If there is one mark of perfection, it is simply that it can tolerate the imperfections of others. It is able to adjust. – FénelonAs for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. -- Romans 14:1
How do I know I am not perfect? I am still upset by the faults of
others. Jesus became indignant over
religious rules that kept people in hopeless bondage. His anger unleashed in the courts of the
temple was symbolic, much like the charge to Saul to destroy all the
Amalekites. All of the old nature is
under condemnation and has no place in God’s sanctuary.
Meanwhile our declining culture has moved from religious Pharisees to political ones,
from Puritans condemning immorality to the grossly deviate and immoral
condemning Puritans.
Intolerance is one manifestation of fleshly power. Tolerance is a manifestation of spiritual
power – again with the true meaning of meekness.
Tolerance is not indifference. I am indifferent about a lot of things,
including who wins the football game on Sunday.
I have even become indifferent over the years to people who are Cubs
fans or non-Cowboy fans or people who like soccer. I have not been perfected with regard to such
things; I just don’t care anymore.
Arguing with fools can be entertaining; arguing with the
wise can be enlightening – except that the wise rarely argue. A wise person corrects a misunderstanding on
the part of another. He or she does not
quarrel. The wise have nothing to prove
because Truth, sooner or later, proves itself.
The fool fails to learn even from that – if he survives.
