In Search of Tolerance

Is it possible to be sincere but wrong? It certainly is! Sincerity does not always mean right. As Saul found out, it is possible to be sincerely zealous but mistaken in our views. Saul was highly educated in Jewish law and totally committed to protecting the Jewish heritage as God’s chosen people.  It was therefore not surprising that he took it as his personal responsibility to wipe out this “new sect” that he felt taught ideas heretical to the Jewish faith. In his zeal and piety to protect his religion and culture, Saul took to the streets! His holy indignation led him to use all means possible to hunt down and imprison the perceived enemies of his faith. 

“At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem . . . . As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.” Acts 8:1, 3.

It would take nothing less than God to convince Saul that he was allowing his prejudices to get in the way of his relationship with fellow believers. And so it was during one such pursuit that God brought Saul to a screeching halt by knocking him to his knees and taking his sight.  

“As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Acts 9: 3-6. 

This meeting with God was dramatic and convincing enough that Saul was convicted of his error and sought to make amends. With equal zeal, Saul chose a complete turn around which led to a change in his vision and mission. 

What happens next is interesting— Saul seeks to join with the Christians but comes up against resistance. He is now the object of persecution and becomes the man on the run! The Christians are seeking to kill him. Many of them unconvinced that he could now be genuinely on their side. This, they felt, was just another ruse to ensnare them. So they actively seek his death. 

A helpful comparison is the response of Ananias to Saul’s change of heart. Ananias also a Christian, knows Saul’s history and fears him, but he chooses to be guided by God.

“Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.” Acts 9: 13 -15.

Ananias’ acceptance is so complete that when Saul arrives Ananias calls him “brother” and he begins his role of nurturer Saul. What is the difference between Ananias and the other Christians seeking Paul’s life?— an open mind. The difference was his willingness to seek God’s guidance, his willingness to give Paul the benefit of the doubt, and his willingness to listen. The others must also have received the news of Saul’s conversion but were not willing to give him the opportunity to prove himself. The line was drawn and it was going to stay there— Saul on one side and they on the other.  So Saul becomes a fugitive being hunted down by zealous believers!

How true that is of us today. We often have preconceived ideas of people based on their history or stories that precede them. We use these to put up barriers between us and them. Sometimes our zeal outruns our prudence and we begin to tear down the very thing that God would have us build. 

The lesson for us? Everything that is new is not evil, everyone who is different is not a villain. We must be willing to put our personal views on hold as we examine the views of others. We will not always agree with each other but it does not always have to result in animosity. We must be careful not to be quick to exclude or punish. The barriers we put up between ourselves and our neighbor may not always be God-directed. God may have plans we are yet to discover.

Let us learn to listen for God’s direction as we face new ideas, unfamiliar people, or different customs. Let us be willing to suspend our preconceptions and listen for God’s guidance. If we don’t do this, God may have to knock us down and even blind us in order to help us see!

Today’s Goal: To be accepting of the unfamiliar and allow others room to be different.