You cannot demand tolerance while refusing to extend it

David French has endorsed and attempted to deepen schism in the Church while trying to present himself as someone who supports tolerance and the need for friendships that cross party lines.

Note: I sent this to David French on April 6.

Mr. French,

I was deeply disappointed by your April 4 newsletter. You bemoaned the fact that people judge others for their political positions rather than their conduct and how they treat others. My disappointment is not because what you said was wrong, but because you refuse to apply your standard to yourself. You have consistently condemned your fellow Christians who voted for President Trump, accusing them of choosing fear over faith and abandoning good character as a necessary feature for leaders.

To be blunt, you cannot credibly demand tolerance from others while refusing to be tolerant yourself. You have endorsed and attempted to deepen schism in the Church while trying to present yourself as someone who supports tolerance and the need for friendships that cross party lines. I will not vote for Donald Trump this November, but I know many people of strong Christian faith who will. I respect their decision, even though I will not do the same.

I would also point out that distrust of a particular person is very different from distrust of an entire class of people. Many conservative Christians distrust President Biden not because of generic ill-will toward all Democrats, but because of his own actions, policy and character. This is a President who has been very divisive, and has been for decades. I vividly remember President Biden's inexcusable race-baiting when he fraudulently accused Mitt Romney of wanting to reinstate chattel slavery. Is this really the man you want to defend?

Promoting tolerance across party lines is a good thing. Provided that we all submit to the teaching of Scripture, promoting tolerance of differing opinions in the Church is a good thing. One can be a good person and vote for President Biden this November. One can also be a good person and vote for President Trump. But unless you repent of your own uncharitable judgments of other Christians, the very people you are trying to reach are never going to listen to you.