TOLERANCE AND TRUTH
written by the Team Rector, Revd. Gary Cregeen
“Frightened fundamentalists
elevate a bit of the truth into ‘The
Truth’” - this is an extract from an
article I once read in The
Westmorland Gazette which
poured scorn on those who hold to
the authority and sufficiency of
Scripture. While one might expect
such antagonism from a
non-Christian source the views
contained within the Gazette’s
‘Christian Viewpoint’ were, in fact,
that of a Quaker. It is a sad
indictment of our times when, even
those who claim to be Christians,
dismiss and reject the truth contained in God’s Word. Yet is this not
the prevailing ‘trend’ in our society?
Many in parliament, the press and
the media tell us that 'alternative
lifestyles' are as equally valid to
marriage and portray those who
dare to oppose these ideas as
intolerant and bigoted.
Understandably, those who seek to
uphold the Bible’s teaching on
marriage can feel embattled and
isolated. The dismissal of long
accepted orthodox Christian
teaching about what is right and
wrong will inevitably cause those
who continue to submit to such
teaching to feel increasingly out of
step with such thinking.
In Paul's second letter to Timothy
he warned his friend about those
who would "go from bad to
worse, deceiving and being
deceived." He went on to
encourage him to "continue in
what you have learned and have
become convinced of... from...
the Holy Scriptures". This good
counsel is as relevant for Christians
today as it was for believers then.
To the Christians in Colosse, Paul
said, it is vital to "see to it that
no-one takes us captive through
hollow and deceptive
philosophy, which depends on
human tradition and the basic
principles of this world rather
than on Christ". What a challenge!
I wonder how we fair when it
comes to applying the unchanging
truths of the Bible to the
Complicated ethical issues of our
day?
Furthermore, how do we react to
those who hold opposing views to
our own?