Today’s post is a rerun from 2013. Almost 9 years ago the word tolerance was becoming somewhat of a buzz word. I wonder when apathy with follow or has it done so already?
Tolerance – The dictionary defines the word as a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one’s own; freedom from bigotry.
The Bible refers to it in this way, Colossians 3:13 “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” The world tells us to be objective while the Word of God tells us to be subjective.
As Christians, we should submit to all authority, to our fellow man, to our family members and friends. Submission, in the Bible, is an act of respect, not one of losing your freedom. Today Christians often feel that we are the only ones who aren’t tolerated, but we must always remain true to God’s teachings without judging others or setting ourselves up as better than they.
When we place ourselves over others – when we judge based on our own opinions – when we give in and tolerate behavior we don’t hold to be Christ like – we’re guilty of spitting in God’s face.That’s why we need Hin so much. Our salvation is dependant on Him alone.
Lord, help me to turn to you for all that I need. Your tolerance is beyond comprehension. You’ve put up with me for a long time. Help me to be aware of the needs and opinions of others and still remain faithful to your commandments and truth for living. Be with me every day, so that I can see what it truly means to be tolerant. Amen!
atimetoshare.me 
I love the prayer! Thank you! Happy New Year, by the way!
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Happy new year to you as well.
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I have an issue with God’s “tolerance.” Long-suffering, mercy, grace… those apply, but maybe by the dictionary you could say He tolerates us. I am having a hard time doing that just now.
Sorry, it is our grandson’s birthday. Okay, he was born a boy, but after graduating high school, he decided to become a girl. He was a beautiful bass voice, now something between alto and second soprano. He turned 21 today, but he is afraid how the celebration of being legal will interact with the hormone treatments. He has dropped out of college because he/she/it thinks ADHD is the problem. No, I think he is being made fun of or even threatened. My wife asked after the phone call, where she was dressed down for using the wrong pronoun, how could he have ADHD when he never had it before, making straight A’s in school. But after focusing on computer animation, he wants to work with studio art. I know your husband is good at it, but did he only pick up a paint brush for the first time after he decided to become a different gender? I think not. But, regardless of the outer shell, we love our grandson’s soul. We will pray for him, but this phone call may be our last. It was torture. The deal is that I was monitoring what my wife said, and I did not catch the wrong pronoun, but “IT” sure did. My wife cried, but I said that he was semi-polite in his dressing her down, if any grandchild could politely dress down its grandmother. It could have been a lot worse, uglier. So, I apologize if what I said about tolerate seems a bit off. My wife and I are in a lot of pain right now while we do not condone, we do not celebrate, we hate it with a passion, but we tolerate what we have no control over.
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I’m so sorry to hear this, Mark. I can only imagine the pain you’re going through. Of course you still should love your grandchild even if you don’t condone what’s going on. Kids are often so pressured by what society says they should be. Labels are often associated with those in the arts. Paul grew up in a Christian home with Christian Education through high school and went on to the Art Institute of Chicago without ever meeting anyone who was a homosexual. His eyes were immediately opened. Becoming an artist is something he always was and wanted to be, but the fact that he studied art immediately put him into a category that was totally not him. As you say, we learn to tolerate even the things we don’t accept, but Being rooted in God’s Word, we know what he expects. I’ll pray for healing for you and your lovely wife. I’m sure this is terribly difficult for all concerned. God bless your next year and fill it with lots of good news💙
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A timeless post! The world can never experience too much tolerance.
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