Tolerance

The themes of the last few Sunday sermons have included a few slams against tolerance. My knee jerk reaction is to go: "WHAT? Tolerance is so important. What are you talking about?" But then I realize there are subtleties to tolerance that have been overlooked in the sermon discussion. My immediate definition of tolerance that comes to mind is probably not the one the pastor is talking about. The idea that we should accept people different than us and respect them is way way way different than tolerating sin, but the term is used interchangeably. The pastor is not saying we should be intolerant people, but we should be intolerant of sin... I think. I don't know, I'm new to the denomination...

As a teacher, I embrace and enjoy being tolerant of all sorts of different perspectives my students bring to the classroom. In the cities I live and have lived and the communities I have and am apart of, I LOVE the differences and the challenges and difficulties that their "diversity" brings. I am all for mixing up different life views, philosophies, even religions. It keeps one sharp and aware of the truth of the gospel and how it is for ALL people. Also, I think diversity reflects the ulta creative God we have that is omnipotent and who can totally handle opposing sides and views and personalities.

But, when I think about it, there are things I do not tolerate. As in, a few deal breakers within my marriage. Behaviors I completely do not allow in my household or classroom. Things I abhor and will fight against and punish, etcetc. Disrespect is one. Dishonesty is another. And Daniel knows that if he ever cheated on me, our marriage would be over. Completely unable to tolerate (handle, live with) betrayal of trust or intimacy. I am completely intolerable when it comes to that.

And I am also really unable to handle bratty behavior by my two year old. Tend to nip that in the bud as effectively as I can, when I realize it (have a baby, sometimes I am lax and have to retrain her).

Things I should be more intolerant about but require too much confrontation:
-friends living with their to be husbands (worked out for all of them, but still iffy...don't want to be judgy, but would never be comfortable with it myself... this is probably what the pastor was talking about in the sermon...)
- people making discriminatory remarks
- intolerant people with regards to immigration, same sex rights, other religions and political beliefs

Things I tolerate, but I am cowardly about:

-a lot of church policies that exclude women in some way or reduce their agency and voices or abilities to be ministered or to minister
-telling people i disagree with them about x, y or z.
- people who drink soda regularly (i cringe if it's not a once or twice a year thing. it's soo gross and unhealthy. how can you put it in your body??)
- bad grammar (wait...pretty intolerant about that)
-TV ( hate it, and yet, still watch it. i'm tolerant of it, but if i never watched it again, my life would be a success).


I am all for tolerance. Think it is needed in the kingdom of God. Jesus tolerated sinners and the Pharisees (though not so much the Pharisees). He tolerates us in all our weird and imperfect ways. A good Christian is a tolerant one... except when it comes to sin. We are not to be tolerant of destructive sin in our lives or the lives of others. Don't you dare lie, cheat, steal, or murder!!! especially with regards to me!