SHOULD WE BE TOLERANT_________________________________
What is tolerance? Tolerance is defined as the capacity for or practice of recognizing and
respecting the opinions, practices, or behavior of others, (The American
Heritage Dictionary). In other words, if you have the ability to respect
other’s opinions, practices or habits, and behavior, you are by definition
tolerant. However, today, in our society, adding the word ‘sin’ to the
definition, means not only tolerating opinions about politics, for example, but
their opinions on what is sin or what is not sin. So we should not only accept
different behavior but sinful behavior as well. Is this valid? Who gets to
determine what is right and what is wrong?
Make some observations from these passages
1) Do not judge lest you be judged. For in
the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will
be measured to you. And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s
eye but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to
your brother, ‘let me take the speck out of your eye’ and behold the log is in
your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then
you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye (Matthew
7:1-5).
2) Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and
the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but through me (John 14:6);
Love…does not rejoice in unrighteousness but rejoices with the truth
(1 Corinthians 13:6).
3) And whoever does not receive you nor heed your words as you go out of that house or that
city, shake off the dust of your feet. Truly I say to you, it will be more
tolerable for the
4) Speaking to the church in the city of
5) These are the things which you should
do; speak the truth to one another; judge with truth and…let none of you devise
evil I your heart…and do not love perjury; for all these are what I hate,
declares the Lord (Zechariah
6) My brothers, if any among you strays
from the truth and one turns him back let him know that he who turns a sinner
from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a
multitude of sins (James 5:19-20).
What interpretations and applications can you make
from tolerance in these verses?
1. What does the responsibility of our making
judgments tell us about being tolerant?
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Interpretation of Matthew 7:1-5 The point of the passage is
to not judge others by your own self-made beliefs and standards. God says
that if you do that, then He will judge you by that standard. Instead, when
evaluating or criticizing anyone for anything, use discerning judgment that
is able to separate between truth and false, reality
and a sham, sinful and righteous. Remember to honestly evaluate your own sin
first before addressing that of another. Jesus expects us to make judgments
not to be tolerant of sinful behavior. |
Application: When you make judgments of
others, they must be based on discernment not self-made standards which God
will use to base your judgment upon. Therefore I should stop
lying to my parents before confronting a friend who has lied about me. |
2. How does Jesus as the only truth and rejoicing in
truth relate to tolerance?
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Interpretation of John 14:6; 1 Cor
13:6 Jesus makes the claim that
He is the only way, the only truth, and the only life. The apostles did not
start the church to proclaim another way to God or another way or a newer
way, but the absolutely only way. There are no alternatives. Jesus is
narrow-minded and intolerant about this. So we must rejoice in the truth—that
is, the way things actually are as the Bible defines these—never tolerate
anything else. |
Application: The only way to God the
Father is by means of the truth and life in Jesus. Salvation can only be
obtained this way. Therefore, I should not
attend a mosque or |
3. What is not tolerated and to what degree will it
not be tolerated?
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Interpretation of Matthew 10:14-15; Preach the gospel first to
those who want it most. Do not spend time on those who resist and oppose and
reject it. Whoever does not receive, withdraw yourself from them and turn
your efforts toward others. If they are firmly against the gospel and show
contempt, then they will be judged for what they have known and then
rejected. |
Application: We are not responsible for
how people will respond to the gospel, but let them know they may not get
another opportunity, or there is a limit to the opportunities they will get.
The more revelation you get, the more responsibility, and more judgment you
get. Therefore, I should share
the gospel with unbelievers while letting them know that the opportunity to
hear and believe may be limited if they refuse to accept it. |
4. What did tolerance do for the church in the city of
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Interpretation of Revelation 2:19-20 Jesus knows their deeds,
their love, faith, service, perseverance, and that their deeds of late are
greater than the first. But they tolerate the woman jezebel, a woman who
teaches and leads people into immorality or eating meat offered to idols.
Jesus gave her time to repent but she would not do it. So Jesus judges her by
throwing her and her followers on a bed of sickness. Only God can judge
motives and intents of the heart. |
Application: Jesus knows, evaluates, and
judges all of your activities, including what groups you support and condemn.
When you realize that a group of believers you are associated with are not
keeping Christ’s standard, repent and change your mind and lifestyle or God
will judge your sin. Therefore, I should not be
associated with groups claiming to be Christian that accommodate yoga, chanting,
martial arts, Mary, or man as God, because God will judge this. |
5. What is it that God does not tolerate?
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Interpretation of Zechariah 8:16-17 There are things God wants
us to do, and things he hates. One thing God wants us to do is judge with truth. So all of our
judgments must be based in and based on truth—the way things actually are—not
things we have devised in our hearts but have no basis in truth. |
Application: All of our dealings with
one another should be centered in truth—the way things actually are. If I
have a problem with people, I should deal with it truthfully as I attempt to
resolve it. Therefore, I should deal
with problems in my relationship with my coach without deception, rebelling,
or demanding my way but in such a way that God is pleased—that is according
to His standard. |
6. How does intolerance help us get someone back on
the correct path?
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Interpretation of James 5:19-20 If someone is wandering
from the truth—like planets wandering compared to stars that don’t—and you
turn them from their error, you will deliver him from death and protect him
from further consequences due to that sin and keep him from destroying
himself and losing rewards in heaven. |
Application: We have a responsibility to
confront wandering Christians who are sinning so that they will not lose
their lives and live with the death-dealing consequences of sin that is being
produced by their sinfully wayward life. Therefore, I should
confront my Christian friend about sleeping with his girlfriend so that he
will repent and spare both of them from consequences like pregnancy, disease,
shame, or God’s discipline leading possibly to death and loss of reward. |
To Summarize:
1) Judgment with discernment must be used with when
deciding confront
others.
2) Jesus provides the standard upon which we determine
what is true and what is false.
3) Those who have heard the
gospel and reject it will face greater judgment.
4) Sin
should never be tolerated—especially practices and beliefs associated with
world religions and cults.
5) Tolerance devises it’s own
standard instead of the truth to deal with relational issues. 6) Intolerance of
sin and it’s consequences motivates us to confront and
help correct another’s wayward life.