Has anyone else noticed that the fundamental moral standards of america have changed, radically, and just within the past few years?
I believe that one reason for this erosion in both public and private virtue is because Conservatives have allowed those with a very different set of values to control the language of the debate.
a prime example of this is what has happened to a formerly innocuous word: Tolerance. If I tolerate something, that traditionally means I allow it, even though I might not approve of it.
But in this era of pervasive political correctness, the affirmation of tolerance has become the paramount virtue, in contrast to the so-called "phobia," "hate," and "bigotry" of those benighted souls who are still so judgmental as to be "intolerant."
Most of those intolerant types, it seems, are Christians who want to honor God by teaching the moral standards of the Bible. american culture today is willing to tolerate just about everything but the true disciples of Jesus Christ.
For me, tolerance is pretty simple. I might not persecute a person for defying God's laws, but I surely don't have to endorse and approve of those worldly actions.
I have a clear set of rules and moral boundaries that are defined by the Bible, so most things seem to me pretty much black and white.
Human life begins at conception. Therefore abortions should be outlawed. The right to life of that unborn child trumps the unwilling mother's claim to convenience.
God established marriage as a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman. Therefore, same-sex marriages should not be allowed. What's more, adultery and divorce should not be casually condoned and winked at, either.
The laws and morals of Western Civilization in general, and English-speaking culture in particular, derive directly from the Ten Commandments. Therefore, they should be taught in our schools and prominently displayed in public places.
But merely holding such anachronistic beliefs puts me in the category of a Neanderthal to all the enlightened liberals who espouse the new secular virtue of tolerance. These so-called tolerant folks are not quite as open-minded, it seems to me, as they want everyone to believe--they clearly aren't willing to tolerate me.
It used to be that people respected a man who had the courage of his convictions, even if they didn't necessarily agree with his opinions. No longer.
Today the only acceptable conviction of conscience is one that eschews absolutes and embraces every form of "diversity." That is what all those rainbow-colored "Celebrate Diversity" bumper stickers are indoctrinating the impressionable college kids of america to believe.
This bland vanilla prescription of tolerance means that as a Bible-believing Christian, I am bound to accept, even endorse, yes, even celebrate all the sins that God calls abominations in his Holy Word.
In this great gray area of life, there is no longer any absolute right or wrong, just varying degrees of diversity, which all of us are bound to accept and affirm as good.
It is no accident that the prime force driving this engine of social change is the radical gay rights movement, with the conscious complicity of the liberal media that they have infiltrated and co-opted. They want to redefine what "family" means, what "marriage" means, what "normal" means. They are trying to reshape american culture in their own warped, perverted and Godless image.
My solution is simple. It is time america started to tolerate my way of thinking. Do you think that will work?
Copyright 2004 by Nathan Tabor
Nathan Tabor is a conservative political activist based in Kernersville, North Carolina, where he owns a successful small business and was recently a candidate for Congress, He has his master's degree in public policy from Regent University. Tabor is widely regarded as a rising star in Republican politics. Contact him at Nathan@nathantabor.com.
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