Jesus said, the problem will be, that when you say the truth, people may not like it too much! So now, the word ‘tolerance’ has been changed. Some of you may not realise it, but you will come across it. Tolerance has been redefined - so we'll call it the ‘new’ tolerance! If you change what a word means, then you can change how people behave! When I think ‘tolerance’, I think that you can have a different view, a different lifestyle, and that's fine. I'll talk, and debate, and we can share a different point of view - and that's okay. I'll treat you with respect. You're allowed to do that. You're allowed to be different, and diverse. God lets you be diverse.
But, he's very clear about what the truth is. Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Me”. Today people would say: that is judgemental, intolerant, and it's hate-speech! That has happened in our lifetime! The new tolerance - tolerance now is redefined! The dictionary hasn't changed, but this is what it means…
It means the acceptance of any idea, any belief… and it doesn't mean just to accept it; it means to endorse and praise it. So now, I’m not allowed to just accept that you believe differently. I must welcome it and embrace it. In other words, I'm not allowed to have a different opinion - that's what's changed. It's not enough to just tolerate a different belief - I must treat it as having the same value.
Now, when I look at a homosexual lifestyle, it does not have the same value, as the value that God placed on a married relationship - they're not equal. Cultures are not equal. A culture of idolatry and animism will have outcomes and consequences that are different to a culture that was built around the principles of God's kingdom. They are different, and they have different outcomes. If they have different outcomes, they're not equal value.
So, what you're finding is, tolerance has been redefined to mean that everyone's ideas, everyone's beliefs, are of equal value. This is not biblical at all. This goes completely contrary. It’s called humanism.
Disagreement is now redefined. Disagreement means I hold a different opinion. Disagreement is now defined as intolerance. That's what we're facing in our culture right now. If you have a differing opinion, you are called intolerant. If you dare to express it, that's hate speech. If you have a different opinion and you begin to declare it… I have a different opinion about homosexuality, but if I begin to express it now, it's called hate speech.
Hate speech is speech that's designed to stir hostility towards any group of people; they've redefined hate speech as well. To express a different opinion is not hate speech. To express a different opinion is just that - to express a different opinion. The ‘new tolerance’ is actually intolerance, because I can't express my opinion without you treating me as being a racist, or homophobic.
Notice that the new way of dealing with people now, and it's incredibly evil, because it won't allow for any discussion. It puts a label on you. If I say that I believe this, the label is put on; and when you put a label on, then you end up abusing the person. They put a label on you first - that's an idiot; and if it's an idiot, we should do what you do to idiots - you understand? If I express a different opinion about homosexuality, immediately the label is: oh, you're homophobic! If I say something about Islam, and the dangers of radical Islam… oh you're Islamophobic! If I talk about God's views on gender… oh you're transphobic! Your ideas are “hate speech”.
If I talk about the role of a man, as defined by the Bible… ooh, that's sexist! You're a misogynist - you hate women. There's no desire to enter discussion. It's… I want to impose my view upon you, so therefore, the first thing I'll do is to shout you down. The second thing I'll do is to put a label on you; and I will stir people up, to label as a person who is hateful and intolerant.