Lies in Disguise: Intolerant Tolerance

 “Our culture has gradually accepted and promoted increasingly immoral views about sexual intimacy, and those views have led to a new half-truth definition of tolerance. This new definition is used as a self-righteous shaming tool to promote uniformity of thought.” 

The quote above is from Lies in Disguise, Chapter 12: “Half-Truth: Tolerance Means Approval.”

You may not realize how much hatred this new kind of tolerance produces, but it basically condemns every Bible-believing Christian who is unafraid to graciously share God’s loving warnings.  

Chapter 12 provides a clear definition of true tolerance, points out some serious contradictions in the view I call “intolerant tolerance,” and helps us defend our freedom of Christian speech. 

Remember that God placed us in this time and place of history (Acts 17:26-27). One responsibility we have is to share the message of Christ with others, and the message includes warnings about sin. We must not keep quiet to accommodate intolerant tolerance! 

“Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”  Luke 9:26

Lies in Disguise is incredibly helpful in explaining a variety of the half-truths that are negatively influencing the church, giving us Scriptural and logical ways to refute these lies.  

It's a much-needed book, and it's ideal for individual or group study, with questions at the end of each chapter.  

💙 Currently available from the publisher: Lies in Disguise. Also available on Amazon: Lies in Disguise. And in the UK: CLC-UK or Eden UK.

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3 Ways to Maximize Your God-Given Gifts

As a stay-at-home mom who loved raising her children, I never thought I'd be a devotional blogger and the author of two books in my senior years. But I see how God used my life experiences for this later-in-life ministry.

For example, I've loved writing poetry since I was a young child. I was editor of my high school newspaper, and after becoming a Christian, I enjoyed writing my own Bible studies. For a few years, my kids and I published a little newspaper for our homeschool group. And I genuinely enjoyed the writing assignments in seminary.

Do you realize that God is using the details of your life to develop your gifts? And sometimes He reveals gifts you didn't know you had!

That's why we should:

1. Learn from every experience.
Mistakes and successes are good teachers.
Proverbs 9:9

2. Humbly listen to correction.
Listening to more mature/experienced people keeps us from learning everything the hard way.
Proverbs 19:20; Proverbs 10:17

3. Never stop learning.
Be a life-long student of God—never retire (Psalm 92:12-15).  And remember that "to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away" (Luke 19:26).

God designs each of us uniquely. Let's never stop learning and serving.

"God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another." 1 Peter 4:10

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For more on this subject, see Slip on Your Own Shoes and A Popular Lie: You Can Do Anything You Set Your Mind to Do!

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Info about Lies in Disguise, Half-Truths Many Christians Believe 

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Which Do You Value Most: Sincerity or Truth?

By Marika Marton

 

We may be passionately sincere about something we believe, but that doesn't mean we're right. Sincerity is important, but when it is separated from truth, it becomes deception.

Deception does not require bad motives, only a false source. In other words, good intentions are not enough if we are not grounded in the truth. We can be sincerely wrong.

As Paul explained to those who sincerely thought the law could save them: “I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal… Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way…” (Romans 10:2–3).

What is truth? We can discover it only by returning to its source—God. Jesus calls Himself “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Truth is not merely a concept; it is a Person who is the ultimate source of all truth.

Truth is not subjective. Not “everyone has their own truth,” as some believe. Nor is truth based on feelings. It is objective because it can be tested and verified. 

Unfortunately, people can sincerely believe in a false Jesus and false teachings because they do not know their Bible well.

Some Christians even believe they are helping people through occult practices (e.g., Reiki, yoga, or the Enneagram) because they have good and sincere intentions.

But they are deceived. Sincerity must always be connected to truth in order to be useful. When it is rooted in a false source, it will cause more harm than good.

Therefore, be sober-minded and test everything against Scripture. Be sincere—but be rooted in the truth.

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See also: The Choice Is Yours

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You and God May Not Have the Same Definition of a "Mistake"

Genuine confession is essential for our spiritual well-being.

We distance ourselves from God and damage our relationships when we ignore, excuse, underestimate, or justify our sins. 

We don't simply erase our sins. We honestly confess them and ask Christ's forgiveness, which He graciously gives.

One common problem is believing we only make “understandable mistakes.” See That's Just the Way I Am.

We must understand that when we sin, it's not a mistake. It's a choice. And we must be able to identify and confess it:

“Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.” James 1:14 

Did you know that 1 Corinthians 11:26-32 warns us not to take communion until we have first examined ourselves? That's because “whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord” (v. 27). 

“If we would examine ourselves first, we would not come under God's judgment. But we are judged and punished by the Lord, so that we shall not be condemned together with the world” (vv. 31-32 GNT).

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

Humble repentance begins when we're saved, and it not only brings us forgiveness, it also refreshes our souls (Acts 3:19). So let's make sure we're honestly and regularly examining ourselves.

Other passages on confession

 

For more insights, I encourage you to read these one-minute devotions: Confronting Sin: Understanding "The Spirit of Cain" and Self-Defense. 

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Lies in Disguise: Think God Heals Everyone if They Have Faith?

“As a new Christian, I heard teachings that assured me I’d be healed of any disease and financially blessed in my new faith. But I quickly realized that Scripture—and life—didn’t support these beliefs. Even if you haven’t been influenced by the health and wealth teachings, it’s important to understand them so you can help others understand why they are not biblical.” Lies in Disguise, Chapter 11, “Half-Truth: Good Christians Enjoy Health and Wealth.” 

God can and does heal, but we live in a fallen world, and He doesn't promise healing to everyone. We don't fully understand why God chooses to heal some and not others, but we know suffering can achieve godly purposes in our lives (2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Romans 8:28; John 16:33). 

Like other half-truths, the claim that God promises earthly healing is not only a contradiction to Scripture, but it also contains huge inconsistencies. 

We need to study God's Word so we know how to respond to this half-truth and help other Christians escape from this lie-in-disguise. It leads people to judge sick people, claiming they don't have enough faith. And it gives others false hope that God guarantees their earthly healing. 

And since it creates promises not found in Scripture, it's usually accompanied by claims that God also promises us wealth.

It's almost as if they chose this combination because health rhymes with wealth. But the fitting rhyme is actually stealth—misusing Scripture in order to sneak into churches and claim Scripture says what it doesn't.

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Lies in Disguise, Half-Truths Many Christians Believe is designed to help Christians graciously and effectively refute this and other false teachings that are weakening the church. 

Each explanation depends on Scripture, taken in context and accurately applied. 

💙 Currently available from the publisher with a discount: Lies in Disguise. Also available on Amazon and CBD. And in the UK: CLC-UK or Eden UK.

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