Intolerance
Aren’t you tired of all this intolerance?
Keyboard warriors
Society seems to be getting harsher. Opinions are so polarized, and we barely listen to one another anymore. The anonymity of the internet makes it far too easy to hurl the most vulgar insults out into the world. It’s insane that politicians, journalists, and scientists can’t freely express their views without a torrent of abuse being thrown their way.
Two sides of the same coin
History has shown that violence, in any form, is never the solution. Just look at the tragic events that have shaken our country, such as the murders of Theo van Gogh and Pim Fortuyn. And more recently, this past Wednesday, the horrific murder of Charlie Kirk in the U.S. You can disagree with someone’s stance, but murder is and always will be unacceptable—and that’s putting it mildly.
All this unrest and discontent, this chaos… I get it. Poverty, the housing crisis, the threat from Russia, the situation in Gaza. There are plenty of reasons to be worried or angry. I understand the rage and indignation that many people feel. I also see the images on TV and read the newspapers. But sometimes, I also see a good dose of inconsistency. Take the protests for the Palestinian cause, where people call for a boycott of Israel. Often, the very phones they use to express their displeasure contain technology that Israeli scientists have helped create. After all, Israel is a world leader in technological innovation. But they haven’t thrown their phones away; they use them to film during their demonstrations. And what about the stent that might save you from heart problems? That technology was co-developed by Jewish scientists, such as the Jewish cardiologist Richard Schatz. Would you say no to that on the operating table?
And then you have the environmental activists who travel from Groningen, Zwolle, or Noord-Brabant to protest in The Hague. How did they get there? By car or by train; those don’t run on air, do they? Sometimes the world is complex, and there are multiple sides to a story.
It’s discouraging
Unfortunately, this intolerance isn’t limited to the broader world. You would expect people of faith to behave differently. Yet in the church, you see the same intolerance and disagreements. People leave their church community disappointed because there isn’t enough room for different perspectives. The heated discussions about baptism, about vaccinations, about whether or not to celebrate Jewish festivals, and so many other topics… it’s just so discouraging. And then there’s the arrogance of some churches that think they preach the ’true doctrine.’ In my eyes, that’s nothing but hubris.
Jesus already warned that the love of many would grow cold. If you read the sharp reactions on social media, you see that this prophecy has long since become a reality. Lovelessness and discord seem to be the new norm.
But that’s not what Jesus did
I want to stay far away from this. The Bible says it so beautifully: “But that is not the way you learned Christ!” In other words: that’s not what Jesus did. He stood up for the vulnerable and turned against injustice, but he called on His disciples to live with one another in love. To be tolerant.
Of course, I have an opinion and I stand by my principles. But that doesn’t have to cause division and anger. In the past, I’ve also been tempted to be sharp and to pass judgment on others. I thought I was right and that the other person just didn’t see it yet… I regret that so much. I don’t want to think that way anymore, and I’ve turned away from it.
I am a follower of Jesus and I read the letters of the apostles. They teach us something very different: “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18). And Jesus Himself said: “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a peace the world cannot give.”
All those hostile discussions have never helped anyone or solved any problems. I am sick of this intolerance. And I don’t think I’m the only one.
@wimvanputten