Tolerance – another politically correct word in our generation. Tolerance is good. It is even biblical. But what our generation means by tolerance is entirely different. We have broadened the meaning of tolerance to blind acceptance of whatever anyone believes.
Tolerance is more than politically correct for our generation. It is a virtue. Those who are tolerant – according to the world’s understanding – are morally virtuous. Those who do not act according to the world’s definition of tolerance are morally deficient. Our culture would claim that Christian exclusivism – the belief that faith in Christ is the only means of salvation – is intolerant and thus morally deficient.
Dr. Harold Netland, in his Dissonant Voices, helps us understand how Christian exclusivism and tolerance are not incompatible. He argues that Christians can hold to Christian exclusivism and “be models of gracious tolerance and humble open-mindedness.” The key is in rightly understanding tolerance rightly.
Blind Acceptance?
Tolerance is not acceptance of everything and anything. There are limits to tolerance. Netland gives us a helpful illustration.
“In the moral realm, the man who passively watches while several other men hang rape a helpless woman will, if it is within his power to assist her, hardly be praised for demonstrating the virtue of tolerance. On the contrary, one could argue that he is morally culpable for failing to do what he could to assist the victim. Similarly, to never disagree with anyone, even when the statements of others are known to be false, is not a mark of tolerance but rather an indication of intellectual suicide. Some things are to be tolerated, others are not.” -page 305
Respect and Dignity
Tolerance of religious pluralism means that we treat persons from other religions with respect, and dignity, and kindness. It does not mean that we have to accept their religious views as true. It does not mean that we cannot disagree with them. It does not mean that we cannot try and convince them of the Truth. It does, however, always mean that we treat people as made in the image of God; with respect.
Our culture would not define tolerance this way. Tolerance today means not saying anything negative about another person’s beliefs. But by its definition, tolerance implies that there is something you don’t fully agree with. It wouldn’t be tolerant to agree with something that you heartily endorse. Netland argues,
“It is one thing to accept someone’s holding a particular belief but quite another matter to accept the content of that belief itself. Religious tolerance does imply the former, but not the latter.” –page 307
“In tolerating a religious belief p one is not adopting a special attitude toward the content of p itself. One can still regard p as false. Rather, one is adopting a certain acceptance of someone’s believing in p; one is accepting the right of that individual to believe p. It is an entirely different matter to believe that p is in fact true. It would seem, then, that simply maintaining that the beliefs of, say, Buddhism or Islam are false in and of themselves is not intolerant. This is not to deny, of course, that one can be intolerant in one’s treatment of Buddhists or Muslims or that the belief in the falsity of the views of others can lead to highly intolerant treatment of others.” -page 308
Respectfully and Graciously Disagree
This is very helpful. Tolerance does not mean endorsing what others believe, but treating with respect those who hold other religious beliefs. It means that we can, and we should, respectfully and graciously disagree with those who are outside of Christ. In fact, before we respectfully and graciously disagree we should go out of our way to communicate that we respect them even though we humbly disagree with them. In fact, we respect them so much that we want them to know and believe the truth. The apostle Peter said something similar,
Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. -1 Peter 3:13-17
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