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Why Intolerance is Killing Christianity
The Harm of Prioritizing ‘Truth’ Over Love
A local church in my community recently announced on Facebook a three-part Bible study focused on “What the Bible says about homosexuality.”
The post invited people to attend and explained what to expect:
“We will consider the Scriptures and the arguments raised against these Scriptures. This time will be directed at those that accept the authority of Scripture, but all are welcome to attend.” [emphasis added]
Those who accept the authority of Scripture?
Call me a “woke” snowflake, but that phrase offends me.
As I processed my umbrage (through multiple drafts of this essay), I came to a surprising realization. The intolerance revealed in the phrase, “those that accept the authority of Scripture,” does not only harm those who aren’t tolerated; it slowly eats the soul of the intolerant.
Why am I offended?
Whoever wrote that phrase assumes that Christians cannot possibly accept the Bible’s authority unless they agree with the writer’s non-affirming interpretation. They couldn’t possibly have any legitimate reasons for their hermeneutics and beliefs.
