Mekenna Eisenga | Staff Writer

For a country that was once settled by immigrants and is home to much cultural diversity, America doesn’t seem to be as tolerant over different beliefs and customs as you would think. Currently, there are protests over violent clashes between police and black men and women, and tensions are high between Christians and the LGBTQ+ community—the end of the tunnel is not looking so bright. Isn’t that strange, disappointing and awful?

“Tolerance is the acceptance and appreciation for rich diversity, the recognizing of basic human rights and the diminishing of conviction toward one another,” said Amy J. Record of Learning to Give, a philanthropic organization that promotes the youth to empower action for the common good in the classroom. In a world that has experienced such evil like World War II, the Holocaust and slavery, it all stemmed from the same issue: intolerance to certain groups of people and actions.

We were never intended to be intolerant people––as there would have only been one race, one culture, one perspective. Yet God designed this world to have a diverse set of people. He is evident in different races, cultures and languages. We know this from passages such as Revelation 7:9: “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, people, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb clothed in white robes” (NKJV).

With our current society of various religions, social practices and sexualities, we as a country need to then accept people for who they are as they were all made in the image of God and are loved by God. We may pursue this through true tolerance.

“I think true tolerance is only possible when a person has deep convictions. A lot of people mistake moral apathy for tolerance, but they’re not the same thing,” said Michael Bruner, ministry professor at APU. “In fact, they’re opposites. One means that you just don’t care about an issue either way—moral apathy—while the other implies that you care about an issue and strongly support one side but are willing to let the other side co-exist.”

And by teaching and pursuing this true tolerance, we can ultimately promote the peace we need in our society.

“By teaching tolerance, we allow individuality and diversity while promoting peace and a civil society,” said Learning to Give employee Amy J. Recor.

The Office of Women’s Development plays a role in encouraging students to practice tolerance in each interaction and issue they face with students. They are there to help, no matter the issue or whether they agree with what happened. They pour into students regardless of the circumstance.

“As far as our work here in the Office of Women’s Development, we believe that each individual carries with them intrinsic value that is present regardless of choices they make throughout their lives,” said Courtney Frybarger, administrative assistant in APU’s Office of Women’s Development. “We treat each person with dignity and respect and seek to support, not impart judgment.”

In reality, we will not agree with every single thing another person does. Yet if we are believers who strive to be more like Jesus each day, we must then show grace and mercy to others that he extends to us. I myself do not believe in multiple gods, but I won’t persecute you if you do. I do not agree that people are born homosexual, but I won’t be against you if you do. I do not agree with sex outside of marriage, but I won’t stop listening to you if you do.

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you,” wrote the Apostle Paul (Colossians 3:13, NIV).

He was a friend to prostitutes and tax collectors. He was a man who was without sin and acted out of love, not under religious regulations. As we pursue a life that reflects Christ’s love, may we continue to learn what it means to love all people regardless of their differences from us. Pray for others, be attentive to their needs and be willing to be a voice of tolerance to those around you.