CAUSE OF INTOLERANCE by Milton C. Wilcox

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 2, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 34.

CAUSE OF INTOLERANCE.

By Milton C. Wilcox

“INTOLERANCE,” says one writer, “is the tyranny of conviction,” and a great truth is expressed in these words. Intolerance is the “state of being intolerant;” and “intolerant,” says Webster, is “not enduring difference of opinion or sentiment, especially in relation to religion. Conviction is the “state of being convinced or convicted.” To convict is to “prove guilty of an offense or crime.” Conviction therefore would denote as applied to the person convicted a sense of guilt, a realization that he was a sinner or a criminal. “Intolerance is the tyranny of conviction.” How is this?

All men are sinners. God gave his holy law as their rule of conduct. Its transgression is sin. The Spirit of God uses that law to convince and convict of sin. The word of God is the sword of the Spirit. The law and Spirit of God convict men of sin and show them their state of condemnation, in order that men, realizing this, may wash in that Fountain whose crimson tide is free to all, and which can cleanse from all sin. Those who accept of this offered mercy of God are released from condemnation and walk at liberty in the gospel of Christ. And this walking at liberty, through the grace of God, is the keeping of all of God’s commandments—the law of liberty. Says David, “I will walk at liberty, for I seek thy precepts.” Ps. 119:45.

But those who will not accept the conditions of liberty bring upon themselves greater condemnation. The natural heart loves sin and they yield to its promptings. It hates the law of God, and therefore, those who obey that law. As they were condemned by the law of God and have increased hatred toward it because of their inward wickedness and rebellion and the pure teaching of the law, so they are condemned by those who obey God’s law and have increased hatred toward them, because of their pure lives and teachings. The wicked must either submit to the truth of God or array themselves against it. There is no half-way ground.

Those who will not submit, and thus be justified through Christ, will endeavor to destroy that which condemns them, and crush out those who condemn them. It is for this reason alone that men have put forth such efforts to overthrow the law of God, the plan of salvation, and have persecuted, or been intolerant, toward those who have upheld God’s law.

The Jewish prophets were not persecuted because they were wicked men, or because their teaching tended to make men worse, but because their lives and teaching condemned the idolatrous nation. The Jews did not put Christ to death because he blasphemed; that was but the excuse. His holy life and pure teaching convicted them of sin. They would not crucify their wicked hearts, as crucified the One whose life condemned them. Instead of submitting, they rebelled. They adopted the tyranny of conviction rather than the freedom of conviction. If conviction were allowed to take its legitimate course it would lead to freedom through contrition and conversion. But conviction was perverted, and tyranny toward those instruments which God used in convicting them of sin was the result.

The papal church was not intolerant toward the Reformers because of any wickedness in their lives, or because of their mere showing of the corruptions in the church. These had been spoken of by the humorists, and had formed the subjects of satires for centuries, and yet were tolerated by Rome; but when the condemnation came from the pure truth of God, when the right way was presented in contrast with the crooked, dark iniquitous ways of Rome, conviction followed; and that conviction developed two classes, one who submitted and found freedom, and the other who rebelled and tyrannized over those whose teachings and holy lives condemned them.

And it will be even thus in the great struggle of religious liberty and religious tyranny in our own land. The truth of God relative to the near coming of Christ and his holy law and Sabbath will be preached, condemning all wickedness and convicting men of sin. Some will submit to God’s claims upon them, others will rebel, and being a majority will tyrannize over those who do God’s will and proclaim his truth. Laws will be enacted against them. The Sunday law is of this character. It will not be applied to men simply because they do not observe Sunday, but because they keep the Sabbath. This is shown by the Sunday persecutions which have taken place in Arkansas, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. But however great the penalty, however severe the persecution, the child of God need not fear. This life is but preparatory to the next, and he who lives for God here, lives with him throughout eternity. M. C. W.