This past week, a local church put a clever slogan on its streetside sign that said that a certain segment of those who do not share its belief system is made up of "fools." The sign, in effect, stated that April Fool's Day was "National Athiest Day." I thought (and still do think) that this was mean-spirited and crossed a line.
I called and spoke briefly to the pastor of the church to suggest that calling others "fools" was not particularly Christian. While the pastor politely listened to my comments and was friendly, he insisted that calling the group "fools" was Biblical. (By the way, I do not belong to that group of "fools.")
While, strictly speaking, the sign's content may have some Biblical support, the defense of the sign is based on a narrow and selective reading and a distorted application of the Bible.
Publicly ridiculing and calling those with a conflicting belief system "fools" is not consistent with the Biblical command too "judge not, that you be not judged." (Matt 7:1) Nor is it in the spirit of the New Testament.
Consider, for example, the following:
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"So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
(1 Cor 13:13)
"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matt 5:44)
"Bless those who persecute you; bless them and do not curse them."
(Rom 12:14)
Unfortunately, the Bible gets quoted all the time by different people (including myself!) to prove various things - sometimes things that are in direct conflict with each other. But it is a distortion of the Bible to say that it justifies calling others fools. That interpretation must be rejected.
Tolerance is somewhat out of vogue these days. The recent trend is toward intolerance (and its ugly cousins hate and a willingness to judge others). The trend to intolerance is far more dangerous. Current world events clearly and irrefutably prove that to be true.
That trend must be rejected.
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Respectfully submitted,
John Minge
Perham
