Here is your weekly newsletter created for listeners and friends of Paul Heil's "The Gospel Greats" syndicated radio program.

In This Edition...

Paul's Epistle...
"Tolerating Toleration"

What does today's society consider its greatest and highest virtue?

Honesty? Fidelity? Love? Faithfulness? Life? Liberty?

Nope. Judging from secular society's words and actions, the highest virtue today is "tolerance." To put it the other way around, liberal society's greatest sin is "intolerance."

What does "tolerance" mean? The Random House Dictionary says it is a "permissive attitude toward opinions and practices that differ from one's own."

A Christian doesn't have to look far these days to find "opinions and practices that differ from one's own." It seems every day brings some new revelation, some new ruling, some new government policy that is completely contrary to what Christians believe based on God's inspired Holy Word.

But that's OK. We're supposed to be tolerant of all that, you know.

But "anything goes" is not a Christian philosophy. Rather, it is a clear characteristic of Satan's ongoing war against God. It started in the Garden: "Just go ahead, eat that fruit. God won't care. He really didn't mean what He said. Do whatever you want... I mean, hey, it's your life... You're in control."  (It's no wonder the Antichrist is called the "lawless one.")

Unfortunately, this "anything goes" concept resonates with today's "me first" generation.

Chuck Colson illustrates how far it's gone: "Tolerance used to mean an open market for the free discussion of everyone's truth claims. Not anymore. Over the past few decades, it has been redefined to be the notion that not only should I have the right to do what I want to do, but you have to approve of it, as well."

But Christians are not to buy into this fallacious notion. We are not to approve of actions we know are wrong. We are called to take a stand for what's right – God's truth. To our great shame, though, it's just not happening as much as it should. Many churches, for whatever reason, have set aside clear Bible teachings in favor of "tolerance." "If we can just all get along..." "Let's just concentrate on the prosperity God wants for you." "Sure, God calls your lifestyle an ‘abomination,' but, hey, no big deal, we're all friends here... Surely, God really didn't mean what He said. What the Bible says is clearly outdated, anyway..."

The liberal intelligentsia love nothing more than to ridicule Christians, illustrating clearly that they are "intolerant" of Christianity for being "intolerant." Paul admonished the Corinthians that because they considered themselves "wise" they chose to "tolerate the foolish gladly" (2 Cor. 11:19) rather than to correct their false doctrines. "For you tolerate it if anyone enslaves you, anyone devours you, anyone takes advantage of you, anyone exalts himself, anyone hits you in the face" (v. 20, NASB). It all goes back to the source, Paul said: "Even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light. So it is no wonder his servants can also do it by pretending to be godly ministers..." (vs. 14-15).

This spiritual toxin continues to infect today's church. The Browders have a popular song out called "Message of the Cross," the first verse of which sums it up well:

The pulpit has lost power
In churches of today
Seeking to appease the masses
Leaders compromise the faith
They refuse to defend
The truth by which we're saved
But there are sinners lost
Without God's atoning grace.*

Dr. Woodrow Kroll, speaking recently on the "Back to the Bible" broadcast, said, "A church of tolerance is a church that allows into its doctrine and into its practices the things that it's supposed to be against. In the 21st century society, we don't want to appear to be negative. We don't want to appear to be against anything. So while we may believe the Christian doctrine as we find it in the Bible, if we don't speak out against other doctrines that are not found in the Bible, then we're tolerating those doctrines – and that's an example of the universal church of toleration." It's the kind of church Christ criticized at Thyatira (Rev. 2).

Wherever truth is sacrificed , wherever Biblical standards of right, wrong and personal responsibility are set aside in the vaunted name of "tolerance," you can be sure God is not in it. G. K. Chesterton, a great British writer from the last century, said, "Tolerance is the virtue of the people who don't believe in anything." And, as Alexander Hamilton famously said, "Those who stand for nothing fall for anything." (Doesn't that describe today perfectly?)

Society has been preaching "tolerance" for so long that it's clearly having an impact on Christianity – especially today's younger generation. A recent Barna study found that today's Christian teenagers are far less likely to share their faith with peers. A 1997 study found 63 percent had done so, whereas a 2009 study found that number had dropped to just 45 percent. A Barna researcher explains it this way: "Christian teenagers are taking cues from a culture that has made it unpopular to make bold assertions about faith or be too aggressively evangelistic..." Columnist Thomas Sowell notes that American school children have long been indoctrinated in such a way as to induce "acceptance of alternative values...."

Behind this trumpeting of "tolerance" is the New Age belief that all religions are valid, that there are "many paths" to heaven or utopia or nirvana or whatever. As a result, when a Christian says he alone has the truth, he is, by definition, branded as "intolerant."

But it's been said that tolerance toward all faiths is obedience to none. And we as Christians clearly have no choice in the matter. Jesus unambiguously said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). And Peter boldly asserted, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). If this is the truth — which, of course, as Christians we believe it is — then everything else is false.

Part of the problem today is that so many Christians don't know the fundamentals of the faith. They don't really know what they are to believe! As a result, they either accept false teaching as truth, or, at very least, don't know how to refute it. Don't let that describe you. Jesus had the answer: "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32). In order to defend the truth, you first have to know it. The better you know it, the better you can defend it with conviction.

So read the Bible regularly, devour good Bible preaching in church and on the radio. Read trusted Bible-based teaching books. Participate in a solid Bible study group. Know what you believe. Know the truth. And miss no opportunity to stand up for it in love.

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:58).

- Paul

*Lyrics by Matthew & Sonya Browder, BMI

Note: Perhaps you heard – Doug Oldham passed away last Wednesday. The story can be found here.

Comments on this column? paulheil@thegospelgreats.com

Get 20 percent off the week's newest Southern Gospel releases. Get the free Springside Music Update e-mail newsletter each Monday. Visit www.springside.com and click on the Update link at the bottom of the page. (Or call 800 38 MUSIC to ask about weekly specials.)

Coming on the broadcast the weekend of
July 31st & Aug. 1st, 2010:

Countdown Edition:  This will be the official August Top 20 Countdown Edition, based on the chart published in the August issue of Singing News magazine.

Artist Visits: Due to several long songs in the Top 20 we will not have additional Featured Artist visits this time. However, we will have brief visits with several artists in the Top 20, including Daniel Riley (Gold City), Pat Barker (Mark Trammell Quartet), Brian Free (Brian Free & Assurance), Charlotte Ritchie, Matthew Browder (Browders), McCray Dove (Dove Brothers), Gerald Wolfe (Greater Vision), Karen Peck Gooch (Karen Peck & new River), Troy Peach (Perrys), Steve French (Kingdom Heirs), others.

Who can YOU invite to listen this weekend?

From the broadcast aired the weekend of
July 24th & 25th, 2010:

Woody Wright, our Featured Artist on this program, is quite an interesting character — as you know if you've ever heard him in concert. His sense of humor often comes out in the way he writes and develops his songs. You heard some of his songs from his solo CD, "Turn From The Darkness," including that title song. But he's also been writing songs that quite a few of today's top Southern Gospel artists have been singing, a few of which you heard on this program. In addition to all that, he also produces recordings for other artists and, of course, travels quite a bit with his wife Vonnie for concert appearances. More info about Woody, including contact info, can be found on his website.

Woody Wright's CD featured on this program, "Turn From The Darkness," is available from our mailorder service, Springside. Just call 1-800-38-MUSIC to order. Call by Friday, July 30, 2010, ask for the "Featured Artist Discount," and get 20 percent off this item. You can order easily from our webstore by using this link to go directly to this item. When you order online, when you get to the "Checkout" page, find the "Special Instructions" lines near the bottom, type in "Featured Artist Discount - 20 percent" to get the discount. Note that the discounted price will not be reflected online or in your first confirmation e-mail, but it will be applied here when the order is processed and before it is charged or shipped. (Orders over $40 in the USA qualify for free shipping.)

I'm glad our Artist Spotlight guests this week, Perfect Heart, brought that name out of retirement. The quartet was very popular back in the 1990s. In fact, when the group was first formed, their very first song released to radio ("Somebody Touched The Lord") went to number one of the Singing News chart. That was the first time a group's debut radio song ever did that. Today's group includes tenor Wesley Anders, lead Jimmy Dunn, baritone Tommy Smith and bass (and original member) Mike Presnell. "Glory Waves" is their current radio song from their "The Best of Perfect Heart" CD. More info about Perfect Heart can be found on their website, www.perfectheartqt.com. Their e-mail is perfectheart@perfectheartqt.com.

On the Headline Update you heard Mike Bowling talking about their recent very serious bus accident. He and Kelly and their daughter, Katelynn, are all recovering from serious injuries. As you heard him say, in fact, Kelly will have several months of recuperation and therapy (at least) due to her back injuries. Cards and letters for the Bowlings can be mailed to the Bowlings, 242 West Main Street, PMB 373, Hendersonville, TN 37075. More info can be found at www.bowlingfamilyonline.com.

Shelia Shares....
"Traveling Companion"

Recently my sister-in-law and I spent a day working together productively to resolve a difficult situation facing both of us. We accomplished a lot, but it sure wore us out.

We completed some shopping in one store, and as we left to go to another store, I invited Sue to jump in my car. We'd come back for her car later. Then as I drove along, Sue said, "I am so glad you are driving. I would have had to think about how to go." The trip was on a familiar road that I take frequently. She uses the same roads but on a less frequent basis.

Later that evening, we met Paul and my brother-in-law for supper. It was a great meal, but as we continued to eat, I could feel my strength just seeping away and the stress of the day began to take its toll. I told Paul I needed to get home and he could see I would soon likely be sick.

We paid the bill and I got in my car. I insisted I was able to drive my car home.

As I drove, I prayed that God would keep my sickness at a reasonable level. It was a great comfort to look in my rearview mirror and see Paul's car directly behind me all the way to the house. If I had gotten any sicker, I could have stopped beside the road and Paul would have been there to help me and drive me the remaining way home. (Thankfully, that didn't happen.)

This is so typical of our lives spiritually. I've traveled the road towards heaven for a long time. Most of the time the roads are obvious. There are things I need to do and I do them almost by habit.

I don't walk into a store and even think about stealing. I don't suddenly start swearing. It is not a necessary weekly decision whether to attend worship.

However, there are times when I am spiritually weakened, for whatever reason. My anger, depression, failure or success, and struggles overwhelm me. Perhaps my mind goes into overdrive about how I could "get even" with some person. In such a case I am not Christ-centered and my focus would not be pleasing to the Lord.

At those times, I need someone else to drive. The Holy Spirit knows the way and when I defer the driving to Him, the path becomes clear again. He doesn't let me get sidetracked by all the roads around me going in different directions. He keeps me going straight forward, as I should go.

Likewise, at those times, it is nice to have a physical presence ready to help me on my Christian journey. When I do stumble and need to stop, it is so helpful to have a Christian companion watching and ready to keep me moving safely on my journey. It is a comfort to know I am not traveling the Christian road alone.

Just as we need to admit our needs physically, so we need to recognize our needs spiritually. Ask some trusted Christians to pray for you. Trust a Christian friend to walk beside you in your struggles. Continue to pray your way through. Know that God will never leave you or forsake you and He already knows the best way.

- Shelia

Comments on this? shelia@thegospelgreats.com .

On the Lighter Side...

Attention Shoppers

"Memo to the people who leave their shopping carts in the check-out line while running to get an item they forgot: I'm the one who puts all of the extra items in there while you're away."

Roses

As he was standing in line at the grocery store checkout counter, a friend of John's noticed he was purchasing a dozen roses and a card. "You in trouble with Jill?" the friend asked John. "Nope!" was John's reply. "Preventive maintenance."

The Passport Photo

Unfortunately, getting a new passport required a new photo. As I handed my ten-year-old passport and the new picture to the clerk, I sighed. "I like the original better," I told her. "Trust me," she said. "Ten years from now, you'll like this one."

Feeling Fine

I am passing this on to you because it definitely works and we could all use a little more calmness in our lives. By following simple advice I heard on TV, you too can find inner peace. Dr. Oz proclaimed, "The way to achieve inner peace is to finish all the things you have started and have never finished." So, I looked around my house to see all the things I started and hadn't finished, and before leaving the house this morning, I finished off a bottle of cola, a package of Oreos, the remainder of my old Prozac prescription, the rest of the cheesecake, some Doritos, and a box of chocolates. You have no idea how good I feel right now.

The Dream

The school of agriculture's dean of admissions was interviewing a prospective student. "Why have you chosen this career?" he asked. "I dream of making a million dollars in farming, like my father," the student replied. "Your father made a million dollars in farming?!" echoed the dean, much impressed. "No," replied the applicant. "But he always dreamed of it."

Are You Ready?
1 Thess. 5:2-10; Matt. 24:44; Luke 21:34,36
Free Gift
Pray for the President!
Until next Week...Keep Looking Up!


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