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Understanding what the Bible says about tolerance is crucial for Christians today. Tolerance, as presented in Scripture, is a fundamentally different concept from the tolerance promoted in our society today. While the world advocates for a form of tolerance that demands, without judgment, the acceptance of all lifestyles and opinions as valid, the biblical perspective on tolerance is distinct. The Bible teaches that tolerance is not about accepting all behaviors or positions as valid but about extending patience, love, respect, and compassion toward those we may disagree with.
The Bible teaches tolerance as a virtue (Romans 15:5). Jesus Christ modeled the kind of tolerance He desired His followers to adopt and practice (Mark 9:38–40). Tolerance, from a biblical viewpoint, is the quality of forbearance. It means putting up with a person or a point of view even if we disagree (Ephesians 4:2). The verb tolerate means “to allow without opposing; to acknowledge the right of another to hold contrary opinions” (Grenz, S. J. and Smith, J, T., Pocket Dictionary of Ethics, InterVarsity Press, 2003, p. 120). Christians should seek to be as tolerant as possible so that the loving character of Christ will “shine out for all to see” (Matthew 5:16, NLT).
As Christ’s followers, we cultivate tolerance when we are prepared to love and accept people despite their different viewpoints. However, tolerance does not require Christians to defend or embrace ungodly or unbiblical viewpoints as valid or morally correct. Scripture plainly reveals that some lifestyles and behaviors are sinful and dishonoring to God. A faithful believer who desires to please the Lord and obey His Word will prioritize, maintain, and defend the truth, even when his or her convictions conflict with society’s expectations of tolerance (Acts 5:29).
Jesus did not condemn the woman caught in adultery but accepted her with grace and mercy (see John 7:53—8:11). At the same time, He did not ignore the fact that she was a sinner, nor did He encourage her to continue living in sin. Instead, Christ truthfully addressed her need, offering forgiveness and cleansing. Jesus told the woman to leave her life of sin and walk in a new life of holiness. A Christian can interact peacefully and gently with sinners and be as tolerant of them as possible. Still, he must never stop calling sinful behavior “sin,” nor should he encourage anyone to walk in a lifestyle of sin.
Tolerance is commended within the body of Christ. The apostle Paul wrote, “Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong” (Romans 14:1, NLT). Tolerance should be exercised when dealing with immature believers whose faith is weak (Romans 14:2–6; 13-22; 1 Corinthians 8:8–13). Rather than passing judgment on them and condemning them for their weakness, we should come alongside weaker brothers and sisters to help them (Romans 15:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; 1 Peter 4:8). We ought to live in such a way that we never cause a fellow believer to stumble or fall.
Jesus demonstrated to His disciples the need for tolerance with children (Matthew 19:13–14) and while serving one another (Mark 9:33–36). Paul encouraged ministers to tolerate other Christian workers, even when their motives might be wrong (Philippians 1:17–18).
The Bible places clear limits on tolerance. Evil and wickedness must never be tolerated (Habakkuk 1:13). There is no room in the church for false teachers or unsound, ungodly teachings (2 John 1:10–11; 2 Thessalonians 2:1–3; 1 Timothy 6:3–5, 20–21; 2 Peter 2:1). Sexual immorality and idolatry should not be tolerated in the body of Christ (1 John 5:21; 1 Corinthians 5:1–5, 11; 6:18–20; 10:7; Revelation 2:14).
Scripture instructs us to practice tolerance while never compromising the truth or relaxing God’s standard of holiness. This balance allows us to see people through the eyes of Jesus and perceive that they are lost, helpless sinners in want of His great compassion, mercy, grace, and forgiveness (Matthew 9:36; Mark 6:34). When we love people like Jesus does, selflessly, we can hear and see their unspoken needs, even if we don’t agree with them.
