Letter to the Editor: Christian Intolerance?

Last month a particularly interesting Letter to the Editor was published in The Telegram. I don't know Mr. Chapman but many good points were made. We don't often see letters such as these (from observant Christians) being published by The Telegram.

In the end, Mr. Chapman rightly notes that God will not be mocked and our nation will pay the price for its steep decline in morals.

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Christian Intolerance?

By Tolson Chapman, St. John’s, NL

The Telegram (St. John’s)

Apr 24 2013

The pendulum has swung too far

In 1867, the Dominion of Canada was founded on Christian principles based on Psalm 72:8, “He shall have dominion, also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the Earth.”

Unfortunately, over the last 150 years, this Christian heritage has waned and we now live in a Canada that is hostile to Christian faith and values and is intolerant toward them.

Tolerance is defined as “a fair, objective and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc. differ from one’s own; freedom from bigotry.”

Forbidden statements

If I were to make a statement in the media objecting to same-sex marriage, abortion or homosexual behaviour, I would immediately receive emails, Facebook and Twitter messages labelling me as a bigot, a homophobe and hatemonger.

Unfortunately, tolerance has become to mean if you do not agree with my beliefs, then you are intolerant.

Two opposing opinions or beliefs cannot be true; therefore conflicts occur.

The Bible does not teach Christians to tolerate. We are called to a much higher value: to love our neighbour and even to love our enemy.

Christians, then, are called, as Jesus did, to love all and to be a friend to sinners.

This does not mean we accept their values, beliefs or lifestyles.

If Christians don’t accept these values, beliefs or lifestyles, then they are labelled intolerant.

Many examples

Here are several examples of intolerance toward Christians:

• The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that quoting Bible verses condemning homosexual behaviour may be hate literature.

• A Christian police chief in Winnipeg was attacked verbally in the media for suggesting that people of all faiths pray against violent crime.

• Damian Goddard, a sports reporter for Rogers Sportsnet, was fired for tweeting that same-sex marriage was wrong.

• Justices of the peace who are Christian are fired if they refuse to perform same-sex marriages.

• Christian nurses in hospitals are not permitted to pray for the sick even if requested by the patient.

• Prime Minister Stephen Harper will not permit a private member’s bill to come forward regarding sex-selection abortion.

• Many school boards have rejected the distribution of Gideon Bibles in schools.

• Many hotels no longer permit Gideon Bibles in hotel rooms.

• God, nor prayer, is permitted in public schools.

• Merry Christmas has been replaced by Happy Holidays.

These are just a few of the hundreds of examples of intolerance toward Christians and Christianity in Canada.

Nation in decline

Canada has become a secular nation and is in deep moral decline.

Newfoundland is not immune from this and, per capita, has a high number of teen pregnancies, cohabitation before marriage and single parents.

Add to this drugs, armed robberies, alcoholism, gambling, pornography, prostitution and pedophilia — is there any wonder why we are in such a mess?

However, God will not be mocked and Canada and Newfoundland will eventually pay the price.