GREAT THINGS ENTERPRISE
CLAUDE BLACK
Mark 9:40
Tolerance
The history of Christianity is not pretty. At various times, Christians fought one another in what are known as “religious wars.” These wars were often over Christian doctrine, church authority, or confessional identity. Added to these areas of conflict were political, economic, and cultural differences. Christian doctrine, however, often provided the justification for, or trigger of, these wars.
J
esus faced a crisis. Some of his disciples discovered a minister who was casting out demons in Jesus’ name, but who was not part of the tight band of disciples who stayed close to Jesus. The disciples tried to stop him. When the disciple John told Jesus about the incident, Jesus told him to leave the minister alone because someone who is performing miracles in his name will not in the next moment speak evil about him. Then Jesus explained a vital principle: “For he who is not against us is for us.” (Mark 9:40)
It is a fearful thing for any man or church to think that he or it holds a monopoly on the Gospel. Truth is always bigger than any man’s grasp on it. No person can possibly grasp all truth—especially the truth about the Father’s work. One writer said that any god small enough to be understood is too small to be worshiped.
Tolerance is not the mindless acceptance of any idea that wafts across the horizon without justification or examination. On the other hand, intolerance is a sign of both ignorance and arrogance, for it shows that a person believes there is no truth beyond the truth he sees. The goal is thoughtful, justifiable tolerance.
Previous
Next
Directory