Vice is everywhere. Some is socially acceptable and some is not, depending on where you live and what year it is.
What was taboo 20 years ago is now encouraged; what was once commonplace is now unthinkable. It’s difficult to keep track of what’s OK anymore, since society’s rules are always changing.
So, we go our own way. And, by society’s benchmark, that’s exactly what we should do. These days, the ideal of tolerance is socially acceptable to the point of requirement. So afraid to be politically incorrect or culturally offensive, we’re taught tolerance is approving of any and all choices.
However, that is not its true definition. Tolerance, in the dictionary, is the disposition to adopt a liberal attitude towards the opinions or acts of others, especially those of other religions or ethnic backgrounds. What this means, is allowing others the freedom to choose how to live and what to believe on their own terms. It does not mean approving of or condoning those choices, but simply allowing every person the freedom to choose for himself.
January 2010’s LifeTrac article, Tolerance Re-Formed, discusses how the definition of tolerance has distorted in society’s mind and the ideal has become an idol in the place of God. Looking at Amsterdam, the city of tolerance, Robyn Roste tells of her time there—and what she learned about the realities of tolerance-gone-wrong. What started out as an incredible refuge in a time of persecution, has morphed into blanket approval. The consequence of this, is we no longer look past the choice to see the person—we look past the person altogether.
We say, “What’s OK for you is fine, and what’s OK for me is also fine.” We live and we die and we no longer connect with each other. This is not the way God intended for us to live. We are meant to be in relationship with Him, and with each other.
This year, commit to really see people. You may be surprised what you find.
By Robyn Roste
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