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TOLERANCE... and INTOLERANCE... ( UNDERSTANDING... then FORGIVING ) ( IF I can understand -- I can "accept".... and forgive. ) See below on this page: A time to be intolerant (link) Selected from the on-going INTERNET BOOK, "The Doctor's Terrific Tablets" ( http://www.terrific-tabs.com ) by John N. Todd III, M. D. (link) This "tablet" correlates closely with: WHAT do you POSSESS that was not GIVEN to you... by GOD (link). AND Peacemakers -- they say (link)
Supplemented, or "doctored": 10/00; 9/01; 1/02; 5/02; 6/02; 8/02; 11/02; 2/03; 4/03; 5/03; 8/03; 10/03; 11/03; 3/04; 7/04; 1/05; 2/05; 9/20/05 CLICK HERE to go to the "FRONT PAGE" of "The Doctor's Terrific Tablets" CLICK HERE for ALPHABETICAL INDEX of this entire WEBSITE CLICK HERE to EMAIL your thoughts to the author 1 Corinthians 4: 7 (NEB) "Who makes you, my friend, so important? What do you possess that was not GIVEN to you? If then you really received it all as a gift, why take the credit to yourself?" "There, but for the grace of God.... go I." How can I understand your situation -- your dilemma -- the problems you face? How can I sense the other fellow's misery, his pain; his anxiety; his worry, and "depression"? For example: how can I know what it is to be "born black" -- or how can I comprehend the "feelings" of being a female? How can I sense the apprehension of an immigrant in a foreign land? How can I grasp the mindset of a criminal, or a prisoner.... or the misery of an individual "trapped" by substance-addiction? The more I think about it, the more I become aware of the many human factors and circumstances and conditions that I cannot possibly grasp.... because I have never experienced them personally, or "first-hand". You and I may think we know how we'd feel in the other guy's shoes -- but do we really understand? Consider the following list, that I have applied to myself. Then.... you decide how many of these "conditions" and situations are circumstances that you cannot fully comprehend, personally -- because you have never experienced them.... yourself. If we. you and I, can begin to consider and understand those "other" individuals -- those who dwell outside of our own "sphere".... those who may be "imprisoned" in sad or bad or dreadful circumstances.... then we can become more "tolerant"...... and then we can become more forgiving? What do you think? What else should be on my list.... and yours? I have never been "black", Hispanic, or a "foreigner", or of "mixed-race"; I have never been "female"; (My wife does not know what it is to be a "male"); I've never been a Jew, a Catholic, a Baptist, a Muslim, or a Hindu; I've never lived in a "broken family", or with a "single" parent; I've never been divorced, or "separated"; I have never been "gay"; I have never been an immigrant, or an illegal "alien"; I've never lived anywhere except in Alabama (except for U.S. Air Force service in Newfoundland and Florida); I have never been in a military battle, or "war zone"; I have never had a deformity, or a severe disability; I've never had a chronic disease; I've never had AIDS, or any other "sexually transmitted disease". I have never been bald, or "overweight", or fat; I have never been deaf, or "hard-of-hearing; I've never been blind; and I have never had severe visual impairment; I've never been physically ugly, or unattractive; I've never been poor; I've never been on welfare; I've never been unschooled, or illiterate, or uneducated; I (we) have never had serious problems with our children; I've never had mental (intellectual) inadequacy; I've never had a mental illness (depression, schizophrenia, or other); I have never taken or used illegal "drugs"; I've never needed or used "pain pills", or "nerve pills"; I have never consumed alcohol (I tried it, "unsuccessfully", in college); I've never lived with or around consumers of alcohol, or drugs; (How can I understand and be tolerant of "substance-abuse"); I've never had to live with and care-for old and decrepit individuals; I've never been arrested, or in jail, or in "trouble with the law"; I have never been sued; I've never been a smoker (I tried it as a youngster); I've never been unemployed; My family and I have always had health insurance; I've never been a "politician", nor a legislator; I've never been a member of a "labor union"; I've never been a preacher -- nor a lawyer; I've never been employed by a public school, or college; I have never lost a job; and I have never been "laid-off"; I have never been homeless; and I have never gone hungry; I've always lived in a comfortable "house" -- and "home". No wonder I have sometimes been "intolerant" -- and slow to "understand".... and reluctant to "accept" and to "forgive". I've never "lived" under the conditions enumerated above. But.... I am learning; and "sensing"; and "feeling".... and hopefully, I'm improving -- every day ! What about you ?? Now note the following scriptural references, concerning tolerance, understanding, kindness -- and forgiving: Colossians 3: 12 (NRSV) As God's chosen ones (linked) -- holy and beloved -- clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another; and if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Matthew 6: 12 (NRSV) And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.... 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; 15 but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. A time to be intolerant, and unforgiving.... If you and I and they can "see" and "sense" and "comprehend" each other.... we can "accept" and tolerate each other -- and hence forgive. BUT.... should we always be "tolerant", understanding, and forgiving? An afterthought has come to mind, recently; and must be mentioned here. Some behavior, and certain actions are intolerable -- indeed unforgivable -- and must be neither accepted nor "understood". All of us can remember drastic behavior and circumstances that have led us, personally, to fight.... and we can recall unforgivable historical events that "civilization" could not, and should not, and did not.... tolerate. We in the United States have recently suffered (9/11/01) a grievous injustice, when the Pentagon was attacked.... and when the World Trade Center in New York City was destroyed by terrorists.... killing more than 3000 people. These acts were apparently perpetrated by "Muslims" from various Middle-Eastern countries, claiming to be acting in the name of God (Allah).... the same "God of Abraham" that Jews and Christians and Muslims "accept".... and worship. As for me, I absolutely accept the Biblical truth that "vengeance" belongs to God.... but I suspect that, under a circumstance like this attack on the United States, God Himself will lead, and has led, His people to become God's own "hands".... to extract God's "vengeance" and retribution and justice against those responsible for acts like this dreadful terroristic assault on God's heaven-rescued land (link). (See link Enemies of God; and enemies of God's people.) What about you? Do you always tolerate, understand, and forgive? Are there times when we humans are called-upon to be intolerant and unforgiving.... and to resist, and to fight.... with GOD's help? What say you? |