There are only two times in the New American Standard Version of the Bible where the word “tolerance” appears. In most translations of the Bible, it never appears. Most moderns would think that is weird. For many people in popular culture, tolerance is their preferred definition of what it means to be a Christian. And yet, the New Testament only mentions the concept of tolerance twice. Here’s the two verses:
Romans 2:4
4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?Ephesians 4:2
2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,
Some time ago, maybe years ago, a facebook friend wrote a good word on tolerance which I saved and have adapted and expanded on here:
“I hear you, I really hear you. And I respect you. But I think you are wrong, really and genuinely wrong in ways destructive to the culture. But despite that, I wish you well, and will show you kindness and care, and work for the common good wherever and whenever I can.”
How would conversation, disagreements, civic discourse, political debate, theological controversy, parent to adult children, adult children to parents, neighborhood disputes and relationships, police and policed and the whole gamut of human interaction change for the better if such a definition was adopted, embraced and practiced in all of our lives?
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