“Every spirit that does not acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not from God.” (1 John 4:2-3)

As my great-aunt drove me around the island of Oahu, she pointed out the Latter Day Saints’ temple. When I commented, “it’s sad Mormons are on the wrong path,” my great-aunt said, in all sincerity, “at least they believe in something.” That was 1979, well before the attitudes of inclusivity and claims of tolerance were the default setting of our nation. She was a Christian, so why was she quick to excuse Mormon doctrine (if she even knew it) as, essentially, just another path to God? This exchange came early in a two-week stay, so I didn’t want to spoil the visit by challenging her statement. But I wish I had.

In his first-century letter to Christians scattered across Asia Minor, the apostle John warned new believers against false prophets and spirits “from the world [who] speak from the viewpoint of the world” (1 John 4:5). I’m not saying my aunt was a false prophet, but she certainly was an adherent to the false (that is, worldly) spirit of tolerance. And wasn’t I guilty, too, by tolerating her attitude of tolerance? 

Where’s the harm, you might be thinking, in not challenging worldly viewpoints about Christianity?

Well, if we won’t question our neighbor’s belief system just because she mentioned God or church somewhere in the conversation, we authenticate that false spirit, that tolerance, and allow it to spread. John points out, “every spirit [for spirit, let’s substitute belief system] that does not acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not from God” (4:2-3). Without discourse, we’ll never discover if our neighbor or relative believes “a spirit of falsehood” (4:6) about Jesus. By giving in to that false spirit of tolerance ourselves, we might be papering over critical doctrinal distinctions, possibly meaning the difference for that neighbor between a future in heaven or hell. Being tolerant of every spiritual belief is dangerous. 

False spirits and worldly viewpoints (4:5) were at work right away in the early church. They were at work when my great-aunt thought she was speaking magnanimously. They’re at work today. John reminds us, though, we are overcomers (4:4) because the Holy Spirit inside us is the Spirit of truth, and He will empower us to challenge a false spirit of tolerance.

Do you view yourself as a tolerant person? If your tolerance is modeled on Jesus, yes, follow that Spirit! If it’s more rooted in the world’s view - “I’m ok; you’re ok; we’re all ok” - examine whether you’ve been glossing over critical differences that have eternal impact. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you crack that veneer of tolerance to gently ask that neighbor (or great-aunt), “who do you think Jesus is?”