The Body of Christ faces no greater danger in apologetics than when it lets the world define the terms it uses. This fact finds its primary support in the ongoing conversation of Christian tolerance. For example, I cannot recall the times when sharing the gospel and contending for the faith that I have been met with a faulty expectation of Christian tolerance from those in today’s culture. Hearing statements from people in today’s time such as “Jesus stands for all types of love,” or “Jesus desires that all walk in the ways they deem fit as long as they do so in love” shows the reckless presuppositions that people have when it comes to understanding what Jesus taught. I believe that Jesus taught tolerance as the capacity to retain love, respect, and compassion towards those who present a differing view from one’s own. So that we might fulfill the character that we have been called to by God. I believe that tolerance is not the capacity to accept, affirm, or allow beliefs held by those we disagree with in pursuit of peace. For peace preserved by an absence of truth, is truly no peace at all.
In Revelation chapter 2 Jesus is writing letters to various churches commending and warning them for various causes, but in verse 20 Christ states “ but I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality…” Jesus holds this form of toleration against the church as it holds a negative effect on others and henceforth “those who commit adultery with her” Christ will “throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works.” I believe we can conclude from this passage that a Christ-like tolerance is not unlimited, but operates with an eternal perspective of consequences in mind.
In the beginning John chapter 8 Jesus is shown to be interacting with an adulterous woman thrown before him by the Pharisees. At the conclusion of this interaction Jesus asks the woman, “has no one condemned you?” When she replied saying, “No one, Lord,” Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” I believe we can conclude from this passage that a Christ-like tolerance is not harsh in its application of truth, but rather seeks to pair its presentation of truth with compassion and understanding so that one may set an example through directional love, not make an example out of one’s apparent sin.
In Matthew chapter 7, the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus states the “Golden Rule” in the 12th verse when he says, “whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the law and the Prophets.” While this enduring and timeless assertion from Christ can be expanded upon in many directions, I believe that this applies to Christ’s view of tolerance in a clear way. Just as we hope others love us enough to be honest and respect us enough to do so in grace, we should be able to do the same in return.
We must not resign people to what they believe. Christians need to recognize that opposing beliefs others hold to are most likely molded through lifetimes of engagement with culture, traditions, and familiarity that can only be healthily dissected by a loving invitation to something we know to be greater and not a grating dissent of something we feel to be lesser.
Written by Brock Bridle