THE CALL TO TOLERANCE

In the last few years, for whatso ever reason, many people are becoming more, and more intolerant to one another. The Sage Journals says, speaking on, The Psychology of Intolerance says, “Prejudiced people are narrow-minded because of their need for structure and definiteness, whereas non-prejudiced people are characterized by mental flexibility and differentiation… The intolerant person is characterized by a closed mind or dogmatic personality in contrast to the open-mindedness of the tolerant person. The intolerant person has difficulty accepting different views, beliefs, and practices of other people because of a lack of openness to experience and feelings of fear and uncertainty.”

 

Although intolerance has a negative connotation, no individual or group can be tolerant of everything. Intolerance of drinking and driving is not considered a vice but a virtue. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines tolerance as "sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own."

 

As humans, what should be our response to people who are different? The word of GOD encourages all men to, "Let your speech always be gracious, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person." Colossians 4:6 NASB.

 

Put it another way. When differences arise, God clearly instructs His followers to respond with grace. In its simplest form, grace is patience, understanding, forgiveness and tolerance. More specifically, it is compassion for another's differences that mimics the forgiveness each person is granted through the Holy Spirit.

 

Worldly tolerance says: There are no rules, so don’t judge others’ choices. Biblical tolerance says: I will share God’s truth with others in gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15-16. In Scripture, tolerance is linked with love — agape love, the selfless kind. For example, Ephesians 4:2 urges us to show “tolerance for one another in love” (NASB). Tolerance starts with being others-centered rather than self-centered.

As it is said, “Toleration has never been the cause of civil war; while, on the contrary, persecution has covered the earth with blood and carnage.”

 

My friend, in every association of life, calls for the exercise of self-control, forbearance, and sympathy. As humans, “we differ so widely in disposition, habits, and education, that our ways of looking at things vary. We judge differently. Our understanding of truth, our ideas regarding the conduct of life, are not in all respects the same. There are no two persons on earth whose experience is alike in every particular. The trials of one are not the trials of another. The duties that one finds light, are to another most difficult and perplexing.”

 

Truth be spoken, we all are struggling with low tolerance as more and more people are securing comfort in what you call, "the stupidly Love Chair of not looking to God for help.”

 

Simply spoken, we are all in the same boat together. Some people are getting to the exit part of the boat, some are at the entrance, and some are somewhere between. The question we need to ask ourselves today is, which part of the boat am I in?  

 

Today, if we seek God for help, He will help us overcome our low tolerance. May God help me / you / all of us to overcome! 

 

Not looking down on anyone, at times, we are so frail, and ignorant to misconception is human nature, that each should be careful in the estimate we place upon another. We little know the bearing of our acts upon the experience of others. What we do or say to others may seem to us of little importance, but if our eyes were opened to the feelings of others, we would see the real results of our words, deeds, and reaction, for good or for evil.

 

Let us all remember, the willingness to allow the existence of opinions, or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with, shows great tolerance on our part. Despite our inherent and attained differences, tolerance allows us to keep an open mind in our dealings with those who are not the same as us. Today is a wakeup call for all of us to be more tolerant with each other. May the peace of the LORD go with you. Blessings, Blessings, Blessings.

 

By GARDEN MINISTRY – Chaplain Kevin J.T. Santucci