Tollerance or Love?
Just a quick highlight of comments from the “Bum Rap” topic below . . .
Which is the higher value? Which does Jesus pray for His Followers?
Tollerance implies avoidence and walls and ‘putting up with’ others. . .
Love involves true respectful communication and some times loving confrontation. It is engaging others, not avoiding them, it is tougher and takes the courage and self-confidence that only comes from the grace of God.
Can we handle this? Can we exemplify this? Otherwise how can the world see anything different?
Most people seem to believe people who are different can’t get along.
. . . what a light will shine on the hill if we truely show a difference! Can there be anything more important in our Christian walk? Interesting that this is what Jesus prayed for in his most extensive recorded prayer . . .
How the Lord will smile if we are different and love one another 
November 7th, 2005 at 4:05 am
If you truly love someone, then you will tolerate anything that they do. That doesn’t mean that you will condone it. For example, I love my wife. I love her very dearly, and there are things that she does that I ‘tolerate’. The reverse is also true, however. You can be tolerant of someone, and not love them, but you cannot love someone without being tolerant.
November 7th, 2005 at 4:46 am
D. All of the above huh?
November 8th, 2005 at 2:52 am
“in essentials, unity; in doubtful matters, liberty; in all things, charity.”
I think the bible tells us to do both. Colossians 3:13 tells us to “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Also see Ephesians 4:2
Romans 14 shows how we should allow others to live by their convictions, even if we do not have the same conviction.
On the other hand Colossians 3:16 tells us “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Some people look at the word admonish, and believe it is confrontational. Checking my dictionary, it really isn’t confrontational. It is reminding one of their obligations, or encouraging them.
I think the key is to be absolutely tolorant of others. Use your life to be an encouragement, and point everybody around you toward Christ.
Now I gotta figure out when Matthew 18:15-17 applies…
November 8th, 2005 at 1:31 pm
Amen!
Funny that you’d start with that particularly excellent quote, which was/is the rallying cry of the ‘Restoration Movement’/ (Not Luther & the Reformation, but Campbell and the Restoration Movement) of which my heart, and the particular congregation I attend, is a part. Restoring New Testament Faith & Practice.
Rom 14 is Perfect on this topic I will read it again & again until I get it!
RE Matthew 18:15ff . . . it grows from real love and openess, but you’re right it’s the hardest thing God hopes we never have to do. Well actually, if we’d do a lot more of steps 1 & 2, situations would rarely get to the point of step 3.
IF we do, pray it works like it did in Corinth in the 1st century!
Another excellent revelation God gave us on this subject is:
2 Timothy 3:16 & 17 “All scripture is God-Breathed and is profitable for . . .” 4 things:
1. Teaching- show the way to really be Christians
2. Reproof- Showing us when we’re off the path.
3. Correcting- Showing us how to get back.
4. Training in Righteousness- Teaching us how to do a better and better job of being like Jesus and staying on the path to the abundant life He gives!