Tolerance

Disclaimer: The following is my thoughts and opinions.  Since I am human, I can be wrong.

• Rule #1 - Never assume you are 100% right and never assume you are 100% wrong
• Rule #2 - don't be jerk
• Rule #3 - when there is disagreement, assume the worst of your intentions and the best of the other persons intentions

Definition of Tolerance

• capacity to endure pain or hardship
• sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own
• the act of allowing something
• the allowable deviation from a standard; especially the range of variation permitted in maintaining a specified dimension in machining a piece

The Christian faith is odd.  On any given Sunday, you can walk into any Christian church in America and hear a sermon that will have some mention of accepting and loving others "as they are", which will elicit the nodding of heads, an "Amen" and maybe even a "Hallelujah!".


At the same time, Christians have an earned reputation for exclusion, intolerance, and self-righteousness.  Admittedly, I am lumping all Christians into the same group which is inherently unfair.  The thing is...I have seen it.  I have experienced it.  And I am not the only one.  Sure, the stereotype is unfair, just like all stereotypes are unfair.  But it is a stereotype with some truth behind it.


There are many examples of Christian leaders and organizations telling the world about what they must do and must not do.  This image leads to the misconception that a Christ Follower must first and foremost be a rule follower.  Being a Christ Follower is not like being in a homeowner's association.


Let me give one example.  There is a group of men I meet with weekly for Bible study and fellowship.  I have great respect for each and every one of them.  They are all, in their own way, trying to live like a follower of Christ each day.  They are all generous with their time, money and talents (often more so than I am).


But...let's not bring up the subject of the COEXIST bumper stickers.  You know those bumper stickers - each letter of COEXIST is a symbol of a different religion.  I always took this to mean that we should all play nicely in the sandbox, even if we are not all best friends.  Seemed pretty simple to me.


For some of these good, Christian men, that bumper sticker is ridiculous.  They feel as if they are being asked to accept Islam, or Judaism, or Buddhism or atheism as co-equals to Christianity.  "And if we don't, we're labeled as a bigot!"


No, guys, you are not being asked to accept these other faiths or beliefs as equal and as "true" as your own.  It just means you should follow rule #2 - don't be a jerk.  As long as no one is getting hurt, we are all free to believe what we wish.  It doesn't mean you have to agree with or even like someone else's beliefs.  It just means "don't be a jerk".