Wednesday, November 25, 2020
Don’t Forget To Give Thanks For This
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Do you ever say, "Thank you, God!" for what could have happened to you but did not? The human tendency is to say, "Thank you!" for the wonderful things that happen like when you get a raise at work, or when someone gives you a well-deserved compliment, or your child's team wins; but what about giving thanks for what could have happened, but did not?
Driving along the beautiful Aegean Sea from Athens toward the ancient city of Corinth some 40 miles away, you see numerous shrines alongside the highway, and you might immediately think that someone was killed there, and family or friends built a tiny shrine to their memory. But that is not the situation at all. True, the highway is narrow and winding as it snakes its way on the edge of the mountains beside the beautiful water which is part of the Mediterranean. True, there have been frequent accidents taking the lives of those who drove carelessly or ventured too close to the edge of the highway. But some of these shrines, filled with candles and religious artifacts, have been built to offer thanks to God for those who were involved in accidents but were not killed.
It is their way of saying, "Thank you, God, for what did not happen." How about it? Have you ever said, "God, I want to thank you for what could have happened but did not?" "Thank you that when I came down with stomach pains the doctors were quickly able to diagnose and correct the problem." "Thank you, that I am able to fill my lungs with fresh, clean air and that my mind is sound and my body is healthy." It is an interesting thought—that we can say, "Thank you, God," for those things that in His wise providence He keeps from happening, that could well have happened.
Like the man and woman who sat in church as a memorial gift was presented to the congregation in memory of a young man in the military who had given his life in the service of his country. As the presentation was completed, the woman wiped tears from her eyes and nudged her husband. "Let's do the same thing for our son," she whispered.
"Why?" countered the man, "Nothing's the matter with our son–he is still alive!"
"That is just it," responded the woman. "We ought to be even more thankful, because he is alive and well!"
Gratitude has become a lost art in the lives of many people. We are so busy putting in our orders as to what we want from heaven, that we have forgotten how to say, "God, thank you for what you have done," and part of gratitude is saying, "God, thank you for what you, in your wise providence, have kept from happening."
There is only one way that you can really learn gratitude for what does not happen, and that is by relinquishing the control of your future to His will and accepting the fact that He really knows best. The Apostle Paul taught us by his life that we may make our plans but God directs our steps, and when He points us in a different direction, we must just as joyfully say, "Thank you, God, for what did not happen," as we say, "thank you," for what did happen.
When Paul wrote in the Bible book of Thessalonians he encouraged, "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Stop today and think for a moment. Could you make a list of events that certainly could have happened, but gratefully, did not?
Are you able to see in your own life, as Proverbs 16:9 says, "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps?" Yes, let's thank God for directing our steps in His perfect will, thanking Him for all—what happened, and what didn't!
Resource reading: Psalm 37:1-5
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/dont-forget-to-give-thanks-for-this/
Tuesday, November 24, 2020
What To Forget And What To Remember
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34
"In some parts of Mexico," writes James Hewett, "hot springs and cold springs are found side by side—and because of the convenience of this natural phenomenon the women often bring their laundry and boil their clothes in the hot springs and then rinse them in the cold ones." On one occasion a tourist, watching nature's laundromat, commented that "Mother Nature is pretty generous to supply such ample, clean hot and cold water here side by side for their free use." To his great surprise, however, the friend replied, "No señor, there is much grumbling because she supplies no soap."[1]
Such ingratitude! Yet, are we not just as guilty, for no matter what we have, we want more! For what are you thankful? Take a few moments and ponder the following questions:
- Can you walk, talk, and hear the sound of my voice? Did you see the sun this morning drive back the fog or paint the hills on the distant horizon? Or did you simply miss "the soap"?
- Is there someone, anyone in this vast world of people, who cares quite deeply for you, someone who would mourn your death, who would, indeed, miss you should you be swept off Planet Earth? OK, going one step further, is there just one person who cares deeply enough about you that you can say, "Yes, there is at least one person in the world who loves me. Or have you simply focused on "the missing soap"?
- Do you have a family? I mean are you surrounded by one or two individuals, whether they are blood relatives or very close friends, who are family? Or have you simply noticed that other people have more "soap" than you and you feel shortchanged in life?
- Can you read? "Oh," you say, "That's a pretty silly question. Can't everybody read? Friend, some people can't read the label on the soap! They are functionally illiterate. Some are like the Kenyan, an old gentleman whose face is etched in my memory, who came to a medical outreach in his village hoping that someone could give him glasses strong enough to allow him to once again read. I doubt that I will ever forget the look of disappointment or rejection written on his face when he picked up his battered, broken hat and walked away.
- Do you have at least one friend? Is there at least one person who understands and loves you—warts, bumps, flaws, and blemishes?
- Do you have a change of clothing, a second pair of shoes, enough food to last for a week? If so, you are in a minority in our world. Focus on the hot and cold water—not the missing soap.
- Most important of all—has God revealed Himself to you in such a way that you know when you die, you will spend eternity in the home Jesus went to prepare for you? Do you have a Bible that tells you of God's nature and character, and do you rejoice that He has included you in His family? If so, friend, you have not only hot and cold water, but you have experienced the cleaning power of the Holy Spirit that washes away all sin.
A final thought: He who has no gratitude can never be on speaking terms with God. The Bible is a photo album of God's gracious gifts to us. Instead of focusing on the "missing soap" in your life, focus on the hot and cold water. Forget about the soap, and lift your heart in rejoicing, giving thanks for the abundance of blessings God has poured out in your life. Forget the soap! Focus on the blessings!
Resource reading: Psalm 100:1-5
[1] James. S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1998), 262.
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/what-to-forget-and-what-to-remember/
Monday, November 23, 2020
DLSU says doing away with admission exam
The De La Salle University said Monday it would not hold a college admission test this year as the coronavirus pandemic continued to disrupt the conduct of in-person entrance exams in higher education institutions.
"This year, the University adopts a new admissions process and will not administer the DLSU College Admission Test due to the current situation in the country," La Salle said in a Facebook post as it opened application for freshman admissions for academic year 2021-2022.
Instead of an exam, applicants will be evaluated based on their "high school academic records and other criteria, such as recommendations provided by subject teachers [or] high school principals and guidance counselors, class rank, and all pertinent information indicated on the application form," the university said on its website.
Several colleges and universities already waived entrance examinations this year due to the continued threat of COVID-19, and assessed applicants based on their high school grades instead. Other higher education institutions chose to hold online admissions tests.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/23/20/dlsu-says-doing-away-with-admission-exam
Are You Disagreeing Over Money?
And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. 2 Corinthians 8:5
There are only three things you can do with it: spend it, save it, or give it away. Only three choices. Yet when it comes to the bottom line of disagreements, you'll probably find it, almost every time. It's money! No matter how much they have, or how little they have, people don't agree on how it's spent. Playing a prominent part in at least 85% of all broken homes, the handling of money is one of the most explosive issues that confront people today, especially in times of recession and inflation.
One of the fundamental reasons that people disagree over the handling of money is that ego gets into the picture, and it becomes what he wants, and what she wants. And the clash of egos produces the fire of discontentment.
A generation ago, women were pretty passive when it came to the handling of money, but that has changed as the vast majority of women contribute to the household finances; and thinking that the golden rule is "he who has the gold has the rule," they feel that they deserve an equal say in where the money goes since they are providers alongside a husband.
John Wesley used to advise people, "Earn all you can, save all you can, and give all you can!" Today, we take to heart the counsel to earn all you can, but the saving and giving parts seem to translate poorly into life.
Most couples could resolve conflict over money if they could only resolve the issue of to whom the money belongs. For example: A wife says, "I contribute 50% of our budget through my work, so I should have equal right to say how it's spent!" True, she is an equal partner in the family income. Okay, does half of the money belong to her, and half to her husband? Simple mathematics will never resolve the issue of to whom does the money belong.
For believers who are part of the household of faith, individuals who have committed their lives to Jesus Christ, the issue goes much deeper than "what's mine is mine," and "what's yours is yours!" The Bible contends, in fact, that what they have is not the actual possession of either of them, but it is a gift, given by a loving Heavenly Father. It is in failing to understand and acknowledge this that couples get into the mine‑and‑yours tug‑of‑war.
Going beyond the fact that what you have is a stewardship, a trust given to you by God for the provision of your needs as well as the needs of others, God says that you and your mate came together and became one, which rules out the independence of thinking of yourself as a private contractor with "rights" which you intend to enforce. Paul says that husbands and wives are to "submit to one another out of reverence for Christ" (Ephesians 5:21), which eliminates the "mine" and "thine" mentality completely.
Confronted with disagreements over money? Then‑‑Guideline #1: Acknowledge that your money is not yours, either individually or collectively, but the Lord's. Guideline #2: Ask His forgiveness for your selfish attitude in regard to wanting more than your mate. Guideline #3: Sit down together and ask your Heavenly Father to give you direction in knowing how to use the money God has given to you. Guideline #4: Formulate a budget whereby you decide together how your money is going to be spent, living within your budget. And don't be like the person who said, "I'm going to live within my budget even if I have to borrow money to do it."
Money should never be used as a reward or a weapon. It's part of the fabric of life, and the threads of that fabric are given by our Heavenly Father. Use it wisely!
Resource reading: 2 Corinthians 8:13-24
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/are-you-disagreeing-over-money/
Duterte wants to return to Davao after term ends in June 2022
Is President Duterte eyeing the vice presidency or a lower elective post in the 2022 elections?
According to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, the President is actually looking forward to the end of his six-year term and his return to his home province of Davao.
Roque claimed that the proposed Duterte-Duterte tandem in 2022 floated by Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo was just his “personal opinion.”
The President, elected in 2016 on the promise to fight drugs and corruption, will end his six-year term on June 2022.
“Ang pagkakaalam ko atat na atat na si Presidente na matapos ang kanyang termino at gusto niya nang umuwi dito sa Davao (What I know is the President is eager to end his term and he wants to return home to Davao),” Roque said during a televised press briefing when asked if the President is running for vice president or any other position in 2022.
Panelo earlier expressed hopes that President Duterte will agree to run for vice president while his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte will go for the presidency in the 2022 elections.
The former presidential spokesman expressed confidence that such presidential ticket would be unbeatable, noting it will leave their rivals in the dust. Recently, Panelo said the opposition has kept mum about the possible Duterte-Duterte ticket since they don’t know how to react to such powerful tandem.
Panelo maintained that although the President is prohibited by the constitution to seek reelection in 2022, Duterte may seek a lower elective post like the vice president. Citing an example, he noted that former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ran for congresswoman in her home province of Pampanga.
Neither the President nor his daughter commented on Panelo’s idea, which has been apparently welcomed by some supporters.
https://mb.com.ph/2020/11/23/duterte-wants-to-return-to-davao-after-term-ends-in-june-2022
Sunday, November 22, 2020
Tarlac gov't disputes DOH report of 211 new COVID-19 cases in province on Saturday
The Tarlac government said Sunday that the report about 211 newly confirmed coronavirus infections in the province announced by the Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday is inaccurate.
In a Facebook post, the provincial government said there were only 19 cases officially reported in the province, and that this has been relayed to the DOH.
"The DoH central office is now in the process of correcting their post which caused unnecessary panic and inconvenience to Tarlaqueños," the local government.
The DOH, however, has yet to respond despite being asked about it by the media.
The Tarlac provincial government assured that it only reports, through the Provincial Information Office, "what is official and do not withhold any information regarding this deadly pandemic."
One virus patient was added to the list as of 10 a.m. Sunday, it added.
Two patients, both male aged 55 and 58, died on Nov. 13 and Nov. 20, respectively, the local government said.
Last month, a survey showed that Filipinos were divided on the accuracy of government's data on COVID-19 patients, with 39 percent of 1,249 responders saying they believe the country's COVID-19 tally was overreported.
Some 31 percent said it was underreported and 23 percent said it was "probably right."
The Philippines as of Saturday reported 416,852 cases of COVID-19, with 375,548 recoveries, 8,080 fatalities, and 33,224 active infections.
On Sunday, the cumulative total climbed to 418,818, of which, 24,209 or 5.8 percent are active infections. The death toll was up by 43 to 8,123, while total recoveries soared to 386,486.
Eastern Samar town bettor wins P20.4-M Lotto 6/42 jackpot
By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) on Sunday announced that a lone bettor from Guiuan, Eastern Samar won the jackpot in Saturday night's lotto game.
In an advisory, PCSO general manager Royina Garma said the winner bagged the PHP20,398,839.60 jackpot prize in the regular lotto 6/42 draw.
The winning combination was 13-42-03-31-02-22.
Some 25 bettors who guessed five correct numbers won second prize and will receive PHP25,000 each.
The 6/42 regular lotto is drawn every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
To claim his/her check, the bettor must go to PCSO's main office in Mandaluyong City and present the winning ticket and two ID cards.
Garma urged the public to patronize PCSO games to generate more funds which will be used to assist more Filipinos.
The PCSO serves as the principal government agency for raising and providing funds for health programs, medical assistance and services, and charities of national character.
One of its key programs is the Medical Access Program, which is designed to augment the medical needs of Filipinos nationwide, particularly hospital confinement, chemotherapy, dialysis, and post-transplant medicines.
The program is funded by revenues from PCSO games nationwide.
Pray (The Mysteries of the Holy Rosary)
- Ang Puso Ko'y Nagpupuri (Magnificat) - Himig Heswita (2:42)
- The Joyful Mysteries - Aquino Sisters (Led By: Viel Aquino-Dee) (21:25)
- Stella Maris - Bukas Palad (3:25)
- The Sorrowful Mysteries - Aquino Sisters (Led By: Ballsy Aquino-Cruz) (21:31)
- Mariang Ina Ko - Bukas Palad (4:11)
- The Glorious Mysteries - Aquino Sisters (Led By: Pinky Aquino-Abellada) (21:55)
- Awit sa Ina ng Santo Rosario - Carol Banawa (3:57)
- The Luminous Mysteries - Aquino Sisters (Led By: Kris Aquino-Yap) (21:22)
- Salve Regina - Fatima Soriano (2:37)
How to Pray the Rosary
- Say the Creed.
- Say the Our Father.
- Say three Hail Mary's.
- Say the Glory be to the Father.
- Announce the Mystery, then say the Our Father.
- Say ten Hail Mary's while meditating on the Mystery.
- Say the Glory be.
- Say the Fatima Decade Prayer.
After the last decade say the Hail Holy Queen, the versicle and the concluding prayer.
Make the sign of the cross to conclude the devotion.
Prayers of the Holy Rosary
The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name: Thy kingdom come: Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread: and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation: but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen
Glory Be To The Father
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Fatima Prayer
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Your Mercy.
Hail Holy Queen
Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy, Hail our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to you we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn, then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
V. Pray for us, O Holy Mary, Mother of God
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
V. Let us pray.
R. O God whose only begotten Son has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, Grant that we beseech you while meditating upon these mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may both imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord Amen.
PTV-4 Sked (2020)
every 1st Friday of the month
4 am – Quiapo TV Mass
5 am – ASEAN Documentaries
6 am – Bagong Pilipinas
8 am – Bitag Live
9 am – DOSTv: Science Of the People
10 am – PTV Business
11 am – PCSO Lottery Draw (2D, 3D and STL)
11:15 am – Serbisyo Muna
12 nn –
1 pm – Sentro Balita
2 pm – Drama
2:30 pm – Drama
3 pm – Unlad Pilipinas with Ceasar Soriano
4 pm – PCSO Lottery Draw (2D, 3D and STL)
4:15 pm – The Beauties of Nature / All About Rice
4:30 pm – The World of Mathematics / Make My Play / Numbers and Figures
5 pm – 10 Minutes of Science (temporary: Ronda Pilipinas TV)
5:30 pm – PTV Sports (temporary at 5:45 pm: Ronda Pilipinas TV)
6 pm – PTV News
6:30 pm – Drama
7 pm – Drama
7:30 pm – Weekly Shows
9:30 pm - PCSO Lottery Draw
10 pm - PTV News Tonight
11 pm -
Monday: The Working President
Tuesday: Pulsong Masa
Wednesday: Paco Park Presents
Thursday: Concert at the Park
Friday: Patrol 117
12 mn - The Medyo Late Night Show with Jojo A.
12:30 am - Oras ng Himala
1:30 to 2 am - PNA Newsroom
Saturday
6 am – Oras ng Himala
7 am – Soldier of Christ
8 am – Yan Ang Marino
8:30 am – Jesus the Healer
9:30 am – Mag-Agri Tayo
10:30 am – Kain Na!
11 am – PCSO Lottery Draw (EZ2 & Suertres)
11:15 am – Asenso Pinoy
12 nn – Concert at the Park
1 pm – Dagundong
2 pm –
3 pm – Amazing Human Powers / Presidential Coverage / NHK Documentaries
4 pm – PCSO Lottery Draw (EZ2 & Suertres)
4:15 pm – Traditional Japanese Sports
temporary
4:15 pm – Ronda Pilipinas TV
4:30 pm – Traditional Japanese Culture
5 pm – Magandang Gabi Pilipinas with Ceasar Soriano
6 pm – Final Drive
6:30 pm – Auto Review
7 pm – Saturday Primetime Special
9 pm – PCSO Lottery Draw
9:30 pm – Images of Japan
10:30 pm to 12:30 am – Jesus Miracle Crusade
Sunday
5:30 am – Upon this Rock
7:30 am – The Word Exposed
8:30 am – Talikha Kum Healing Mass
9:30 am – Family Rosary Crusade
10 am – Signs and Wonders
10:30 am – Pinoy Talk
11 am – PCSO Lottery Draw (EZ2 & Suertres)
11:15 am – Amerika Atbp.
12 nn – Tulay: Bridging People, Business and Government for Unity, Peace and Prosperity
12:30 pm – Sacred Monuments Of Asia
1 pm – In This Corner
2 pm – Motoring Today
3 pm – Music Link
4 pm – PCSO Lottery Draw (EZ2 & Suertres)
4:15 pm – Sining Gising
temporary
4:15 pm – Ronda Pilipinas TV
4:30 pm – Sining Gising
5 pm – Isyu One-on-One with Ceasar Soriano
6 pm – Cartoon Hour
7 pm - Kaagaw sa Pangarap
7:30 pm - Rayantha Leigh: My Life, My Music
8 pm – Relaks Lang (Keempee de Leon and Raymart Santiago)
9 pm – PCSO Lottery Draw
9:30 pm – An Evening with Raoul
10:30 pm – Primetime Specials
12:30 am to 1:30 am – Oras ng Himala
Saturday, November 21, 2020
ABS-CBN’s Hope for A New Franchise renewed as House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco’s Pro-ABS-CBN Allies Assume Key House Positions
The question of whether or not ABS-CBN still has a chance of getting a new 25-year franchise from the current Congress seems to be getting a clearer answer.
As prominent solons, who were vocal in their opposition to renewing ABS-CBN’s broadcast license, get ousted from their positions one by one, those who have previously supported ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal and are now occupying key seats in the lower chamber.
They are now undoubtedly in better position to push yet another bill intended to grant ABS-CBN a new franchise.
The ouster of the previous House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano can be seen as a turning point for things to get better, as far as ABS-CBN’s having another shot at franchise renewal, is concerned. If the most recent developments in House leadership could mean something for the embattled media giant, it is probably in its favor, as those who previously led the campaign to deny its free TV operation, no longer hold enough power to influence any decision the committee on legislative franchises would make, should ABS-CBN pursue another application.
Early in October, Valenzuela Rep. Eric Martinez and AAMBIS-OWA Partylist Rep. Sharon Garin were both stripped off their chairmanship posts in the house. Both Martinez and Garin participated as members of the 80-member panel who decided for ABS-CBN’s franchise application and voted ‘yes’ to deny ABS-CBN a fresh 25-year franchise on July 10.
Vocal ABS-CBN defenders Lito Atienza and Rufus Rodriguez have also been recently promoted as deputy speakers of the Lower House, replacing Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez and Capiz Rep. Fredenil Castro, who were loyal allies to ousted House Speaker Cayetano.
Fernandez and Castro both voted against renewing ABS-CBN’s franchise. Another Cayetano ally, Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu, also received the same fate as Castro and Fernandez, but it is important to note that Camille Villar, who was also among who killed ABS-CBN’s franchise, took his vacated post.
These developments, however, may mean nothing, should House Speaker Velasco lead the Lower Chamber the same way Cayetano did, which he refuted in an interview, vowing never to be Duterte’s mere rubberstamp, as the previous leadership has been accused of. He also assured the public that careful deliberations and stern scrutiny will be carried out for every bill filed.
If any of these is true, a fresh franchise application could only give ABS-CBN a favorable result, and may likely pre-empt the ongoing People’s Initiative, which primarily intends to bypass Congress’ and the President’s rights to grant or deny a bill into becoming a law. The current PIRMA Kapamilya campaign intends to give ABS-CBN a new franchise without asking the approval of both the Lower Chamber and the Office of the President.
One of Velasco’s closest friends and staunch allies, Oriental Mindoro Rep. Salvador Leachon, is also among those who filed House Bill 5608 which sought for ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal, in September 2019.
It is important to underscore that these talks are resurfacing in the wake of the recent calamities that struck the country, exposing some of the most dangerous consequences that ABS-CBN’s shutdown has caused. It can be recalled that in the absence of ABS-CBN’s expansive Regional Network Group in calamity-stricken provinces, communication between affected areas and response groups was poor and ineffective.
While the government continues to deny the communication gap that ABS-CBN’s absence has left, many vulnerable far-flung communities, whose almost sole source of news and information has been ABS-CBN, were seemingly left in the dark, during the onslaught of the recent typhoons.
Friday, November 20, 2020
What God Thinks About Tolerance
For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? 1 Corinthians 4:7
Question: On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the greatest, how tolerant are you? "Tolerant of what?" you might ask, thinking of politics, religion, sports, or intelligence. Most of us think of ourselves as being quite tolerant, and certainly if we are in the minority, we demand tolerance and respect as a kind of sacred right.
But the deeper issue evokes another question: Should we be tolerant at all? "Whoa!" you may be thinking, wondering if today's commentary is a plea for greater tolerance or a bigoted voice for intolerance.
OK, before you decide, think for a moment of the impact of what Wendell Willkie wrote a generation ago. He said, "No man has a right… to treat any other man tolerantly, for tolerance is the assumption of superiority." That phrase, "the assumption of superiority" is the key to the whole issue. He is saying that when you are tolerant of others, you think of yourselves as being superior to them, yet in what you think of as the largeness of your spirit you won't condemn them. He says that tolerance means you look down on them. Is he right?
When every person is on equal footing, nobody looks down on anybody else. Under Communism, there was a saying that all people are equal, but some are "more equal" than others, meaning that party officials had the best food, the best drink, the best housing and the best cars--yet everyone was equal.
If God considers us to be equal (and He does), then shouldn't God's children adopt the attitude of their Father and put prejudice aside once and for all? True, yet the world as it is and the way it should be are pretty far apart. The reality is that we as Christians are often as guilty of prejudice and intolerance as anyone else. Baptists look down on Pentecostals, and Presbyterians know they are superior to both, while Episcopalians tower above the whole spectrum of other groups yet are viewed by Catholics as slightly lower than they.
What causes this attitude? In one word it is pride, something that ought not to be part of the thinking of any believer. "For who makes you different from anyone else?" asked Paul when he wrote to the Corinthians, condemning them for their willful pride. He then asked, "What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?" (1 Corinthians 4:7).
Prejudices are the outward manifestation of an inward condition of the heart which is called pride. And if there is one negative mental attitude which God uniformly condemns; it is pride. Warren Wiersbe wrote, "In his pride, Moses lost his temper and was kept out of the Promised Land (Numbers 20:1-13). Pride kept Joshua from seeking God's will at Ai, and he lost the battle (Joshua 7). King Nebuchadnezzar's pride turned him into an animal (Daniel 4), and Peter's pride led to his denial of Christ (Luke 22:31-34)."
While the price tag attached to pride is a costly one, there is good news! Should you take time to make a study of the sixty-two references to pride found in the Bible, you will learn that men and women can repent of their pride, and with repentance comes humility of heart and spirit which God honors.
A closing thought: Do you remember I asked you to evaluate your tolerance at the beginning of this commentary? Remember? When you have God's perspective, tolerance is unnecessary because you view your fellows as equals on the same level, looking to Him for forgiveness and help. It's perspective that makes the difference.
Resource reading: 1 Corinthians 4:5-7
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/what-god-thinks-about-tolerance/