imply that those who say salvation is unnecessary are wrong along with those who deem it necessary, but available outside of “the Jews.”
There remain two big problems in our world today. The idea that there is no such thing as “wrong” or “evil” and that there is “no room in the inn” for Christ. Apparently, some people are so full of themselves, that there is no room for Christ.
Christ warned his disciples that the world would be offended at the gospel. “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own … but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you” (John 15:19). But this world needs Christ more than Christians need to be liked.
Let’s think carefully about this. Why would Christ, being the good teacher that he is, instruct his disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations … teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you”; if all paths to God were right? Why would he want “disciples of all nations”, “obeying everything” he commanded if there was another way?
By the world’s definition of intolerance (merely saying that someone is wrong); Christ was intolerant. He told the Samaritan woman that she was wrong – “You Samaritans worship what you do not know … for salvation is from the Jews” (John 4:22). If Jesus is right, then salvation is, one, necessary and, two, available only from “the Jews.” But then that would imply that those who say salvation is unnecessary are wrong along with those who deem it necessary, but available outside of “the Jews.”
There remain two big problems in our world today. The idea that there is no such thing as “wrong” or “evil” and that there is “no room in the inn” for Christ. Apparently, some people are so full of themselves, that there is no room for Christ.
