INTOLERANCE - TOLERANCE

by Glenice Mills


For the past couple of months the Lord keeps speaking to me the word INTOLERANCE. I have struggled to understand what He wants to say about this and I have been quietly seeking Him about what He wants to reveal.

God is not so concerned about the things we think He might be concerned for. He already knows what is going to happen as part of ushering in end times. Some things have to happen. Scripture says they will happen. We should not be surprised. For example the prophets of old still had to live through the times they were prophesying about. For example Elijah had to live through the famine he prophesied.

The truth is what appears to be the main issue – is not necessarily the area the Lord is highlighting. It is about His priorities and they are not always what we think. There are many words out there and it is easy to be swayed by popular opinion.  It is about correct balance.

There is so much muddying of the waters that to hear the Lord’s heart and the things He wants to reveal is often hijacked by the media and by well meaning Christians. It is not necessarily what is actually His concern. The most vocal aren’t necessarily the most accurate.

The enemy loves to ride on opinions of man and push people’s fears. As a prophet it is easy to get swept on that tide of public opinion and even the opinion of the general church. Facebook, websites, even words from different prophets around the world can take us off and away from what God is actually saying. That is not to say these words are wrong, but more importantly we need to seek the Lord for what He is saying ourselves.

There are many words but often what gets overlooked is maybe a deeper more complex issue – one that is hidden. That is why Scripture tells us the Lord reveals His secrets to His servants the prophets.

As a prophet it can be difficult and even overwhelming as there are so many words out there. Our job is to hear God’s heart on a matter. For that to happen we need to check our own hearts first. That is what the Lord has been doing with me. I dare not speak of something without checking my own sinful heart.

I have spent some time grappling with this word intolerance. First we need to look at the meaning of intolerance.

Intolerance is a lack of tolerance; an unwillingness or refusal to tolerate or respect opinions or beliefs contrary to one's own.
It is an unwillingness or refusal to tolerate or respect persons of a different social group, especially members of a minority group.

We as Christians have to be very careful we do not in our self-righteousness speak against others from an intolerant, biased viewpoint. We can in no way agree with ungodly doctrines, or anything that sets itself up against the Lordship of Jesus Christ. This is where it gets very difficult because we have to know God’s heart. We have to hate the things God hates. The key to this is separating the people from the issue. This is where things get confusing. Satan is the author of confusion and we cannot and must not compromise the Word of God.

The key to the word intolerance is the words unwillingness and refusal to tolerate. We have to be careful that our preconceived ideas, and what culture dictates do not distort our view of how we see some things that are happening in our times.

There is a blindness that brings a tunnel vision, that block from seeing the bigger picture. As prophets we see in part, but as things unfold situations become clearer. We have to be careful we don’t succumb to what we see here and now, and bow to the emotions and bigotry that is manifesting. We have to rise above this, and seek the Lord for His perspective.

At the root of intolerance are hatred, prejudice and discrimination. It is born out of judging others often through misunderstanding. We have to check our hearts that our intolerance isn’t also born out of a wrong religious mindset. We also need to check where we have been conditioned to think a certain way because of cultural conditioning. I know this is a heavy word and is profound and deep but we need the Holy Spirit to come and reveal where we have prejudices and wrong mindsets.

When we think of prejudice we think of racial prejudice. Yes this is a serious prejudice that breeds intolerance, however there are many other areas of prejudice. Some examples are: misunderstanding of different cultural ways, denominational divisions, and against different religions and nationalities.

If our intolerance is founded on a wrong foundation, a foundation of misunderstanding, prejudice and fear of other people groups we will get a distorted viewpoint of that people group.  However, if we deal with our prejudices and seek God’s perspective on this we will see and feel His heart towards these one’s.

Perhaps one of the hardest things is to love. We are all made in God’s image and He loves all that He has made. The tragedy is some people have been tools used of the enemy to bring evil. They are one’s who stir up divisions, prejudices, and evil doctrines.

So what does God tolerate? The truth is He doesn’t tolerate. Tolerance is where there is grey – not a clear black and white on issues. It is taking the middle ground so as not to offend. It is actually compromise. The Word of God is our book that teaches and shows us His character and His ways.

We have to be careful what we tolerate. There is a sword that is separating the true from the false, the precious from the vile, good from evil and we need to know which side we are standing on.

Many will be deceived in the last days and we need to know God’s heart and His revelation of His truth so we walk in wisdom, and understanding. We have to know what He is saying in this hour.

The Lord is highlighting where we are intolerant birthed out of prejudices, and discrimination. We have to have God’s heart on some important issues that are being highlighted at this time. We cannot pray with God given authority until our intolerance has been confessed. We have to see as God sees with our eyes of understanding opened. Only He can give us His love for those we struggle to understand, those who do not agree or have the same doctrines, and opinions as us. We need to see as He sees like never before. We may be surprised at what He shows us.

Ephesians 1:17-19 - That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.