Tolerance is a hot topic today. It is debated in politics. It is taught in schools to children of every age. It is endorsed by corporations of varying sizes. It is promoted by civil rights advocates. In the Western world, and increasingly in other countries, tolerance is intrinsic to the fabric of society.

But, what is tolerance?

Finding the answer to this seemingly simple question is harder than you might think. In fact, like many things in this world, its definition is subjective. Tolerance could mean something to one person, and something else to another.

In this way, it is similar to the word “love.” While any group of people might, after a long time, be able to come to a consensus on a definition for love, in practical fact that same group would love people in their own way. Each person’s individual definition (in other words, how he or she applies it) is different.

Before we go further, it is helpful to examine how the dictionary defines tolerance: “(1) A fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one’s own; freedom from bigotry…(3) Interest in and concern for ideas, opinions, practices, etc., foreign to one’s own; a liberal, undogmatic viewpoint” (Random House Unabridged Dictionary).

These definitions generally correspond with how the world views tolerance.

Again, what is tolerance?

Why Is This Important?

Some teens in the Church, especially the younger ones, may ask why such a topic is important to understand. The answer is simple: As a young person who has noticeably different beliefs from the majority, you might hear this subject raised personally toward your viewpoint. At times, you may even be accused of being intolerant.

When this happens, you must be able to understand such claims. You must know exactly what tolerance is and, in most cases, that you are actually not being intolerant as some may claim. There may be a need to explain that you are not intolerant—and it may help them understand from where you are coming. On the other hand, in certain circumstances an explanation would not be helpful.

Also keep in mind that your parents, other family members or even the Church may be accused of intolerance. You will soon understand true and correct tolerance, and when intolerance is required.

The Movement in the World

Tolerance has become a catchphrase used in almost any situation. If someone is deemed to be intolerant, his or her career can be severely damaged. It is common for God’s people to be called intolerant.

Seemingly everything is coming to be viewed as acceptable. In effect, society has adopted the first definition of the word and taken tolerance to the extreme—accepting virtually any opinions and practices of others. To take it one step further, it has been said that in today’s relaxed, go-with-the-flow world, the only thing people do not tolerate is intolerance!

One of the reasons tolerance has become commonplace is that, in some regards, society has gone from one ditch to another. Mankind, while always permissive in many ways, has made huge mistakes driven by intolerance in the past. For example, caste systems, institutionalized racism and slavery, lynch mobs, religious persecution, the Inquisition, certain colonial practices and the Jewish Holocaust, just to name a few.

But now nearly everything is accepted carte blanche in what many call an “enlightened” age.

On the other hand, there are some areas of society that realize the need for less tolerance. For example, since the 1990s some schools have implemented zero-tolerance policies. This was implemented to stop bad behavior before it became violent. Schools correctly realize the need to be intolerant of some behaviors.

Should God’s youth tolerate and accept everything they observe? How should we respond to the beliefs and practices of others?

Many professing Christians believe that Christ promoted nearly unconditional tolerance—but did He? What does God say in His Word?

Is God Tolerant?

First, realize that both the Old and New Testaments explain that God does not change. Some people think the perceived “harsh and intolerant” God of the Old Testament is not the perceived “loving and tolerant” God of the New Testament.

But notice: “For I am the Lord, I change not” (Mal. 3:6), and “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Heb. 13:8). Other scriptures explain that the God of the Old Testament was the Being who later became Jesus Christ (I Cor. 10:4).

Let’s read an Old Testament scripture that describes God: “…the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth” (Ex. 34:6).

Consider some of the words mentioned in this passage. God is merciful, which means “full of compassion.” He is also gracious. The root of this word means “to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior.” God also suffers long, or forbears, and is abundant in goodness and truth!

Does this describe a God who is harsh and intolerant? no!

Does it describe a God who is patient with human beings and is able to look past some things? Of course!

But—and this is the main point—we will learn that God is not tolerant in the same way that people are today!

Now read Psalm 78:38: “But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yes, many a time turned He His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath.” Time and again, God forgave Israel of her sins, even when she wanted nothing to do with Him. Yet, anger was still present.

But how do the two above passages line up with some of the accounts found in the Old Testament? For example, consider Korah’s rebellion (see Numbers 16).  God did not tolerate Korah’s rebellious attitude toward Moses. Because of this, thousands of people died.

God did not tolerate the wrong attitude of Moses’ sister Miriam—she contracted leprosy because of it. But in this case, God did show mercy, healing her seven days later.

So, do these two (apparently) different aspects of God’s actions line up? The answer is yes! And this will become clearer as you read further.

The Great Misunderstood Passage

Now let’s turn to the New Testament. There is a popular scripture people turn to when they want to advocate tolerance without limits. The account is found in John 8:1-11, but the oft-quoted scripture is verse 7: “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”

What is the modern-day application of this passage? It is clear. We should not cast stones at others—in other words, we should not condemn anyone. Christ’s listeners had sentenced the woman in their minds. They had condemned her.

This verse does not mean we should always accept people’s actions, especially if they are contrary to God’s way of life. Notice what Jesus said in verse 11: “Neither do I condemn you: go, and sin no more.” Christ did not condemn the woman in this account, as the Pharisees wanted to do, by stoning her to death. On the other hand, He did not tolerate her sinful way of life. Jesus told her to change.

Jesus Christ did receive sinners, as so many claim, but He did not condone or “approve of” the sin!

You will find that young people in the world use the saying “Don’t judge me!” This has also become a catchphrase. It comes from Matthew 7:1, which states, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” But this does not mean that you should not have opinions and render decisions about certain actions. Looking at the Greek word, we again learn that this kind of judging means condemning. We, as human beings, are never in a position to condemn anyone.

The picture is beginning to clarify as to what we should and should not tolerate—now let’s study several other passages.

A Problem in Corinth

Take a moment to read the entirety of 1 Corinthians 5. The apostle Paul, who wrote about God’s grace, is the same one who addressed a problem in the Corinth congregation.

A man in the congregation was having intimate relations with his stepmother. When Paul learned about this, he instructed that he be put out of the Church (verse 13). In effect, Paul was very intolerant of this sin. He understood that those who attend are part of God’s Church, which is the Greek word ekklesia, meaning “the called out ones.” He knew that those in the Church were no longer cut off from God; they knew right from wrong. He understood that members were to come out of the world (Rev. 18:4) and be separate from it—not tolerate sin in their lives!

An important point arises in this passage: “A little leaven leavens the whole lump” (vs. 6). If we tolerate sin—whether personally or in people near us—it will spread!

The theme, or answer to one of our questions, is becoming clear. One thing we should never tolerate is sin!

The Bottom Line

It is also important to carefully read II Corinthians 6: “Be you not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what concord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has he that believes with an infidel? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be you separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty” (vs. 14-18).

To many, this sounds extremely intolerant. In modern professing Christianity, everyone can just “come as they are.” But that is not what Paul is saying here. He instructs Christians to be separate from the world!

Let’s return to the fact that the definition of tolerance is entirely subjective. There are degrees of tolerance. Every reasonable person would admit there is a limit to what he can accept. There are probably very few who would accept a serial killer as one who has “chosen a different lifestyle.” This is because murder is viewed as wrong.

But what is wrong? Wrong is obviously the opposite of right. To determine what is right or wrong, a benchmark or authority is needed—otherwise, it is just an opinion. For youth in the Church of God, this authority is—and must always be—the Holy Bible.

As the Creator of the entire universe, God defines what is right and wrong. From this we learn what sin is—the transgression of God’s Law (I John 3:4). From that Law we determine what we should and should not tolerate. Most people base their “morals” on feelings, but we base ours on the Bible, God’s Instruction Book for mankind. 

Under Attack

If you ever find yourself being labeled intolerant, just remind the person that there are limits to what anyone can tolerate. The person would have to agree with this point when asked if he or she tolerates murderers or thieves. Then simply explain that your guide, your basis for deriving right and wrong, is the Bible. In effect, you can explain that you have relied upon the God of the Bible—the Creator of 10 billion trillion stars—as your source on the matter. If the person is even remotely reasonable, although he may not agree with you, he would have to accept your choice and resulting stance.

The bottom line is this: We should not and cannot tolerate sin. We live in a tolerant age, a time when people accept every vile and corrupt lifestyle under the sun. But, again, this should not describe us when sin is involved in a “lifestyle choice.”

As an important side note, God is also extremely intolerant of false doctrine. Notice II John 10-11: “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that bids him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”

This is a strong and unmistakably clear command! It involves “zero tolerance.”

Finding the Balance

Like many things, the world has a mixture of good and evil. This directly derives from a choice made thousands of years ago by Adam and Eve, when they took of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

For example, it is wonderful that tolerance is taught toward different cultures and people of different ethnic backgrounds. Every human being is made in God’s image and should be treated as such. However, there is also evil mixed in, where different types of sin are promoted as normal and acceptable. In this mixture, there is no sense of balance. Since tolerance can be a good thing, society is now taught to tolerate everything.  

Consider. Love is good, but does that mean you should love everything? Must you love doing your homework or changing the oil in your car? Of course not. Patience is also good, but does that mean you should be patient with everything? Must you be patient if you see a house burning or your dog running into the street when a car is coming? Again, of course not. These are obviously extreme examples, but you see the point.

Many things in life require balance. When it comes to tolerance, there are some who seem to accept any kind of behavior. There are others who do not accept anything, and “get in your face” when you do something or believe something contrary to what they do or believe. Both ditches are wrong.

We have learned that Christians should not tolerate sin. But where is the line drawn?

I Corinthians 5:10 explains that one cannot altogether avoid people in the world who sin. When truly understood, everyone sins (Rom. 3:23). But if people are living in ongoing, blatant sin, depending on the degree, the Bible is clear that they should be avoided. One of the reasons is that this could create a pull on you—the rotting apple could begin to rot you!

This is why you must choose your friends carefully. Part of Christian life is realizing that, as human beings, we all sin, but we must be constantly striving to recognize sins and then eliminate them from our lives. If you had to avoid every person who has ever sinned, then you would need to become a hermit, living in a remote cave—and you would need to avoid yourself!

Further, youth in The Restored Church of God should understand that we are not here to save the world. Only God’s government, when Christ returns, will solve the world’s problems. But right now, most people are cut off from God, and do not have knowledge of His Law.

This understanding—on top of the fact that Christ said we should never condemn people—should help us understand how we should react to people in this world. Obviously, getting in someone’s face will not help. Lifting yourself up and thinking you are better than others is also wrong. In dealing with situations, you must always ask God for wisdom to approach something in a balanced way.

You have learned much about the fact that sin is intolerable and how to react to those with different beliefs—but what should you tolerate?

Determine to Tolerate!

An intrinsic aspect of the definition of tolerance is that people have their own feelings, perspectives, ideas, strengths, weaknesses, etc. While the world does not understand that we should not tolerate sin, and therefore promotes that we should accept everything, we can and should be able to differentiate between the two categories. When a matter is not connected to truth and God’s Law, we should be tolerant and understanding of other people’s perspectives.

If you chose never to be tolerant of another’s point of view, you would be an arrogant, accusative person. Many are so accustomed to their perspective of the world that they cannot correctly relate to and deal with other people and their viewpoints. This is the source of many human relations pitfalls. Due to ignorance, people miss out on educating themselves and becoming a well-rounded person. Almost everyone can and should learn to become more tolerant in this way. Assume that there is room to improve! 

Here are some synonyms for tolerance from God’s perspective: excusing, forbearing, forgiving, kindhearted, longsuffering, merciful, patient, receptive and understanding. These words should describe you in a host of situations.

Here are some synonyms for intolerance from God’s perspective: accusative, critical, condemning and holier-than-thou.

If you are to take two points from this article, one would be to not tolerate sin; the other equally important point would be to take the synonyms for tolerance listed here and apply them daily. 

You should be tolerant and understanding of different cultures, backgrounds and other differences with which you are not familiar. If people have physical weaknesses or disabilities, you should be very understanding, and not in a condescending way. Be forgiving when people make mistakes. Be tolerant of other personalities—if we all had the same personality, the world would be a very boring place! This aspect of being tolerant, in many regards, can be described as having outgoing concern for others.

Tolerance is a term that will continue to be talked about in society. But now you should understand how to frame such a broad and controversial subject.

Do not allow yourself to be pushed into a corner just because you use the Bible as your standard. Be determined to never tolerate sin, especially in your own life. But also determine to always be understanding of others as you strive to become a more kindhearted person.