THE BIBLE'S VIEWPOINT/TOLERANCE

Acceptance, forgiveness, and tolerance foster peaceful relationships. But should tolerance have boundaries?

What is the key to being more tolerant?

THE REALITY TODAY Worldwide, winds of intolerance are blowing strongly , fanned by such things as racial and ethnic prejudice, nationalism, tribalism, and religious extremism.

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS During his ministry, Jesus Christ was surrounded by intolerance. Jews and Samaritans in particular hated one another.  (John  4:9) Women were treated  as inferior to men.And Jewish religious leaders scorned the common people. (John 7:49) Jesus Christ stood out as vastly different.  "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them," said his opposers.  (Luke 15:2) Jesus was kind, patient, and tolerant because he came not to judge people, but to heal them spiritually.  Love was his primary motivation. -John 3:17; 13:34. 

Love, the key to becoming more tolerant, opens our heart to others, despite their imperfections idiosyncrasies. Says Colossians 3:13: "Continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freely even if anyone has a cause for complaint against another." 

Next time: THE BIBLE'S VIEWPOINT/TOLERANCE - Why must tolerance have limits? 

From the AWAKE! magazine, 2015