Tolerance - Aug. 14 2013

" ...with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love"... Eph. 4:2
In other translations, the word "bear with" (anecho) is translated literally "showing tolerance". Put more simply, we put up with each other.
GK Chesterton said, "Tolerance is the virtue of a man without convictions."

To put up with one another, we need a strong set of convictions, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians makes it clear that we put up with one another because...
... I believe at the heart level that same Christ working in me, is living and working in you.
... because we are one body, innately connected to spiritual health of one another.
... We are both being granted strength by His Spirit.

Tolerance in the body of Christ assumes we are followers of Jesus. 
It assumes we are trusting Christ, so that we can walk in a manner worthy of our calling.
It assumes a set of convictions.

One Faith, One Lord, One Spirit

The World has a different definition of tolerance...
It has no convictions (they just call it "anti-bias"). We are not supposed to choose or prefer truth over lies, one way of life over another, one gender over another, one living arrangement over another.

Let's don't drag mediocrity into our community. Let's believe that each of us WILL grow in Christlikeness, because we trust His work.

And while we are trusting Him, please put up, bear with, tolerate my practice...

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