Biblical Tolerance

It struck me this morning that there is a lot about being tolerant in the Bible, and that it is closely related to the great commandment to love one another. For how can we possibly love someone, even our enemies, if we are intolerant of them?

I don't mean that we need to accept their belief system, or allow people to murder and steal, but I do believe that tolerance means we love the sinner and hate the sin.

"Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit." - Psalm 32:1-2

I am appalled by much of the rhetoric being thrown around during this campaign season and I expect it to only get worse. What's sad is that most of the people behaving this way are probably pretty good people. They firmly believe in the Lord, and they love our country and want it to prosper. There is not one person in politics, in my opinion - from either side - who got into it to hurt people. Like police officers, nurses, firefighters and others, they entered their careers with a heart filled for helping others. Like ministers, they chose a ministry of love.

Somewhere along the way, some of that gets lost and along with it goes tolerance. We forsake showing love for others in favor of pressing our own viewpoint, our own sense of righteousness. But God has his own timing and is ever and always a forgiving God, even of great sin amongst his people. For example, even as Jeremiah is warning Israel and Judah of God's coming wrath, the Lord still expresses love and promises redemption for the sinning people.

"Return, faithless people," declares the Lord, "for I am your husband. I will choose you -- one from a town and two from a clan -- and bring you to Zion. Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding." Jeremiah 3:14-15

"Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear -- hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh." - Jude1:22-23

There are so many people we meet along the way who aren't the same as we are. If we truly love our enemies as Christ has instructed us, then we must find a way to be more tolerant of those with whom we disagree. If we can purge the ugly, evil intolerance that has crept in and is taking over our country's political conversation, then I believe we will be a better country, a more Christian country.

I leave you with these thoughts today:

"Do to others as you would have them do to you." - Luke 6:31

"For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." - Luke 6:38

"I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." - Mark 2:17

"For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." - Matthew12:34

"But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have poken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." - Matthew 12:36-37

Peace.