True Tolerance
Today many in society hold up
tolerance as the highest virtue,
believing that 'my truth is as valid
as your truth' and it is
inappropriate and a sign of
prejudice to dispute it. But what is
meant by this word so frequently
used to justify changes in the law
and the way we live? The dictionary
definition of tolerance is "the quality of accepting other people's
rights to their own opinions, beliefs
and actions" and to tolerate is "to
treat someone with generosity". So
tolerance does not mean agreeing
with another person but it does
involve generously respecting their
view. I believe true Christian tolerance requires both an unshakeable
grasp of the truth and an
unswerving submission to God's
amazing grace. Before we became
Christians God 'generously
tolerated' us. He did not for one
moment condone or excuse our
beliefs and behaviour. He hated
them for what they were and what
they would lead to and yet still
loved us and offered us salvation
through His death on the cross and
is still doing this to the many who
do not yet know His redeeming
love.
Just as Jesus tolerates us, with all
our weaknesses, failures and
frequent giving in to temptation loving us enough to ha ٔ