Tolerance basically means not spitting on someone

A word that's been thrown around a lot since the uproar over mosque building and Qur'an burnings is "tolerance." Public figures of all types have been preaching non-stop the significance of being tolerant of other people's religion, traditions and so on. Most notably, Christians (of all levels of spiritual maturity) have been asked to be tolerant of our Muslim neighbors and their wishes to build places of worship in our communities. Over the past week, I've heard the phrase a ton and began to think about what it really means to be tolerant.

A quick look at dictionary.com gives some general definitions:

tol·er·ance

1. a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one's own; freedom from bigotry.

4. the act or capacity of enduring; endurance.

The two definitions above paint slightly different pictures, one being more permissive and the other more indifferent. According to a Wikipedia entry, "Conversely, 'intolerance' may be used to refer to the discriminatory practices sought to be prohibited." With that being said, I think I can surmise that tolerance basically means not spitting on someone.

Okay, maybe it's a gross exaggeration but the point I'm trying to make is that tolerance is a lot closer to hate than it is to love. Pastor Mike Glenn once said, "Do you know how dismissive it is to tolerate another human being, rather than to love that human being? To have someone and say you tolerate them...that's the best the world can offer. Jesus says, you love your neighbor. It isn't based on who they are or what they do, it is based on proximity. It is the person nearest you, the person in need nearest you, that is your neighbor."

Fellow Twitter user Dan Eggenschwiler tweeted recently, "Tolerance is a falsely promoted idea that is often confused with love & grace. I believe in love and grace. I do not believe in tolerance."

When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. The second is like it, love your neighbor as yourself." Christians are not called to tolerate. We are called to love, and love like we would love ourselves.

Who in your life have you merely tolerated? Is there someone in need of love right now?