Does love demand tolerance?

Homosexuality and homosexual marriage are hot topics in the press and Canadian parliament these days. In British Columbia, a gay couple now has a guarantee from the provincial government to include what they term “queer” curriculum in public schools. Wal-Mart is now partnering with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce as a step towards more effective marketing to gay America.

Pope Benedict XVI and Raymond Roussin, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Vancouver, recently spoke out and said that living a homosexual lifestyle is a sin and that homosexual marriage is wrong. Some people have branded these leaders intolerant and homophobic.

The clergy argue that Christians are not called to be tolerant, but to love others. Sometimes love is intolerant. Is it love for parents to allow their kids to do anything they want? As parents, we love our children by being intolerant of certain behaviours.

It seems that Canada’s new national pastime is the worship of the concept of tolerance. Yet the Bible has words of praise for the church that is intolerant of evil and sexual immorality. (See, for example, Revelation 2:2, 20.)

Is it possible to reconcile this biblical call with Canada’s call to tolerance? How does one balance tolerance towards other human beings with freedom of expression and religion? How does one freely express opinions without defaming others? At what point does freedom of religion become terrorism?

Christians are called to love homosexual people but hate the sin of homosexual activity, just as they are called to love drug addicts and welcome them into the church but hate the sin. Jesus welcomed an adulterous woman into his presence and forgave her as she turned away from her sin. “Go and sin no more,” he said (John 8:11). Christians are called to love sinners, but hate sinful behaviour. Christians are to be agents of love that help others out of their addictions, whether substance or sexual addiction. This is love in action.

Thus, Christians are called to be leaders in both love and intolerance. It doesn’t mean we have an excuse to blow up abortion clinics or engage in gay bashing. This is where we cross the line between freedom of religion and terrorism.

There is a clash of perspectives in Canada regarding right and wrong. Politicians are expressing their perspective through new legislation. Companies are expressing their perspective through corporate policies. Christians cannot be silent about their perspective, nor can they be tolerant of wrongdoing. Love demands otherwise.

Tim Williams is pastor of administration at Northview Community Church, Abbotsford, B.C. and a member of the B.C. MB Conference executive board.