(These are notes, ideas, concepts, “truths” that Josh McDowell, Ron Luce, Lou Engle myself and others discussed at a number of retreats together in the mid and late 90’s, you should find them fascinating, this will be a series on “Truth”)

As you know by now we have two very distinct cultures in America. Not a generational gap, but completely different cultures between the youth and the adults in our society. Here is the worst part about it; most young people understand the vastness of this cultural gap, I don’t believe most adults do…

We are using the same words, but a totally different language, and I am not sure most teachers, seminary professors, therefore pastors, get it! They are saying one thing and young people are totally hearing another thing, a totally and completely different thing. Same words, different definition or language.

Examples; to adults tolerance means to bear or put up with someone you don’t like. If we say, “I love you, but I don’t agree with you,” – we think we are being tolerant. If we say “Love the sinner, hate the sin,” – we think we are being tolerant. However, when young people hear you say that, they think you are a bigot. When they hear you say, “Love the sinner, hate the sin,” – to them that’s one of the most hateful statements you can make today. That’s why Larry King says, “The hate-mongers of today are pastors on Sunday morning teaching their people to love the sinner and hate the sin.”

The word “Tolerance” has gone through a total transformation – today it means all value, all beliefs, all lifestyle, all claims to truth are equal. If you dare say there is a value, belief, lifestyle, or truth that is greater or lesser than another then you are labeled as intolerant and a bigot and a heretic. Tolerance to youth means all value, all beliefs, all lifestyle, all claims to truth are equal. To an adult it means to bear up or put up with someone or something not especially liked. And we do that, we think we are so righteous saying, “I don’t agree with you, but I love you”. In the eyes of a young person that is total and pure intolerance!

Fernando Sabatiere, the philosopher, in his book Nations within a Nation, explained this view of young people when he said, “Tolerance, the doctrine in vogue, is that all opinions are equal” Under this definition all values, beliefs, lifestyles, are equal – each one has their point and all should be respected or praised.

Let’s deal with respect. If, as adults, we say to someone, “I respect you” we mean, “I admire you as a person, I uphold your personal qualities. I may disagree with what you are saying, but I can still respect you” or we might also mean, “You have a right to say whatever it is you believe, and even though I don’t agree with you, I respect your right to say it” Well, to a young person, that isn’t respect – it is intolerance. To a young person, if I say I respect them, it means that I must believe that your values, your beliefs, your lifestyle, your claim to truth are of equal value to my own. Again – we are using the same words, but a different language. We will talk about “Truth” next…