Tolerance is an essential Christian characteristic. While the word "tolerance" is not found in the Scriptures, yet the quality itself is often covered by such words as forbearance, charity, mercy, and the like. What we mean by tolerance, in the commonly accepted meaning of the word, is "to allow freedom in religious faith and practice."
This does not mean that "free thought" and "believe what you please" are permissible in the church of God. It does not mean there is no true doctrine which must be maintained and defended to the utmost limit, even to giving life itself; it does not mean there is a letting down of moral standards, and one can live in sin with the church indifferent to the acts of its members; it does not mean abandonment of discipline and faith, and co-operation in promoting a special work under the leadership of the Holy Spirit; but it does mean that Christians should not erect in their own minds, barriers to light and truth, and set themselves up as judges and spies upon the lives and teachings of those who may think they see light in harmony with the written word of God.
Controversies that have divided Christians into various sects have seldom been on vital elements of faith, essential to salvation, but on nonessentials, so far as salvation is concerned. Truth cannot be compromised, but nonessentials, which do not enter into our salvation, directly, ought not to bring alienation between brethren. Here is a wide sphere for tolerance.
Tolerance is not always found where we might naturally look for it. A teacher of the gospel of the kingdom would be supposed to possess tolerance in a marked degree, according to his education and cultural advantages. All leaders in religious revivals, and promoters of the deeper spiritual life among the people, should possess this indispensable Christian grace. Yet how often do these seem to lack the spirit of tolerance. They not only assume that they have the correct interpretation of all Scriptural doctrines, but they feel constrained to condemn all who do not accept their teachings as special light from God.
Religious intolerance has been the bane of the church from time immemorial. The Jews were intolerant of all religions save their own, and were content to see suffering and destruction visited upon those who did not worship God according to their ritual. From the time of the Jews, who condemned Christ and demanded that He should be crucified, all down through the ages, intolerance has been the greatest hindrance to the spread of the gospel. Infidelity and its teachings, philosophy and science, have been as molehills to the progress of the gospel compared to the intolerance found among those who have professed to believe in the gospel of the kingdom.
All religious persecutions of all times have come as the result of intolerance. Millions have died in many lands for their faith, because of the intolerance of those in power, who believed that they had the true doctrine. For intolerance has always said: "I have the genuine doctrine; whatever any may teach differing from my faith, is heresy; and it is a Christian duty to destroy all heresy."
We cannot understand the forbearance of God. Rebellion in heaven, and that among His highest created intelligences fighting to dethrone Jehovah, meets not the destruction of the rebel angels. Where is such marvelous patience exhibited as we see in the warring angels being cast out of heaven but not destroyed?
Christ met all the insults of rulers and teachers during His ministry, and never once displayed His authority to compel one soul to acknowledge His divinity. Judas, the traitor, had a place with the chosen disciples, and not till he had reached his final decision to betray the Master did Christ make known who should betray Him. Tolerating him till the last night of His ministry, Christ neither by command nor by force renounced the discipleship of Judas. Paul endured the wrangling of the Jews, zealous in their blindness to destroy the churches for which he had worked so hard and endured so much, yet he did not use unbecoming language concerning them, and in all his letters he scarcely mentions their opposition. Peter tells of angels high in authority who would not bring a railing accusation against Satan, but said, "The Lord rebuke thee."
A church as well as an individual may be intolerant. Intolerance is as active and zealous as true Christianity. The spirit that it manifests is a bigoted, jealous temper, that desires to see crushed and destroyed what it terms heresy. There is no degree of suffering and humiliation that an intolerant spirit is not willing to see inflicted upon one with whom it does not agree, unless the heretic will surrender to what such a one thinks is the true faith and practice.
What a strange spirit the Lord often beholds in would-be champions of the true faith, when He sees their determination to crush any who may differ from them in faith and teaching! Who can be too certain that his teachings are absolutely correct, without a flaw in doctrine? Absolute light and fullness of knowledge belong only with God. Truth never changes. It is absolute; it cannot change. Mortal man has not yet attained to absolute truth. Science itself does not profess absolute correctness, but ever holds itself ready for advanced light. Every formula may be set aside, and a new theory suggested for demonstration. All true scientists preserve an open-minded attitude toward the results and suggestions of the research and study that are constantly going forward. Medicine is ever changing its diagnosis of disease, and its formulas for relieving and curing the sick. The infallible is not easily attained anywhere, save in matters of religion and in church diplomacy!
Spiritual truth is more difficult to demonstrate than scientific truth. There must be a guide in spiritual things. The Christian takes the Bible as his infallible guide. But Scripture has to be interpreted. Its meaning is not always clear; for words are subject to interpVetation, and different persons get a different meaning from the same words. Who shall say which is right in the interpretation to be put upon words? Accepting the Bible as inerrant, who can be absolutely certain that he hts the right meaning of his teaching or faith? We all admit that God is truth, inerrant, infallible. But can man take even the word of God, and be infallible in his interpretation of the infallible word? If he can, then he would be certain of absolute truth, which would be unchangeable. But if mortal man, however desirous he may be of infallibility, can err in his interpretation of the word, then ought he not to be charitable to all who try to live according to the light that shines upon the heart of every man as he interprets the Scripture?
Instead of manifesting a spirit of Christian tolerance, how often we see men, with all the weaknesses that they condemn in their fellows, daring to force others to comply with their understanding of correct doctrine and Scriptural interpretation, and using all the force and authority they have to harm and destroy those who differ with them in practice and belief. Some, while they have no authority themselves to harm, demand that those who do have authority shall use it to enforce their demands.
The truth is to be preached with all the authority of Scripture under the influence of the Holy Spirit, but incrimination and cruel epithets are to be left entirely out of the vocabulary of the Christian minister. True tolerance leaves the Holy Spirit to deal with the erring, while we in humbleness of heart preach truth as we understand it.
Tolerance is no compromiser; it stands for what it believes; it defends the faith as it is seen: but it has no spirit to crush opposition with authority and power, nor does it endeavor to silence those who see not as it sees. Tolerance is not an easy-going spirit, indifferent to truth and careless as to faith; tolerance is zealous, aggressive, positive. When it meets opposition, it stands for truth; but it will not by word or act lift a finger to crush error by force. Toleration stands for truth, as it is seen and understood; beyond that, toleration never goes, nor does it denounce nor cast opprobrious epithets at those who make its way difficult. It is pitiful, patient, forbearing. Because of its Christlikeness, it may sometimes be taken for indifference; but it is as far from indifference as the east is from the west.
Tolerance is not license for every false doctrine to be preached, thus destroying true faith. It does not extend the privilege of propagating error to the destruction of the brotherhood of true Christians. But even in this, toleration harbors no bitterness toward those who hold erroneous views, nor would it crush them if it could. Yet the Bible will not allow one who feeds the flock of God to permit heresy to be preached to his flock. Responsibility for the flock of God is in the keeping of the ministry, and no true pastor will permit the church to be destroyed simply because he is tolerant.
It is a great pity when some individual makes himself judge, and condemns the faith of his fellows, using his own finite knowledge of truth as the standard. The Christian is to teach the truth as he sees it; when he differs in belief from others, he should show toleration for those who hold different views.
Tolerance must certainly be one characteristic of the last church. Without it there must come breaking of fellowship.
I. H. E.