Tolerance - it is a word that is repeated hundreds of times daily during newscasts and talk shows. I find it to be a fascinating word. It comes from a Latin word that meant, "to lift up, to bear." The word is defined: "to allow; permit; not to interfere with" (from Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language). I think we all believe that to act with tolerance is a good thing. It is an act of respect that we show toward one another.
The opposite of tolerance is, of course, intolerance, which is defined as "not tolerant; unwilling to tolerate others' opinion, religious beliefs, etc.; bigoted; illiberal."
So, two very important words. But what happens when these two words collide? Let's see if I can illustrate with a couple of recent stories. The first is an article from the Patriot Post and was published this past Monday - February 27. (You can find the article at: www.patriotpost.us/posts/47686). It is titled, "School Band: No More Music Composed by White Guys." The article relates the story of the Spring Lake Park High School here in Minnesota that decided to stop purchasing music composed by white composers. "We made a commitment this year to only buy music from composers of colors," marching band director Brian Lukkasson shared with National Public Radio. One student, Kia Muleta, also told NPR that "there's a kind of an ideological segregation of who can and cannot be in band, based on who the composers are, and what the music is like. I really, really want other students of color to be able to feel like they are welcomed and appreciated anywhere, that they don't have to check themselves at the door."
Friends, I am not sure what the skin color of a composer has to do with his or her music. When my daughter was in high school, her marching band did a halftime performance that featured many of the songs from Aaron Copland. I am not sure my daughter really cared what his skin color was. All she knew was that the music was fun to perform. All I can say is that if this school persists with their decision, they are denying those students the opportunity of playing some pretty fantastic band music. And that would be sad! I think John Philips Sousa would roll over in his grave at such a thought. In our rush to be tolerant, we instead become very intolerant.
The second story was reported by Fox News and can be found at: www.foxnews.com/opinion/2017/02/27/town-hall-agitators-explode-at-name-jesus. The article titled, "Town hall agitators explode at the name of Jesus," was written by Todd Starnes. There was a video that accompanied the article at the Fox News website. Allow me share from the article: "A group of enraged protesters exploded in anger after a chaplain prayed in the name of Jesus at a town hall meeting in Louisiana hosted by U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy. The verbally-abusive crowd also heckled a Vietnam War veteran who attempted to lead the group in the pledge of allegiance. It was one of the most heinous acts of un-American, anti-Christian behavior I've ever seen, folks."
Mr. Starnes continues, "The Feb. 22 town hall meeting in Melairie, was quickly overrun by the angry mob - much like other town hall meetings hosted by Republican lawmakers across the country. The mainstream media would have us believe the unruly demonstrations are part of an organic, grassroots effort. But I sincerely doubt many in the mob were actually residents of Louisiana - because I know the good people of Louisiana and nobody behaves like that in the Bayou State. ... I'd be willing to bet a cup of Community Coffee that the Jesus-hating rabble-rousers were shipped in from some God-forsaken place like Berkeley or Brooklyn.
"Chaplain Sprague had barely invoked the name of the Almighty when the heckling began. 'Pray on your own time. This is our time,' someone shouted. 'Amen. Let's get on with it.' Others chanted, 'Separation of church and state' and so on and so forth. Someone filmed the prayer and words do not do justice in the amount of hate directed at the chaplain. 'I've never been shouted down throughout a time of prayer like that,' Chaplain Sprague told me. 'I've never been in a situation like that. It's sad there wasn't honor and respect for God.' But they became absolutely unhinged when he concluded his prayer in the name of Jesus. 'Wow, they booed the name of Jesus,' Cassidy said in remarks reported by the Times-Picayune.
"The chaplain was especially disappointed by how the mob insulted the Vietnam veteran. 'There was a lot of shouting. Some turned their backs. Many didn't stand or put their hand on their heart,' he said." One could interpret the attitudes and actions of that crowd with this simple sentence: We want to be tolerant of everyone, except those who believe in Jesus and the American flag.
Todd Starnes has just released his newest book titled, The Deplorables' Guide to Making America Great Again. I am presently reading this book. It is very disturbing as story after story is told of how really intolerant America has become. I highly recommend it. Have your teenagers read it. Sit down and talk about it as a family. Begin to practice some of the strategic steps that the author places at the end of every chapter.
Friends, let me share one more story with you. The previous two are alarming and disgusting. This story is scary because it involves the invoking of demonic control. The article can be found at: www.wnd.com/2017/02/witches-target-trump-with-mass-occult-ritual. "It's not just a political battle anymore. It's spiritual warfare now. Exorcists, witches and occultists 'in a number of magical groups' are announcing plans for a ritual designed to 'bind Donald Trump and all who abet him.' ... The rite, requiring a stub of a candle, a pin, salt, matches, a tarot card, a feather and other odds and ends, calls on spirits to ensure President Trump will 'fail utterly.' It also includes burning a picture of the commander in chief, visualizing him 'blowing apart into dust or ash.' ... Among the various spirits invoked are the 'demons of the infernal realm.'"
The article goes on to quote Jan Markell of Olive Tree Ministries here in Minnesota. She said that the left's open embrace of demonic imagery is revealing. 'It shows that the level of hatred against Donald Trump is generated by Satan himself,' she said. 'Donald Trump is not a perfect man. But he is trying to stop the runaway freight train of evil that has existed for eight years emanating out of Washington and the Democratic Party.'"
"Karl Payne, the former chaplain of the NFL's Seattle Seahawks and an expert in exorcism who penned 'Spiritual Warfare' as a guide for Christians dealing with unseen forces, denounced those behind the spiritual attack on Trump as 'so ideologically driven, they do not see straight.' But he also warned occult forces are being increasingly normalized in popular culture through an anti-Christian media. 'It is not possible to watch major television stations, cable stations or movies without being inundated with shows and movies on the paranormal,' he said. 'To think that the constant exposure to these types of shows will not have an impact on those watching them is as naïve as it is to believe people can watch and play hours of video games glorifying murder and mayhem and it not make an indelible impact on their minds. Garbage in, garbage out. In the computer world, this used to be voiced as a truism. Now walking and talking with the dead, casting spells, witches, warlocks, zombies, blood, guts and horror are promoted as innocent entertainment and people's minds and lives are being destroyed as a result in some cases. Those denying this are typically those with private agendas hoping to see occultism normalized, and those who profit financially from it with no care or concern for the destructive collateral damage incurred as a result.'"
Friends, as I have shared with my congregation many times, Satan does not play games. Satan does not just dabble, he is intentional. Spiritual warfare is a reality for each of us as believers. And, I believe that as we get closer to the return of Jesus Christ, the intensity of that warfare will only increase. We are seeing evidence of that today - just be reminded of what happened in Louisiana. But we need not be filled with fear or despair. God has provided powerful armor for us and commands us to put each piece on daily, along with prayer (read Ephesians 6). God has declared that greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). And remember these words from the Apostle Paul: We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37). So. let's be diligent in our prayers for our President - he needs to be surrounded with God's hedge of protection. Let's pray for those men and women in our Congress and in our state legislatures who boldly represent Jesus Christ daily. Let's pray for men and women in the workplaces of America who also boldly take a stand for Jesus, often in a very unfriendly environment. And finally, prepare yourself to be a strong soldier for Jesus. Remember that old hymn: "Onward Christian soldiers, marching off to war." For that is what we are to be and to do.
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