{"id":23678,"date":"2020-07-04T10:09:22","date_gmt":"2020-07-04T15:09:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/?p=23678"},"modified":"2020-07-04T10:09:22","modified_gmt":"2020-07-04T15:09:22","slug":"tolerance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/tolerance\/","title":{"rendered":"Tolerance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\tby Ken Weliever
\nvia The Preacher’s Word<\/a>\n

Thomas Donelan, a Florida minister, offered this description of tolerance.<\/p>\n

To tolerate means I can disagree with you while still respecting you.<\/p>\n

One person is a Republican, another Democrat. We put aside our differences and get along.<\/p>\n

One person is a (Florida) Gator, another a (Florida Seminole University) Seminole. We put aside our differences and get along.<\/p>\n

Some of us are New York Yankee fans, the rest of you hate baseball. I love you anyway, and we get along.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"While this may sound rather simplistic, it does speak to the heart of the issue of tolerance. Mutually respecting one another regardless of different opinions. Getting along with others with whom you disagree. And loving others who may not love or even like what\u2019s important to you.<\/p>\n

Tolerance is not specifically a Bible word. But the concept is found in the Bible. Our Bible reading today from Romans 14 and 15 speaks to the idea of tolerance among brethren.<\/p>\n

There were differences among Jews and Gentiles. Not just racially, but in their practices, customs, and their personal conscience regarding religious matters. Paul identifies some who are \u201cstrong in the faith\u201d and others who are \u201cweak in faith.\u201d Yet, they are urged to treat one another as brethren, get along, and not judge one another.<\/p>\n

There is a challenge for weaker Christians to unfairly judge stronger Christians in matters of expediency and judgment. However, it is incumbent on the strong in faith not to despise the weak. Paul says to \u201cAccept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters<\/em>\u201d (Romans 14:1)<\/p>\n

Tolerance is not a begrudging, embittered, weary endurance of someone, but a patient, kind, and loving acceptance that seeks another\u2019s welfare and cares about his feelings. In Romans 15:1-2, Paul put it this way:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.<\/em>\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Maintaining a balance in tolerance is tricky. On one extreme we allow ourselves to tolerate sin, error, and ungodly attitudes. Thomas Mann wrote that \u201cTolerance becomes a crime when applied to evil.\u201d Numerous exhortations in the Bible require us to reprove, rebuke, and warn those who are sinning. Being silent when sin is present, is not tolerance, but cowardice or maybe indifference. Sir James Goldsmith, the French-British financier and politician opined \u201cTolerance is a tremendous virtue, but the immediate neighbors of tolerance are apathy and weakness.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tolerance, on the other hand, is not an excuse for unconcern, disregard, or a patronizing attitude toward others. \u201cTolerance,\u201d wrote religious journalist John Cogley \u201cimplies a respect for another person, not because he is wrong or even because he is right, but because he is human.\u201d Or as Timothy Keller observed, \u201cTolerance isn\u2019t about not having beliefs. It\u2019s about how your beliefs lead you to treat people who disagree with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

My friend and preaching colleague, Gary Henry, correctly observed that \u201cTrue tolerance (the kind that\u2019s tough to learn) wisely balances courage and consideration. It doesn\u2019t sweep significant issues under the rug, but neither does it break relationships over disagreements that don\u2019t require such a break.\u201d<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, our politically correct culture has corrupted the correct meaning of tolerance. It now goes beyond respecting others with whom we disagree and treating them with dignity to accept every idea as equally valid, every philosophy as equally true, and every lifestyle, no matter how bizarre, as equally right.<\/p>\n

This perverted notion of tolerance is fueled by the philosophy there are no moral absolutes. So, what is truth for me, may not be truth for you. And what is truth for you, may not be truth for me. But the new tolerance says, \u201cIt really doesn\u2019t matter as long as you\u2019re honest and sincere.\u201d The fact is some things are right. And some things are wrong.<\/p>\n

Ironically, some of those who cry for tolerance are very intolerant of Christians, Bible believers, and religious conservatives. Many of us can relate to the frustration of columnist, Cal Thomas, who wrote, \u201c I grow weary of having to tolerate everything when none of those making such demands seem willing to tolerate much of what I believe. Shouldn\u2019t diversity be a two-way street instead of a roadblock?\u201d<\/p>\n

Finally, tolerance is summed up succinctly by H. Thompson Barnhart III, who wrote, \u201cTolerance is nothing more than patience with boundaries.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Ken Weliever via The Preacher’s Word Thomas Donelan, a Florida minister, offered this description of tolerance. To tolerate means I can disagree with you while still respecting you. One person is a Republican, another Democrat. We put aside our differences and get along. One person is a (Florida) Gator, another a (Florida Seminole University)…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[255],"class_list":["post-23678","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-tolerance"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":57460,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-intolerance-and-lies-of-open-mindedness\/","url_meta":{"origin":23678,"position":0},"title":"The Intolerance and Lies of Open-Mindedness","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 30, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"by Doy Moyer We've all heard it: we don't accept a particular viewpoint so, therefore, we are closed-minded bigots trapped inside some blind faith and hope fostered by an ancient, cultish superstition. Those who make such charges are, of course, open-minded, loving, tolerant, compassionate people who are willing to accept\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/Argue.gif?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":54798,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-rationale-of-the-tolerant\/","url_meta":{"origin":23678,"position":1},"title":"The Rationale of the Tolerant","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 6, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"by Warren Berkley via Truth Magazine - May 16, 1974 The idea of sinking all our differences into a sea of \"love\" and sweet tolerance and uniting in division seems to be rapidly reaching every part of the religious world. Denominational bodies who have formerly harbored revenge are now skillfully\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":68155,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/a-manifesto-for-myself-on-social-media\/","url_meta":{"origin":23678,"position":2},"title":"A Manifesto for Myself on Social Media","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 20, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"by Doy Moyer Please note that these are thoughts I'm mulling over for my own growth and attitude as I think about culture. If you disagree with anything here, that's fine. I ask for respect and consideration, but you are also perfectly free to ignore this. This is in first\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":44094,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/walk-worthily\/","url_meta":{"origin":23678,"position":3},"title":"Walk Worthily","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 5, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"by Doy Moyer \"Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/walking-240x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":69960,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/i-lost-a-good-friend-for-my-views-on-homosexuality\/","url_meta":{"origin":23678,"position":4},"title":"I lost a good friend for my views on homosexuality","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 28, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Please say a prayer for me. I've lost a good friend for my views on the sins of homosexuality. Pray that God will comfort me and give me His love and compassion to comfort me. Answer: I find it interesting that those who claim to want tolerance for their\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":89101,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/when-we-differ\/","url_meta":{"origin":23678,"position":5},"title":"When We Differ","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 5, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Doy Moyer Working with people is challenging because we often have differences that extend beyond preferences in styles and tastes. We sometimes differ over what we deem significant matters, and we need to know how to approach not only the issues but also the fact of our differences and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23678","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23678"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23678\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23678"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23678"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23678"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}