Tolerance or Compromise

[stmatthew]

Received this in my email the other day, and thought it might be an interesting discussion topic. How would you differentiate "Tolerance" and "Compromise"?

This question was asked about Tolerance or Compromise and below is Elder James Groce's answer.


In a discussion about Apostolics and tv, the idea was being kicked around about allowing time for people to acclimate themselves into the church.

So how long before church standards are expected to be followed?

15 minutes?

3 months?

6 months?

1 year?

5 years?

So when, if ever, does tolerance become compromise?

Maybe some one can define the difference between Tolerance and Compromise?


This is Elder Groce's answer...

There were two basic groups in the Roman churches according to Romans 14, those Paul characterizes as "weak in faith," and those who he views as "strong in faith." Obviously Paul viewed being strong in the faith as preferable, and he counts himself as part of those who are strong in faith. Notice that Paul wants all members of the church to "accept" those who are weak in faith. The Greek word "accept" here means "to welcome." Paul is calling for genuine tolerance. Tolerance assumes we disagree or object to something. We tolerate, for instance, the inability of a child to read -- until they have had sufficient time to learn to read. We do not, however, tolerate WITHOUT teaching -- to do so would not be true biblical tolerance - it would be a crime! So where there is NO teaching there is no tolerance only compromise. Compromise does not deal with teaching-it only accommodates-it leaves the unschooled in spiritual ignorance.

A time factor?? -- once the subject(s) have been throughly taught - it is time to take the test.

Authentic Christian tolerance is an issue in the establishing of a church body that is designed for "the perfecting of the saints."

[rgcraig]

Excellent -

Tolerance comes from those that are strong in faith and compromise comes those weak in faith.

um...

shouldn't you first define who Paul was calling strong and who he was calling weak??

I'm pretty sure the strong ones were the ones without all the rules, and the weak ones were the ones who had all the rules they needed to follow...

I think you are reversing what Paul said completely in your application (if I'm reading it right)... The ones who don't follow standards should tolerate the weakness of those who keep them, it isn't the other way around...

[RevDWW]

Tolerance - When I acknowledge and allow for others existence even when I do not agree with, endorse, or accept their ideas, means, and methods as conforming to God's Word.
Compromise - When I accept, endorse, and agree with other's ideas, means, and methods when they are flawed and go against what I know to be God's Word.

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by RevDWW

Tolerance - When I acknowledge and allow for others existence even when I do not agree with, endorse, or accept their ideas, means, and methods as conforming to God's Word.
Compromise - When I accept, endorse, and agree with other's ideas, means, and methods when they are flawed and go against what I know to be God's Word.

Amen!

[CC1]

That Groce guy is a radical! You have to watch that kind.

[stmatthew]

So does teaching follow true tolerance in the church as the writer suggests? Is it true tolerance to leave someone outside of a "more perfect way"? Should Aquila and Priscilla have just tolerated Apollos Should a new child of God just be tolerated and left as a child, or be taught to grow in God?

[Felicity]

One man's tolerance is another man's compromise.

[stmatthew]

Originally Posted by Felicity

One man's tolerance is another man's compromise.

And one mans faith is another mans works, but that really doesn't deal with the issue of What the it means to show tolerance vs what it means to compromise. What do you think it means to be tolerant?? Do you agree or disagree with the righter....er writer.

I was face to face with this man two weeks ago......
He is a decent man but not the spokesman for the mainstream.
He is a radical in his own circle.

I prefer blocking out this type of sentiment and opinions.