Grace, Truth, and Tolerance | 4 Truths about Tolerance
The society we live in is concerned with not hurting anyone's feelings and being "Tolerant" towards every and any thought, belief, or action. Because of Christianity's call to "Love people", the world attempts to impose that we give a blanket tolerance to everything.With that in mind, I'd like to shed some light on tolerance. Many throw the concept around as those it's some type of "fix" for all issues, but tolerance is actually one of the most destructive approaches to life. Love builds but tolerance will always destroy in the end.
Tolerance leaves people where they are, but Love pulls people up to their God designed purpose.
I'd much rather see someones life improve and grow than just sit by and watch them destroy their lives in the name of tolerating their beliefs and actions. So below I've listed a few new ways to see tolerance.
THE TRUTH ABOUT TOLERANCE:
1. The Bible isn't about Tolerance, it's about Truth.
Tolerance leaves people in bondage but Truth sets them free! While God loves us right where we are and his grace covers our sin and mistakes along the way, God is boldly calling us to consider the truth of His word and submit to it. There aren't multiple truths, there is only one truth.
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)
2. The Bible isn't about Tolerance, it's about Grace.
Tolerance ignores; Grace strengthens – that's a Big difference.
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, (Titus 2:11-12)
3. The Bible isn't about Tolerance, it's about Transformation.
Tolerance leave us in our mess, but God's word transforms us. God's word calls us to align our lives to God's word, which ultimately transforms our lives.
Tolerance cripples – Love, Grace, and truth, empowers.
4. The Bible isn't about Tolerance, it's about Peace.Tolerance avoids difficult topics that may offend, but peace only comes as a byproduct of correctly dealing with tough issues. Peace is something we work at in relationships, it doesn't just happen naturally.
You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor. (James 3:18 MSG)
SO WHATS MY POINT?
My goal isn't to pick a fight with everyone that has a different opinion, rather my hope is to call all of us to be more concerned with honoring God's word, and helping people live in freedom than living to not offend and please the "ever-changing" opinions of culture. Of course, we must do what Ephesians 4:15 says, "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ."
