Did Jesus teach tolerance?

[MrJim]

I logged in 1785 miles this week (including over 300 today) so ya think about stuff on the road. This is something that came to mind.

Whaddya think?

Tolerance |ˈtäl(&#601rəns| noun

1 the ability or willingness to tolerate something, in particular the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with : the tolerance of corruption | an advocate of religious tolerance. • the capacity to endure continued subjection to something, esp. a drug, transplant, antigen, or environmental conditions, without adverse reaction : the desert camel shows the greatest tolerance to dehydration | species were grouped according to pollution tolerance | various species of diatoms display different tolerances to acid.

 

[HypnoToad]

Depends - tolerance for what?

He did say "turn the other cheek," but He also routinely called the Pharisees "vipers" and drove the money changers out of the temple with a whip.

 

[Miss Shelby]

I don't believe he'd be very pc if he were to live in America today.

 

[ghs1994]

I believe He taught mercy and patience, but tolerance; I don't know anywhere in scripture that He taught tolerance. See if you can find something; I'd be interested to know. I'll look also.

 

[CyberPaladin]

In some ways the anwser is no when you considerd how it's been applied in our society today by those lousy tree hugging hippies that unless you embrace every religion as your own your intolerant.

On the other hand we are called to love our enemies which is very tolerant.

 

[St. Helens]

It depends on the definition of the word. He preached to love your enemies. He even forgave the woman caught in sin. But here's the rub; he told the woman to go and sin no more.

Jesus does not teach today's definition of tolerance. I believe the entire scripture is inspired by God. There are many places it says that there is only one God and the only path to Him is Jesus. The scripture also condemns homosexuality in several places including the book of Romans in the New Testament.

 

[ReformedChapin]

Jesus did teach tolerance, but not comtemporary liberal tolerance which is defined as non ethics. If one observes biblical tolerance we notice Christ centers on the purpose of the law which is to bring people to God not works since we would all fall short.

 

[tbird_energizerbunny]

He didn't teach being shut off from those that aren't Christian.

But he did teach us that we must love people first before anything else. Relations with people are more important than hell fire and brimstone from the get-go. I like to love people first, and then allow them to see what makes up my life. This means yes, religion and all. As a Christian, you must be tolerant with other religous perspectives before you ask someone to be tolerant of your own.

 

[JimfromOhio]

In my view, many Christians have mistaken the desire to maintain a spirit of tolerance rather than loving the sinners but hating their practices. If we belong to Jesus Christ, we must hate the practices of sins. The ability of Jesus Christ to hate sin because it was sin that Adam separated us from God. It was sin that Christ died for.

"What would Jesus do?"

Matthew 5:26-28 (King James Version)

26Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

27Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

In John 8 (King James Version), Jesus dealt with the the scribes and Pharisees of a woman committed adultery. Jesus wrote on the ground.
9And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

10When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

The love of Jesus is so inclusive that love knows no boundaries. We may be disgusted with their beliefs or their lifestyles. We are often ready to condemn and turn away from them. But not Jesus, He keeps on loving them.

During all of 3 years of His ministry, Jesus helped an "unworthy" person more than worthy. The great spiritual needs around us should drive us back to the gospel records of the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus. The best thing we know about our Lord and Savior is that He loves all sinners. He has always love the outcast and for that we should be glad, for we, too, were once outcasts.

 

[MrJim]

Some "tolerant" passages:

Matt7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Only one narrow way?

Matt7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

...but they meant well...

John6: 58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. 59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. 60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? 61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? 62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

...don't exactly see Jesus chasing after these disciples saying "wait, let me explain it better..."

John5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

...good & evil, isn't that relative?

Luke14:25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

...surely He didn't mean what He said here...

a work in progress

 

[ContentInHim]

Preach it, brother!

 

[MrJim]

John14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

...that sounds so confining and rigid...

John8:10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

...does that mean if she continues to sin she will be accused?

Matt15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

...there are lists of sins? But...

Mark7:20 [ESV] And he said, What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.

...defile?

 

[MrJim]

Luke6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

...but Mean People Suck

Matt13:41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

...doesn't sound very loving nor neighbourly...

 

[MrJim]

Matt18: 5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. 6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

...but it's legal to have this procedure, you know, I'm not really ready and it was an accident and the doctor said there might be something wrong and it's not like it's really a child yet...

 

[JimfromOhio]

If you keep sinning and not feeling guilty, not remorsing that you are not willing to repent and change your ways, it is a "sign" that you may not be saved. You are saved for Eternity because you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit. That we should "not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." (Ephesians 4:30). You are saved when the Holy Spirit convicting YOU to repent and help you change your ways. If you didn't feel the conviction and didn't have the motivation to change from "within", then you will know that you are not saved. Repent is NOT an addition to salvation but PART of salvation along with Grace. This is a CONTINUIOUS sanctification process of repenting throughout your Christian life.

This is about our relationship with God. God HATES sin. He is very concerned. God's honliness is important. He does not tolerate our sins no matter how SMALL (even a wink). Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Grace abounds continously as John explains in 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If a Christian thinks that God is not concerned about our sins as we do, then people don't really know God's holiness. 1 Corinthians 6:19, "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?" God looks into my heart for my spiritual obedience rather than perfection. I will never be perfect as long as I live in my body which is why God's grace is more than sufficient. In order for me to understand God's grace, I need to understand God's holiness. A person without having the Holy Spirit in the heart will not understand God's holiness therefore a person will define God's definition of sin in a human point of view (rather than spirit).

 

[ContentInHim]

You go, both Jims!

MrJim - I'm copying this down - it's too good to lose track of!

 

[tbird_energizerbunny]

While you have some very valid points...one question:

Will shutting off people completely, calling it 'intolerance' influence people to become Christians?

NO!

Will telling people that they're going to hell without even mentioning the wonderful grace of the Father convince them to become Christian?

NO!

Will telling them that God cannot accept them as they are convince them to become Christian?

NO!

Only by unconditional love which begats acceptance, only by merciful example, only by the knowledge of what kind of person you were before Christ, only by those things will Christ become the savior of the unbelievers.

 

[Joykins]

Tolerance is to the Love of God as good manners is to actual virtue.

 

[Voegelin]

Will shutting off people completely, calling it 'intolerance' influence people to become Christians?

And earlier you posted:

He didn't teach being shut off from those that aren't Christian

What or whom are you referring to by "shutting off people" and being "shut off"?

 

[Epiphoskei]

Tolerance is to the Love of God as good manners is to actual virtue.

I'm going to have to remember this one... I think it captures the difference quite well.