The Intolerance of the Preachers of Tolerance
Thursday, September 8, 2011 at 05:07PM 
The Washington National Cathedral, in its commemoration of the 10th anniversary of 9/11, has deliberately and carefully excluded evangelicals from their multi-religious commemoration. The service includes Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims, but not evangelical Christians. Mind you, I am opposed to interfaith services in any shape or form and that is why, in a previous blog, I stated that I was relieved that the Mayor of New York spared us the agony of watching the One, True God of the Bible “worshipped” alongside false gods.
The National Cathedral is a member of the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation. Having served as an Episcopal Priest in the past for a number of years, the fact that they have excluded evangelicals from their service did not come as a surprise to me at all. Twenty-five years ago, I was one of only a few evangelicals left in that denomination and some of my colleagues labeled me as “narrow-minded” and “intolerant”. What was my sin? I took Jesus at His word and believed that He and He alone – by dying on the cross and rising again – is the only way to the Father and eternal life in Heaven for all people of all races and religions.
For believing Jesus’ own claim that He is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), I was called “intolerant”. Never mind over 500 years of Anglican history that proclaimed these truths and enshrined them in its Thirty-Nine Articles of Faith. Never mind the many Anglican martyrs who have died defending this truth.
I remember asking the question once, “If you are so eager to preach the gospel of tolerance, how about tolerating me as a Bible-believing Anglican?” A senior clergyman who I was very fond of whispered in my ear in jest, “We use intolerance to shut up people like you so that we can get our agenda through.” I remember thanking him for his honesty.
The truth is, the National Cathedral, in particular, and the Episcopal Church, in general, has rejected the Christian truth of salvation as only possible through Jesus Christ. It is soothing for them, or should I say it is a temporary panacea to their burning conscience, to cover themselves with the cloak of acceptability from other religions. Of course, there are inevitable consequences to their choices and I lovingly and “tolerantly” plead with them to turn and return to the truth before it is too late. I shudder when I think of the consequences of their intolerance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ whose Cross they parade.
I read in the press that a spokesman for the Southern Baptist Convention has appealed to President Obama not to attend the service as a protest for excluding evangelicals and Baptists who represent a third of the U.S. population. I offer them the best of luck on this appeal. President Obama is far fonder of quoting what he calls the “holy Qur’an” than the Bible. He is a man who forgets the Easter proclamation, but never forgets a national proclamation of the month of Ramadan. He is not about to offend his own universalist, syncretistic crowd.
May God have mercy on America.
Reader Comments (19)
Interesting enough the Lord uses people like that to further his cause/his will. In hind site we may understand this. Though I have decided not to watch the 9/11 that is planned, I am praying for him, this Country and for healing.
May God forgive us and have mercy on us. Thank you!
That statement, that truth, that reality is, in fact, the dividing line between true Christianity and all other religions. The path to God may seem narrow to others because it doesn't allow for man to take any credit for His own redemption. "For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God not of works lest any man should boast." Eph. 2:8-9 The path to God through Jesus Christ also doesn't allow you to justify or make excuse for sins: "For whosoever covers his sin shall not prosper but whosoever confesses and forsakes his sin shall find mercy."
And, in closing: Romans 10:5-15 "For Moses writes that the law's way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. But faith's way of getting right with God says, "Don't say in your heart, 'Who will go up to heaven' (To bring Christ down to earth.) And don't say 'Who will go down to the place of the dead' (to bring Christ back to life again)." In fact, it says, "The mesage is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart." And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: IF YOU CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH THAT JESUS IS LORD AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED. FOR IT IS BY BELIEVING IN YOUR HEART THAT YOU ARE MADE RIGHT WITH GOD, AND IT IS BY CONFESSING WITH YOUR MOUTH THAT YOU ARE SAVED. AS THE SCRIPTURE TELLS US, "ANYONE WHO TRUSTS IN HIM WILL NEVER BE DISGRACED." Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same LORD, who gives generously to ALL WHO CALL ON HIM. For "EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, 'HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF MESSENGERS WHO BRING GOOD NEWS!"
NOTE: In order to be saved by the law, a person would have to live a perfect life, not sinning once. Then why did God give the law since he knew people couldn't keep it? According to Paul, one reason the law was given was to show people how guilty they are (Galations 3:19) The law was a shadow of Christ -- that is, the sacrificial system educated the people so that when the true sacrifice came, they would be able to understand His work (Hebrews 10:1-4) The system of ceremonial laws was to last until the coming of Christ. THE LAW POINTS TO OUR NEED FOR A SAVIOR.
CHRIST HAS PROVIDED OUR SALVATION THROUGH HIS INCARNATION (GOD IN HUMAN FORM) AND RESURRECTION. GOD'S SALVATION IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF US. HE WILL COME TO US WHEREVER WE ARE. ALL WE NEED TO DO IS TO RESPOND AND ACCEPT HIS GIFT OF SALVATION.
Have you ever been asked, "How do I become a Christian?" Verses 8-12 give you the beautiful answer: SALVATION IS AS CLOSE AS YOUR OWN LIPS AND HEART. PEOPLE THINK IT MUST BE A COMPLICATED PROCESS, BUT IT IS NOT. IF WE BELIEVE IN OUR HEART AND SAY WITH OUR MOUTH THAT CHRIST IS THE RISEN LORD, WE WILL BE SAVED.
Here is a link to my blog billyworldchangernews66.blogtownhall.com/ .
Thanks,
THAT is what I shall use whenever I hear "God-bless-America....".
God bless you, Michael Youssef.
God have mercy on USA and UK
I heard you say that you feel you are called as was Jeremiah. I know this is hard, but I want you to know that there are many Christians who stand with you and who appreciate what you do and the way you pour yourself out as a living sacrifice to the Lord. We should all be so dedicated. Thank you for what you do.
Jan
American leaders, politicians and church leaders need to look America from far away, so that they may be able to see how much America had been departed away from the Truth. I think those souls of the founding fathers of America are ceaselessly crying to God for America. Within about 200 years American young and middle age forget the very basic of the root of American. Though I am not American , not live either in there, I am one of the seed of American missionary. Because of those missionaries who gave their lives in my homeland, I can't stop loving America. Also I read books about that there is no country like America spreading gospel around the world: brought up people from darkness to light, from physical and spiritual sickness to a healthy life, from illletrate to well educated and so on. I believe these are one of the main causes America stands holding supper power among nations. It is sad to see how such a beautiful country and nation once poise in the most beautiful light of God to the world is heading into drakness to be doom. I believe Our Precoius God is crying 'America, you don't love me as before". Wake up America,before it is too late. if you are doom, the world would be covered with darness.
May The Lord keep you healthy and strong to continue his ministry. My heart goes to you, your family, your ministry and America whenever I pray. God Bless America
Thank you so very much for all that sermons and preaching.
O how I wish they could know the Saviour who died for EVERYONE. THEN they would see that they are following the wrong path which only leads to destruction. Jesus told us to love our enemies, and this, as believers, we must do, even tho sometimes it is hard, we have to follow his command. Praise Him, for the VICTORY is HIS and HIS alone!
God bless you and protect you and all your team.
Churches have all fallen into the error of Modernism which is Legalism ' The Leaven of the Pharisees"
warned about by Christ, making them to be " Apostate ". As a matter of fact that pointed finger seems to be that of jezebel. Many a Biblical prophecies have been written according to their biased beliefs Or call it their misbeliefs, about Catholics & others not fallen into their Apostasy.