EPHESIANS 4:1-3( NIV)
“AS A PRISONER FOR THE LORD, THEN, I URGE YOU TO LIVE A LIFE WORTHY OF THE CALLING YOU HAVE RECEIVED. BE COMPLETELY HUMBLE AND GENTLE, BE PATIENT, BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE.MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO KEEP THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT THROUGH THE BOND OF PEACE”
In recent times, we hear a lot about “TOLERANCE”. It has become the new slogan among social and political analysts, newscasts, entertainment critics, educational institutions, religious circles and even in casual conversations.
No day passes without the use of the word “tolerance”. You can hardly open a newspaper or turn on your TV without being confronted with calls for a more tolerant society. Religious organisations and individuals are also under severe pressure to push the limits of personal and religious tolerance. Many people even use it without a proper understanding of the word. According to Oxford English Dictionary, “Tolerance is the ability or willingness to tolerate the existence of opinions or behaviour that one dislikes or disagrees with”. It is a fair, objective, and permissive attitude towards those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, tribe, beliefs etc differ from one’s own; Biblically however, the true virtue of tolerance is one’s ability to show patience, kindness, long suffering and forbearance towards other people regardless of their backgrounds, status, race, tribe or colour. Winds of intolerance are blowing strongly, fanned by politics; tribal, racial, religious extremism and ethnic prejudice.
During the days of Jesus, He was surrounded by intolerance. The Jews and Samaritans in particular did not like one another. The Samaritan woman said to him ( Jesus); “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink”(For Jews do not associate with Samaritans)
(John 4:9 NIV) Not only was she a Samaritan, she was a woman. Women were treated as inferior to men. Today, we see the same thing. Religious leaders scorn on common people. Political parties tolerate only the views of those who agree with them. Divergent views are targeted, maligned, intimidated, humiliated and in some cases even beaten.
No society grows where all the people think alike. Differences in opinion is not a recipe for chaos, hatred and destruction. Love is the key to becoming more tolerant, opens our hearts to others, despite their imperfections and idiosyncrasies.
To be cont..
Stay blessed always and remember to love someone and mean it.
#sociallysignificant #Lukebarson #Libertybreakfast Rev. Prophet Luke Luki Barson is the Senior Pastor at Liberty House Christian Centre at Tema Community 25.
He has studied at the University of Ghana, the Methodist University College and the Christian Service University College.
He is currently a PhD student at the University of South Africa.
Source: BestNewsGH.com
