What Does The Bible Say About Tolerance?
The Bible has a lot to say about how we should treat others, even those who are different from us or believe differently than we do. At the core of the Bible’s teachings is a call to love one another, which requires exhibiting patience, kindness, and tolerance of diversity.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: The Bible encourages believers to be tolerant and loving towards all people regardless of differences in belief, ethnicity, social status, etc.
Key passages emphasize accepting others without judgment, showing grace and mercy, and unity among believers despite disagreements.
Old Testament Passages on Acceptance and Inclusion
Leviticus 19 – Love your neighbor as yourself
In Leviticus 19, God instructs the Israelites to “love your neighbor as yourself” (v. 18). This command to love others demonstrates God’s desire for His people to live in harmony and treat each other with respect, regardless of differences. It calls for accepting others unconditionally.
Some key points from Leviticus 19:
- Leave gleanings in the fields for the poor and foreigner (v. 9-10) – care for those in need
- “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge” (v.18) – forgiveness trumps retribution
- “Treat the foreigner residing among you as your native-born” (v.34) – accept those from outside your community
This inclusive ethic was countercultural in its ancient context. God called Israel to move beyond tribal divisions and care for vulnerable groups typically marginalized in the ancient Near East.
Ruth – Story demonstrating acceptance of outsiders
The book of Ruth highlights God’s inclusive embrace through the story of Ruth, a foreign Moabite widow who was welcomed into Israelite society through her marriage to Boaz. Some key points:
- Ruth commits to care for her Israelite mother-in-law Naomi after both their husbands die (Ruth 1:16-17) – models commitment beyond ethnic lines
- Boaz allows Ruth, a Moabite outsider, to glean from his fields (Ruth 2:8-9) – extends grace to the vulnerable foreigner
- Boaz ultimately takes Ruth, a non-Israelite, as his wife (Ruth 4:13) – boundary-breaking acceptance
As a Moabite, Ruth would have been excluded from full participation in Israel according to Deuteronomy 23:3. Yet she is welcomed in as a worshipper of Yahweh and member of Israelite society. God’s people are called to move beyond prejudice and welcome those considered outsiders.
Jonah – God shows mercy even towards people Jonah thought undeserving
The book of Jonah highlights God’s compassion and forgiveness even towards groups despised by God’s people. Key points:
- Jonah resists preaching to the people of Nineveh, the brutal Assyrian capital (Jonah 1:2-3) – does not believe they deserve grace
- God has mercy when Nineveh repents at Jonah’s preaching (Jonah 3:5-10) – extends forgiveness to Israel’s enemies
- Jonah is displeased at God’s grace towards Nineveh (Jonah 4:1) – wants judgement not compassion
This narrative subverts the common expectation of doom for foreign nations by highlighting God’s unexpected forgiveness. It challenges tribalism and calls God’s people to align with His values by caring for those they may consider undeserving of grace.
Jesus’s Teachings on Loving One’s Enemies
Matthew 5 – Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus challenges his followers to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). This was a radical concept in a society where loving only those who love you was the norm.
Jesus calls his followers to a higher love that transcends retaliation and surfaces the humanity in all people, even enemies. By praying for persecutors, Jesus’s followers overcome evil with good.
Modern psychology supports Jesus’s teaching. Research shows that practicing unconditional love reduces hostility and increases goodwill between antagonists [1]. Praying for enemies can humanize them, opening the door for reconciliation.
Luke 6 – Do good to those who hate you
Luke’s gospel records Jesus preaching, “Do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:27). Jesus calls for non-retaliation, replacing tit-for-tat exchanges with creative goodwill. His followers should live generously towards all people, not distinguishing between friend and foe.
Putting Jesus’s words into practice today transforms relationships and communities. Initiatives like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa and restorative justice programs show the power of overcoming evil with good. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Jesus’s ministry as an example of reaching out to marginalized
Throughout his ministry, Jesus put his radical ethic into practice by reaching out to marginalized groups despised by religious elites — women, children, the sick, the poor, even tax collectors and prostitutes.
His example calls his followers into compassionate solidarity with groups labeled as “enemies.”
Modern movements for justice show that establishing relationships of understanding and advocacy across dividing lines requires courageous initiative. Jesus’s interface with society’s outcasts inspires his followers to cross borders of difference with empathy and moral imagination.
Acts and Epistles – Accepting Others Despite Differences
Acts 10 – Peter accepts Gentiles into the early church
In Acts 10, we read the pivotal story of the Apostle Peter receiving a vision from God that leads to a radical change in accepting Gentile believers. Though Jewish dietary laws previously prevented fellowship with Gentiles, God tells Peter, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean” (Acts 10:15).
As a result, Peter preaches the Gospel to the Roman centurion Cornelius and his household, welcoming these first Gentile converts by baptizing them in the name of Jesus Christ.
This was a hugely controversial move at the time, but Peter concludes, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right” (Acts 10:34-35).
Though differences remained between Jewish and Gentile believers, Peter set the example of tolerance and inclusion of all under the umbrella of faith in Christ.
Galatians 3 – All are children of God despite ethnic/social differences
The Apostle Paul also champions unity amongst believers regardless of ethnicity, gender, or social status. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul proclaims, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
Though vast differences remained between these groups in the Greco-Roman world, Paul stresses their equal standing as adopted children of God when they put their faith in Jesus.
Paul argues forcefully in Galatians against those trying to impose Jewish ceremonial laws on Gentile believers, concluding, “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith” (Galatians 3:26).
Tolerance stems from this foundational truth that all believers share the same spiritual Father.
Romans 14-15 – Accept other believers despite disagreements over disputable matters
In his letter to the Romans, Paul provides practical advice for tolerance between “the weak” and “the strong” amongst the diverse Roman church – disputed issues like eating meat sacrificed to idols. His counsel in Romans 14-15 emphasizes that secondary issues should not threaten church unity.
Paul challenges the Roman believers, “Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters… Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls” (Romans 14:1,4).
Even when disagreements persist on debatable issues, Paul instructs the church to err on the side of tolerance rather than demanding uniformity.
Balancing Truth and Tolerance
While called to accept others, Christians still uphold moral truths
As Christians, we are called to love and accept all people just as Jesus did (John 13:34-35). However, this does not mean compromising on moral truths or tolerating sinful behaviors that go against God’s Word (Isaiah 5:20).
We must find the right balance of speaking the truth with love (Ephesians 4:15) while also extending grace and patience to others as God has shown us (2 Peter 3:9).
For example, Jesus openly spent time with and showed love to those considered “sinners” in his day, yet he still upheld God’s standards of morality and righteousness, calling all to repentance and belief in the gospel (Mark 1:15).
The early Christians also modeled this balance, accepting pagan converts while urging them to turn from idolatry and sexual immorality (1 Thessalonians 1:9, Acts 15:23-29).
How to engage others with both grace and conviction
When engaging people who believe or behave differently than biblical guidelines, we must do so with gentle humility, patience and grace. As 1 Peter 3:15 reminds us, we must always be prepared to give a defense for our beliefs, but to do so with gentleness and respect.
Here are some practical tips to keep in mind when dialoguing or building relationships across moral/spiritual differences:
- Be quick to listen and slow to speak (James 1:19). Seek to understand where others are coming from.
- Ask gracious questions to understand beliefs and motives rather than attacking or assuming the worst in others.
- Clearly articulate your own position with gentleness and logical reasoning rather than emotional outbursts or self-righteousness. Stay humble (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
- Find common ground and emphasize shared values even when concrete beliefs differ significantly.
- Consider someone’s personal experiences and story that may have shaped their perspectives over time. Withhold judgment (Matthew 7:1-2).
The goal is to represent Christ through our speech and conduct, sowing seeds of truth without compromising conviction or biblical values. With patience, grace and wisdom from above, we can engage even those with radically different worldviews in a thoughtful, compassionate manner (Colossians 4:5-6).
Conclusion
In summary, while the Bible sets standards of truth and morality for believers, it places great emphasis on exhibiting patience, grace, and love towards all people, even those very different than us. Scripture calls us to a thoughtful balance of conviction and tolerance as we relate to those who believe differently than we do or come from different backgrounds.
