Love vs. Tolerance

I was driving in the car this morning thinking about the difference between love and tolerance. It seems as if we live in a culture that constantly talks about tolerance. We see bumper stickers that say "coexist" with every letter representing a different faith. We hear messages that say we should tolerate others no matter what their beliefs or preferences.

I understand where this comes from, I really do. We don't want people to go around discriminating, oppressing, or hurting others just because of the color of their skin or because of their beliefs, but I don't think that tolerance is the right message. Tolerance can be taken to an extreme - most advocates of tolerance would say we shouldn't "judge" based on someone's sexual preferences. But, almost everyone in society would agree that there are some sexual behaviors that should not be tolerated (i.e. teachers sleeping with students, etc.) no matter how much someone might "believe" in that behavior. It's as if those who proclaim tolerance want us to tolerate certain things but not others. Is that really tolerance?

I think that is a major issue, but I think the greater danger of tolerance is that it lacks relationship. We were created for relationship. In the church we know this so dearly, but even the world around us knows this. That's why we live in "communities." The real danger of tolerance is that it suggests that relationships don't matter. Tolerance says, "You can do whatever you want and it does not matter to me."

Personally I'm not ok with that, and I believe there is a better way. In 1 John it tells us that we love because He (Jesus) first loved us. As followers of Jesus Christ we are called to love one another. Love says, "You can do whatever you want and it does matter to me." If we truly love someone their actions do matter to us. Our love for them is not dependent upon their actions, we love them no matter what, but we most certainly care what a person does and does not do.

My hope and prayer is that those who have received love (The Church) can show love to the world around us so that we can find a better way to live.