An ethnographic study of an evangelical left congregation suggests that their social and political action is neither liberal nor progressive. Instead, this congregation has created a local culture that resists and remaps the traditional boundaries of the culture wars. This remapping centers on the concept of covenantal relationships, which envelops every aspect of their fellowship, including theology and morality as well as social action. Yet the relational focus of this fellowship is not a new or unique cultural formation, but rather a rediscovery of traditional Christian social action. David Morsey Award for Best Biblical Exegesis, 1998.
Many people claim that they are relativists and proponents of tolerance.
Yet relativism cannot foster tolerance in part because it is untenable as a coherent philosophy. All three types demonstrate that even renowned scholars who hold to relativism are not tolerant, since a tolerant relativist is a contradiction in terms. Relativism is also theologically incoherent, since neutrality is impossible concerning truth claims. However, tolerance is essential for the social order to prosper. Since tolerance is founded on Biblical truths, the Church is responsible for promoting tolerance without sacrificing the truth.