Reminders: Tolerance with Love

According to a traditional Hebrew story, Abraham was sitting outside his tent one evening when he saw an old man, weary from age and the journey, coming toward him.  Abraham rushed out, greeted the man and invited him into his tent.  There he washed the old man's feet and gave him food and drink.  The old man immediately began eating without saying any prayer or blessing.  So Abraham asked him, “Don't you worship God?”  The old traveler replied, “I worship fire only and reverence no other god.”  When he heard this, Abraham became incensed, grabbed the old man by the shoulders and threw him out of his tent into the cold night air. 

When the old man had departed, God called to his friend Abraham and asked where the stranger was.  Abraham replied, “I forced him out because he did not worship you.”  God answered, “I have suffered him these eighty some years although he dishonors me.  Could you not endure him for one night?” 

The story is an illustration of how easy it is to criticize someone for not behaving the way we think they should.  We all know this old joke: “Do not criticize another person until you have walked a mile in his shoes…then you will be a mile away and have his shoes.” 

Of course, none of us would think of stealing another’s shoes.  But we don’t always think before we criticize, thus stealing another person’s dignity.  People who are looked at askance are often made to feel uncomfortable.  They may be reluctant to be around others for fear of being judged.  We all like to sit next to the nice people we know who think and worship like we do.  We think we know how God wants us to worship Him.  The problem is that God didn’t send His Son to die just for those who dress nicely and always sing His praises in tune.  Jesus came to save all people, especially the imperfect ones.

If you are staying away from church because you are not sure you will feel comfortable, remember that Jesus told us to love everyone, especially imperfect people.   And we are all imperfect!