Acceptance Is More Than Tolerance

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Acceptance Is More Than Tolerance

“Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters” - Romans 14:1

In a pluralistic, multicultural, group as the early Jesus movement was, disagreements and disputes were inevitable. They may have agreed that they were all called to love God and their neighbor, but they were never going to agree on what love looks like when put into practice.

For Paul, the first principle is mutual acceptance. We may believe or even “know” we are right and our neighbors are weak and wrong. But they belong to God and not us. They have a right to serve and follow God according to their understanding and consciences without us being condescending, without us condemning them.

We don’t have to affirm the correctness of their beliefs. But we do need to go beyond tolerance. I’m not talking about the dictionary definition of tolerance which means acceptance. I’m talking about the common usage of the word where we tolerance means merely putting up with something with neither agree with nor respect. Judgement and condescension are embedded in our tolerance.

Acceptance is more than this kind of tolerance. The acceptance Paul describes demands that we honor and respect each other’s perspectives even when cannot affirm them.

I’m Horace McMillon. This is 60 Seconds of Hope. Peace be with you.

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