Tolerance

Tolerance: allowing or accepting differences, especially in opinions, beliefs, or behaviors, without judgment.

Is tolerance a virtue? In many cases, the answer is yes. The Apostle Paul told the church at Rome to accept the differing views of some believers regarding food and certain holy days. These issues were not issues of truth, but opinion. They were not worth fighting and arguing about.

Romans 14:1-4 (NLT)

Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.

Does that mean we should be tolerant of everything? No! God is not tolerant of everything. For example, the second of the Ten Commandments reveals that God will not tolerate idolatry.

Exodus 20:5 (NLT)

You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me.

God has clearly stated that idolatry is evil and He will not tolerate evil. The holiness of God cannot tolerate sin and wickedness. Tolerance to our human differences is one thing, but tolerance of evil is something totally different.

Psalm 5:4 (NLT)

O God, you take no pleasure in wickedness; you cannot tolerate the sins of the wicked.

Is tolerance a virtue? In some cases, yes. But in other cases, no! Jesus applauded the Church at Ephesus for not tolerating evil people.

Revelation 2:2 (NLT)

“I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars.

Jesus scolded the church at Pergamum for tolerating idolatry and sexual sin in the church. Jesus warned the church to repent, or He would come and fight against them.

Revelation 2:14-16 (NLT)

“But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin.

15  In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching.

16  Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

God will not tolerate evil. It is an affront to His absolute holiness. The church cannot tolerate evil. We must call it out, not in condemnation, but in the hopes of repentance and salvation. The greatest love we can show to someone in rebellion and sin is to gently and lovingly call it out…so that they might not be deceived and destroyed by the enemy.

Romans 12:9 (NLT)

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.

God desires that we live at peace with Him and each other. Not arguing about meaningless differences of opinions, but walking in the pursuit of holiness, which is the pursuit of God.

1 Peter 3:10-12 (NLT)

Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

12  The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”

Maranatha, Hosanna, Hallelujah and Amen,

Terry Cooper

Lead Minister