We can clearly see here that it is vital for us to know what is true about the spiritual realm. It really does matter to you whether evil is relative, or is embodied in real beings who seek to destroy you: 1 Peter 5:8 “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

New Age beliefs are very similar to Tolle’s teachings. New Age beliefs are a popular mixture of many religious, philosophical, and occultic ideas. Authors Lewis and Shreckhise make the following comment about a problem with New Age beliefs: “Isn’t it odd that some New Age advocates claim the ability to distinguish between benevolent and evil entities? If these beings are more intelligent than humans, wouldn’t they have the ability to conceal their true intentions? The New Age advocates think they can out-smart spiritual entities that are capable of incredible deception. However, many are being possessed by evil spirits, deluded into thinking they are benevolent beings who will enhance human consciousness and lift the person into self-realization and god-hood.” (Lewis & Shreckhise, 1991, pp 170-171).

Like Tolle and the New Tolerance, New Age beliefs leave its advocates open to unprecedented deception. In the above section, we discussed how a “dictator-friendly” ideology is becoming widespread, and this is happening concurrent with a time period in which it appears the Bible predicts that the greatest dictator in all of history would appear. It would appear that Tolle, the New Tolerance, and New Age beliefs are all accomplishing the same goal.

“This is typical of things being taught…There are no absolutes, right or wrong, good or evil… When demons and Christ are made to be equally appealing, when people begin to believe that they are God, then Satan can readily turn their minds any way he desires! The Antichrist will not have to coax people who accept such ideas into believing he is the answer- they will receive him with open arms.” (Lewis & Shreckhise, 1991, pp.231-232).

The Bible warns about the incredible deception that will take place: Revelation 13:3: “...The whole world was astonished and followed the beast.” The word “beast” here refers to the Antichrist. This deception is being made possible by the popular ideologies which all demand that absolutes, right and wrong, good and evil, don’t exist. People are letting themselves be deceived now, and setting themselves up for the biggest deception of all time, because they were given an opportunity to have truth, but rejected it. 2 Thessalonians 2:10: “…They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.”

Can beliefs and ideas have very real consequences on an individual basis? Yes, they can. The New Tolerance fails to warn about this; however, the Bible says that your beliefs can and do have very real consequences for you. 

“Those who do not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour have no protection from the deceptive powers of Satan’s realm.” (Lewis & Shreckhise, 1991,p. 158). Mark 8:36: “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?”

Christian Response to The New Tolerance

There is no question that we should reject the New Tolerance, but in doing so we need to make sure to not throw out the old tolerance with it. Matthew 10:16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” 

When the Bible tells us to be “innocent as doves”, what does it mean? 1 Peter 3:15: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…”

Evangelical Christians are experiencing increasingly negative reactions from the Newly Tolerant public. It is our job to teach, but what we are called to do is beyond the ability of the flesh (human nature). The flesh simply cannot be gentle, kind, and humble while others are heaping abuse on it. However, the Holy Spirit working in us can and does.

Jesus himself said that persecution would be a result of true worship: Matthew 5:11-12:  "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” We should expect persecution, but we don’t need to invite it by being obnoxious and ignorant, and we don’t need to justify it by reacting angrily or striking back.

In today’s society, it’s critical that we understand the New Tolerance. In order to be good witnesses, we need to at least have a basic understanding of the kind of deception the general public is under. To the degree that people have accepted the New Tolerance, they are being inoculated against being able to truly receive the Gospel because they are being programmed that there is no truth. They are being  pressured to accept that there is no right or wrong answer to spiritual questions.

Dennis McCallum, in “The Postmodern Puzzle”, equates witnessing in modern times to missionary work in a foreign culture. He suggests that the first step for witnessing in our postmodern culture is to help people to truly understand the New Tolerance, so that they will be able to see the problems inherent in it.

By struggling with these internal contradictions in an accepting atmosphere, postmodern-influenced people realize they are willing to judge. Yet they are perplexed by their own unspoken rules governing judgment…. Underlying the whole question is the obvious need for moral authority. We have to agree that for us to judge events in another culture isn't possible apart from the existence of a moral absolute that applies to all cultures, whether it is acknowledged or not…” McCallum, Dennis, “The Postmodern Puzzle” http://www.leaderu.com/real/ri9802/mccallum.html.

We shouldn’t underestimate the change that is taking place around us. We are lulled into a false sense of security because so many people are still calling themselves Christians, but the need is urgent.  In addition to witnessing to non-believers, a part of our work is to educate our Christian friends about the New Tolerance. Even if they haven’t bought into it, do they understand it well enough to discuss it with their Christian friends and with unbelievers? We think of our job as spreading the Gospel to unbelievers, but it’s becoming vital to readdress it with fellow believers to stop the decay of the Christian Church. Many “Christian” pastors are in the process of destroying the Church from the inside.

Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler have an inspiring message for Christians engaged in the battle to defend truth: we should courageously speak the truth with a kindhearted and humble spirit, promote justice (which requires an underlying moral basis in order to be able to discern right from wrong), and love our neighbor enough to be willing to tell them the truth.

“The dangers and damage of the new tolerance are daunting, but we may take heart; there is hope. It is possible, not only to understand, but also to expose and counter the agenda of the new tolerance. It is possible, not only to keep our youth from being fooled by the new tolerance but also to instill within them a "more excellent way," a way for them to "take [their] stand against the devil's schemes" (Ephesians 6:11b). It will not be easy… doing so will require a bold and concerted effort…”From “New Tolerance No Virtue” by Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler, http://www.bobhostetler.com/writing/bestof005.html.