The Unique Tenacity of Christian Community
Reflections
Paul derives strenuous tolerance not from a soft theory of moral relativism or a pragmatic adjustment to pluralistic reality…but rather from the action of God in Christ.
— Robert Jewett
Christian Tolerance: Paul’s Message to the Modern Church
- Fire and religion are alike, could be a great good, and a great harm
- Sources of disagreement: Historical, Religions, Moral
- Often 2 Options: tolerance, or strong conviction but intolerance
- Paul, as Saul, had been the one with strong conviction, little tolerance
- Then Paul has vision of inclusion
- Costly tolerance
- Disputable Matters – let each hold their own conviction
- God is more concerned with how we handle disagreement
- It is like parents are more concerned with kids getting along, than ruling every dispute
- Honor each other’s best intention
- It is more important to accept each other’s conviction over disagreement
