Tolerance versus Endorsement
John 8:10,11 He looked up again and said to her, “Where did they all go? Did no one judge you guilty?” She answered, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “I don’t judge you either. You can go now, but don’t sin again.”
If there were just one word to sum up the dominant moral ethos of this age, it would be the word “tolerance”. It’s become the hallmark of decency, of concern, of love. And yet instinctively we know that some of the things we’re being called to be tolerant of are … quite plainly, wrong.
In this ‘anything goes’ world in which we live, why wouldn’t tolerance be the marque of common decency and respect? Sure, morals today ain’t what they were when I was growing up … but that’s a long time ago. The world’s changed. We’ve moved on to better things, better ways – smarter, less bigoted, more accepting. That’s a good thing, right?
Until you look at some of the things we’re being asked, compelled even, to endorse; debauchery of all kinds, delusional lifestyles, economic structures that perpetuate the widening of the gap between rich and poor.
American Catholic Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, puts it like this: “Evil preaches tolerance until it’s dominant, then it tries to silence good.” I can’t say that I disagree.
There was a woman back in Jesus’ day caught in adultery. The religious leaders wanted to stone her to death. Jesus stood up and defended her.
John 8:10,11 He looked up again and said to her, “Where did they all go? Did no one judge you guilty?” She answered, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “I don’t judge you either. You can go now, but don’t sin again.”
It turns out that tolerance and endorsement are two entirely different things. Of course we’re called to love everyone … absolutely, but like Jesus, not to endorse their sin.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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