Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
We must learn tolerance, and then love. Let us not confuse tolerance with acceptance, though. As I stood in line to post a package I noticed, couldn’t help but notice, the young man ahead of me in line. Shaven head to jackboots, with a jacket emblazoned with a large swastika, his dress screamed, “Look at me! Fear me!” Then there was his angry scowl that said, “What? Don’t look at me!” I felt my hair bristle. “Didn’t we crush this satanic group in WW II?” I was sure I wasn’t alone in thinking so.
I must tolerate this young angry man’s experimenting with ideas. I do not have to accept the ideas. Instead of crushing, perhaps we must seek to convert. By God’s grace we can tolerate much and love all. We act on God’s behalf, and hope for our enemies’ conversion of heart, mind, and soul.
I then need to ask God for forgiveness for my judgmental nature, and learn to love the young man. I must love him for God died for him and all. To do God’s work is to do love all as Christ loved us.
Hebrews 13: [1] Let brotherly love continue.
[2] Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
[3] Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
[4] Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
[5] Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
[6] So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
[7] Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
[8] Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. In Christ's love,
Fr. Robert Pax