The Sin of Tolerance

From Christianity Today-

This article originally appeared in the February 2, 1959 issue of Christianity Today.

Billy Graham's ministry to the big cities, widened in its outreach by radio and television, is one of the outstanding contributions to the resurgence of evangelical Christianity in our generation. His radio message on "The Sin of Tolerance" has been especially blessed. Reprints are available from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in Minneapolis.

One of the pet words of this age is "tolerance." It is a good word, but we have tried to stretch it over too great an area of life. We have applied it too often where it does not belong. The word "tolerant" means "liberal," "broad-minded," "willing to put up with beliefs opposed to one's convictions," and "the allowance of something not wholly approved."

Tolerance, in one sense, implies the compromise of one's convictions, a yielding of ground upon important issues. Hence, over-tolerance in moral issues has made us soft, flabby and devoid of conviction.

More here-

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/octoberweb-only/graham-sermon-sin-of-tolerance.html

How the crazy Qur'an-burning pastor became an international story

From The London Guardian-

Is the media responsible for having turned an obscure Florida pastor with a flock of no more than 50 people into an international figure by publicising his threat to burn the Qur'an?

Up to a point, Lord Copper. To blame the media for the message is easy enough. It was certainly the view of many callers from across the globe to a BBC World Service phone-in yesterday evening.

But once we see how the story emerged, bit by bit, it becomes less tenable - and much sillier – to accuse "the media" of giving Terry Jones a public stage for his absurd stunt.

Jones, who runs a church called the Dove World Outreach Centre in Gainesville (population 115,000; home of the University of Florida), originally announced his plan for "International Burn a Koran Day" back in July.

In trying to trace the story's exact origins, I came across several references on the web in late July. One example - posted on an atheist site - also referred to the setting up of a Facebook page announcing the event.

More here-

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2010/sep/10/usa-islam

From The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

South Florida religious leaders slam plan to burn Qurans

From The Miami Herald-

Several high-profile South Florida religious organizations and politicians joined a growing chorus of international condemnation Wednesday against a tiny Gainesville church whose pastor wants to observe the Sept. 11 anniversary with a large-scale Quran burning.

The Rabbinical Association of Greater Miami, the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida, the Anti-Defamation League and the Miami Coalition of Christians and Jews all spoke out strongly against Terry Jones, pastor of the Dove World Outreach Center, which has become an international name -- to the alarm of U.S. government officials -- for its planned protest against the Islamic faith it calls ``of the devil.''

Jones, who has said he enjoys the increased media attention, told The Miami Herald that ``plans have not changed,'' even as top government brass have publicly asked him not to proceed and anti-American protests have broken out in a handful of Islamic countries.
``As members of a community which knows the results of the burning of books in Nazi Germany, we reject the intolerance and narrow-mindedness that this planned action reflects,'' said Rabbi Mark Kram, the rabbinical association president who also ministers at Temple Beth Or in South Miami-Dade.

``What would Jesus do? I am quite sure that burning the holy scriptures of another faith would never be his choice,'' said a statement by Bishop Leo Frade of the Episcopal diocese, who appealed to Jones to ``desist from an action that will hurt his Christian brothers and sisters around the world.''

Fort Lauderdale's largest churches, including Coral Ridge Presbyterian, Calvary Chapel, First Baptist and Mouth Bethel, also spoke out against Jones on Wednesday.


Read more:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/09/09/1815036/religious-leaders-slam-plan-to.html#ixzz0z26hk000