Intolerance as Virtue and Vice

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Intolerance as defined by the Merriam Webster's dictionary:


1 : unable or unwilling to endure
2
a : unwilling to grant equal freedom of expression especially in religious matters
b : unwilling to grant or share social, political, or professional rights : bigoted
3
: exhibiting physiological intolerance <lactose intolerant>
— in·tol·er·ant·ly adverb
— in·tol·er·ant·ness noun

Intolerance

1: the quality or state of being intolerant
2: exceptional sensitivity (as to a drug); specifically : inability to properly metabolize or absorb a substance

So now, like tolerance, intolerance can be both good or bad. Below are some examples of how intolerance can be good:
  1. The Lord Jesus Christ was adamant when He said throughout Scripture (especially John 14:6) that only He is the way that a person can get saved- not by works and not by religion. In His ministry, He did not tolerate sin especially the sin of self-righteousness that He kept attacking the doctrine of the Pharisees even if He did not single them out (that's why this ministry will not single out individuals) and this virtue was carried on by the apostles. Not one apostle deviated from the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ and they continued to carry His intolerant views. Christians have done the same too.
  2. A parent spanks their child whenever they do something wrong so when they are given their freedom, they will use their freedom WISELY.
  3. Former President Fidel V. Ramos was tough on crime and did not tolerate corruption by any means. He was against several policies that did not make sense.
  4. A good Christian school has policies that will not tolerate their students being indulged in the worldly entertainment of the world and demand separation and holiness. These schools would give just punishment to students that sin depending on the gravity of the offense. Sadly it's hard to find a Christian school that's still on fire for God.
  5. Churches hosting activities like allowing former Muslims turned Christians burn their Korans as a testimony, former Roman Catholics turned Christians get rid of their stuff, former atheists turned Christians to get rid of books like "The God Delusion" and whatever similar activities there may be as proof they have left the world to follow Jesus.

On the other hand, intolerance can be a vice when:
  1. As much as Christians are NOT to embrace heresies but to show hatred for a heretic rather than pray for their salvation is NOT right. This can be shown for example, like when a Baptist church would order a witch burning session on Halloween rather than burn the witchcraft materials as a protest against witchcraft.
  2. When a parent takes too much control over the child rather than give their children a limited amount of freedom. What's the use after all of teaching people right from wrong if they can't freely choose the right?
  3. The Roman Catholic institution used force to spread Roman Catholicism. This was done during the Crusades and later the Inquisition as established by the Dominican order. The Jesuit order was established by Ignatius of Loyola to strengthen that type of intolerance as they for centuries held a huge grip on the world- but today thanks to the crisis of faith in the Roman Catholic Church, they have gotten weakened especially when brave former priests speak out against the evils of Rome and want to lead Roman Catholics to Jesus. People who refused to convert were killed in the most brutal way.
  4. Islamic terrorism like the 9/11 attack and other activities. The Islamic faith in itself is intolerant and bigoted in the wrong way because it teaches that their religion must be spread by "holy war" which is NOT the type of intolerance that Jesus taught to His followers.
  5. Parody Baptist churches like the Landover Baptist Church and Westboro Baptist Church are but a few that teach a doctrine that God hates sinners.