Shouldn’t we always be tolerant?

Tolerance is an important virtue. Given the wide range of human perspectives and imperfections, patient tolerance – humble endurance of other people’s shortcomings – is basic to the foundation of civil society. Scripture emphasizes the importance of tolerance and acceptance of others, and living at peace with one another (Proverbs 12:20, 15:1; Matthew 5:9; Romans 12:18).

Tolerance is important. But if practiced to excess, it becomes an idol. It’s difficult to think of virtues as idols, but if any particular virtue isn’t considered in the context of God’s overall authority and the interdependence of all virtues on each other, it can easily become one. As an example, consider the virtue of courage. Most great discoveries and accomplishments require courage. Yet may people have suffered and died when foolhardiness or aggression has been mistaken for courage. Genuine courage is in harmony with the other virtues.

In some historical contexts, tolerance has been the most important virtue, defending freedom of expression, action, and thought. But just as foolhardiness and aggression can be mistaken for courage, laziness and fatalism can be mistaken for tolerance.

The apostle Paul gave us a short list of what he considered the greatest virtues in 1 Corinthians 13:13: faith, hope, and love. But even of these three, he declared the greatest to be love (vv. 1, 13).

Lesser virtues like tolerance must be measured by the standards of love. Love sets the criteria for real tolerance. Real tolerance can’t exist apart from judgment and discernment in response to individual and social evil. “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good” (Romans 12:9). Under the rule of love, some evils must be confronted.

Adapted from Answers To Tough Questions © 2010 RBC Ministries. Read more helpful articles like this one on the Web at Questions.org