Article December 5, 1988 Issue

Mere tolerance

The Christian Science Monitor

He seemed so out of place in our town. He appeared to own only one set of very worn clothing. You would see him silently searching through trash containers looking for five-cent deposit cans. You couldn't help wondering if he felt merely tolerated in this prosperous community.

Mere tolerance of our fellow beings, whatever their situation, indicates a need for greater compassion and constructive action, among other things. It often conceals silent annoyance and disdain toward those on the fringes of society.

There's a strong message about uncharitable attitudes, especially self-righteous judgment, in Christ Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. "Judge not, that ye be not judged,"^{See Matt. 7:1.} the Master admonished.