Tolerant Bigotry

We have come to an interesting point in history, at least in the United States (update 9 January: this is what I see in the news, in my friends, and my life).  We have reached a point where disagreeing with what is popular is seen as bigotry, and that in order to be tolerant, we have to agree with what other people say and approve of it.  This is most evident in the debate over same-sex marriage, but it plays out in other arenas too, especially politics and religion (and where those two mesh).  And more often then not, it seems like those accusing people of bigotry are the bigoted ones!

Please note that I am not, at this time, specifically discussing homosexuality or the same-sex marriage debate.  That will be discussed when it is more relevant in the news.  I will, however, use this issue as an example of what I am talking about.

Let's take a look at what these two words mean.  

Do you tolerate a sunny day?

Do you tolerate a delicious dinner?

These might be poor examples.  Generally, when the word tolerance is used, it is referring to people.  Let's look at some other examples.

Do you tolerate someone you like?

No, you embrace them as friend or family.

Do you tolerate someone with the same beliefs as you?

No, you reach out your hand and say, "Brother."

If you were to take a look at the definitions of tolerance at dictionary.com, there is nothing that implies approval or agreement in any definition.  In fact, one definition says that it is the ability to endure something, especially pain or hardship.  True tolerance is when both parties say, "I understand your position and still disagree based upon my values, faith, etc....  Let us agree to disagree and try to live together."

Now let's look at the word bigot.  By definition, a bigot is someone who is utterly intolerant of any differing creed, belief, or opinion, or is intolerant of any ideas that are not his own, especially or religion, politics, or race.  Let's try to identify some truly bigoted groups.

The Ku Klux Klan

Aryan Nations

The Westboro Baptist Church.

Any white supremacy group.

But the person who disagrees with you on an issue for any number of reasons is not necessarily a bigot.  Let's say you are a liberal voter, and you meet someone that votes more conservatively (both those terms are being used in their modern, political context in the US).  You are discussing the merits of a proposed bill in Congress, according to your disagreeing political values, which is of great importance.  One of you does not want it to pass, but the other one believes it needs to pass.  You could, in light of today's culture, call each other bigots.  But neither of you are bigoted because you disagree with each other on an issue that is very important.  Instead, because you understand each other's position and still disagree with it, you are tolerant.

The obvious uses of these words of late has been in the debate over same-sex marriage, where anyone who does not endorse it is bigoted and those that approve of it are tolerant.  Specifically, Christians that maintain that the Bible condemns homosexuality as sinful and marriage being between one man and one woman for life, and instead call for those who practice it to come to repentance and receive forgiveness are called bigots.  And rarely will those who do support the same-sex marriage movement take the time to understand our position.  But by demanding approval and endorsement by all, the same-sex marriage movement is the party that is bigoted.

The Bible clearly teaches that homosexual activity is sinful, and those who practice it are in need of repentance and forgiveness (see below for citations), just like all sinners.  And just as murder, perjury, and theft are all crimes, Christians could have pushed for the criminalization of homosexuality in the United States.  But we don't, generally.  Most Christian bodies will agree that, because of the minimal impact that sexual relations between consenting adults has on their neighbors, it does not need to be criminalized.

But, this isn't to say that we agree, approve, or endorse homosexual activity.  By no means!  We believe that it is still as much a sin as adultery, murder, theft, or lying.  I, personally, will let you continue in that activity.  But I will disagree with it.  That is tolerance.

British philosopher Gilbert Keith Chesterton wrote, "We call a man a bigot or a slave to dogma because he is a thinker who has thought thoroughly and to a definite end."  Because I have a belief, formed by those who have gone before me and has been passed down to me, that means I am a bigot according to the dogma of today, because that belief is unpopular.  But I am okay with that.  I will sit here in my tolerant bigotry.

Inspired by these two comics:
http://adam4d.com/bigot/
http://adam4d.com/tolerance/

Bible passages concerning homosexuality:
Romans 1:24-27: "24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error."

1 Corinthians 6:9-10: "9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived:  Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men[a] 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."
1 Timothy 1:8-11: "8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9 We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11 that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me."

Leviticus 18:22: "Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable."

Leviticus 20:13: "If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.