Is Tolerance Biblical?
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. – Romans 12:18
To say that “tolerance” is a buzzword today would be an understatement of the highest order. It is literally everywhere and has become the clarion call of woke progressive culture. However, as Inigo Montoya from The Princess Bride said, “You use that word all the time. I do not think it means what you think it means.” Modern culture’s use of the word is incorrect. I want to examine this from a biblical perspective but first, let’s define our terms.
Tolerance Defined
The definition of this word varies, which makes the conversation more complicated. Traditionally, to tolerate something meant that you understood the fact that something existed that you disagreed with. For example, I understand that there are religious views that are different from my own. I disagree with them, but I acknowledge they exist, and if someone wants to practice said religion, then that is up to them. I disagree and believe Christianity is the only way, but I cannot force someone to conform to my belief. I can only share it with them. In this sense, I tolerate it, but I don’t accept it as true. However, if you look up a definition of the word, you’ll find something subtly, but also significantly different. For example, The Britannica Dictionary defines tolerance as follows, “Willingness to accept feelings, habits, or beliefs that are different from your own.” That sounds very much like my definition above but with a subtle difference…acceptance.
How are Tolerance and Acceptance Different?
If I accept something, I’m no longer tolerating it. By definition, the acceptance of a view means to treat it as equally true to my own. A person cannot tolerate what they accept because, well, they accept it. If I were to say that I accept the Islamic, Mormon, or Hindu faiths as being equal to the Christian faith, I’m not actually a Christian, I’m a universalist, since the Bible says in Acts 4:12, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we can be saved.” Can I live in a world where these faiths exist? Yes, I can. Can I accept them as valid? No, I cannot. So, in this sense, I tolerate them, but I do not accept them. This is a subtle but significant difference.
More than religion, however, tolerance is used when discussing the existence of alternative sexuality. We’re told by our culture that we need to be tolerant of sexual views, lifestyles, and identities that are outside of biblical definitions, but what that really means is to accept, validate, and celebrate them. No Christian who wishes to hold to the biblical view of human sexuality can accept, validate, and celebrate what God has clearly defined as wrong. To do so would be to encourage a person in their sin. We can call this loving all we want, and our culture certainly does this, but it is the most hateful and cold-hearted thing we can do, and God finds it abominable to do so (Proverbs 17:15).
To disagree with someone’s lifestyle is considered to be intolerant and by extension, hateful. This is simply untrue. We can all think of plenty of people we disagree with and still love dearly, regardless of their worldview, lifestyle, etc. Sadly, however, this disagreement is labeled hateful. It is hard to wrap our minds around, but it is the reality of the world we live in. Ironically, those who champion for tolerance the loudest are the ones who are the least tolerant.
Is God Tolerant?
Yes, but not according to culture’s definition of tolerance. God would be well within his rights to end the world as we know it, wiping out all life without prejudice because humanity lives in open and defiant rebellion against its creator. It happened in the Old Testament, with the Flood, after all, with God only sparing Noah and His family (Genesis 6). Yet, He does not do this. Why? Because God is infinitely patient with us, giving us time to repent before the end of this age. Yet we would be foolish to think that this time we have been allotted means that God is accepting and celebratory of any kind of sin. Many people, professing Christians included, have mistaken God’s patience and tolerance as acceptance of sinful behaviors. God’s tolerance has limits. There will come a day when this age will end and all people will be judged according to their deeds (Revelation 20-21). At this point, God will be tolerant no more.
How Should We Live?
As Paul says, peaceably. The Church should be behaving in love and grace towards culture while never compromising on the truth. The call of the Church is to share the gospel message, which is one of infinite love and patience. What we cannot do is treat people who don’t know Christ with derision and disrespect. After all, every single Christian was once lost and separated from God by their own sin. We were found by God, we did not find Him, and there was more than enough reason for God to pass over us in favor of someone else. We see Christ in the gospels making it a point to befriend the people whom society had rejected and labeled as sinners. He sought them, ate with them, and treated them with dignity. At the same time, He never once accepted or celebrated their sin. We must follow the example of our Savior in this. We cannot accept religious views, sexual views, or any view which contradicts the Scriptures, but in spite of them, we can and should reach out in love and grace with the gospel of Christ.
On a final note, Paul makes it a point to say to live peaceably with all, as much as it depends on us (Emphasis mine). The reality is that for some, it doesn’t matter how we treat them, they will not receive it unless we validate and celebrate them, even in their sin. Since we cannot do this, we must accept the fact that some will respond only with anger and rejection. We can only follow the example of Christ, preach the gospel, and trust the results to God.
Summary
Tolerance is a word that is incorrectly used in our modern culture. To tolerate something is not to accept it, but it is to acknowledge it exists and, in spite of it, to live peaceably with all. God’s tolerance is in no way acceptance, but it is His grace in giving humanity time to repent before the end of the age. There will come a day when God’s tolerance will be given over to His justice, and those who have abused or spurned His grace will know His justice in the truest and most horrible sense. For this reason, God’s people need to preach the gospel in love and grace, so that those who do not know God would know Him in the saving sense.
Soli Deo Gloria
