Tolerance Is NOT a Four Letter Word

The Wartburg, Eisenach, Germany

"So those of us who have a strong faith must be patient with the weaknesses of those whose faith is not so strong. We must not think only of ourselves." Roman 15:1 God's Word to the Nations

I have to admit that I struggle with the word tolerance. It seems that for many people this word is synonymous with agreement. In other words, to tolerate another individual's opinion is the same as agreeing with it, yet that is not what tolerance means.

This tower at the south end of the Wartburg taught me an important lesson about tolerance. There is a dungeon at the bottom of this tower and it was used by Lutherans to imprison an Anabaptist leader.

The main problem that the Lutherans had with Anabaptist was their theology on baptism. They didn't believe in infant baptism.  As a result, an Anabaptist leader was held in this dungeon until he died.

Even though we may not put people in physical prisons, we can create cruel dungeons for people who do not agree with our opinions. There is the dungeon of name calling and labeling someone as stupid for their opinions. This is a favorite of people in all spheres of politics.

If tolerance means that I must agree with another person, then I will continue to struggle with this word. If tolerance means the freedom we have in Christ to disagree yet love each other, I will strive to be tolerant.

Besides, you and I don't have the final word, only God does and his final word was spoken on the cross.

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(Click on picture to enlarge.)

Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2013 Douglas P. Brauner.  ARR.