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The Forgotten Virtue: Tolerance
- Because the End Does Not Justify the Means
Fr. John Cusick
During a political campaign season (which
seems never-ending) we are constantly reminded of things that are
not right with our society. In the next breath we hear remedy after
remedy promoted as promises that will right the wrongs.
However, there is one "wrong" that rarely
is addressed Ð the lack of tolerance among people, good people,
in society today. A growing mean-spiritedness seems to be overtaking
us. It appears that if you are "right," then almost any behavior
short of physical violence is appropriate in order to make your
point or promote your position. In other words, the end justifies
the means.
Occasionally, intolerant acts make headlines
and shock good people everywhere. Road rage is a good example. How
appalled and horrified we become when we hear of a truck at full
speed pushing a car off a highway, or someone shooting at a passing
motorist.
Yet, most acts of intolerance are more subtle.
Shock radio and television are prime examples. Hearing outrageous
attitudes on talk radio or seeing utterly bizarre behavior on almost
any form of popular television seem to be all that is necessary
to give some people permission to go and do the same. Being on radio
or television now justifies that behavior. It seems that once we
hear some popular personality demean people, trash their identities,
crush almost anyone with a differing point of view, permission is
given to all of us to do the same.
Intolerant language by anyone is not a Christian
virtue. We can and must take a stand on what we perceive is wrong,
but the manner of communicating our position is as important as
the value, issue or ethic in question. The end does not justify
the means we use to get our point across.
Intolerance has become ingrained in our
society and culture. Retaliation in sports is taken for granted
by many. ItÕs a part of the game. If a pitcher hits your teammate,
you are expected to hit a player on the opposing team. If your quarterback
receives a cheap "hit" at the end of a play, everyone in the stands
knows that very soon a retaliatory "hit" will occur. That simply
is wrong.
The end does not justify the means - at
least not among the people of the Lord. Our faith requires us to
develop a certain lifestyle and attitude toward others. It is an
integral part of our everyday spirituality. Whether we agree with
people or not, and whether we have been wronged or not, we are not
to demean them, deride them, or verbally abuse them.
Consider the words of St. Paul:
"All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting and reviling must be removed
from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, compassionate,
forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. So be imitators
of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us
and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God
for a fragrant aroma." Ephesians 4:31 Ð 5:2
The norm for our conduct is the Lord Jesus,
not some "shock jock," political personality, Hollywood starlet
or a hall of fame something-or-other. Their saying or doing it does
not justify our conduct. Jesus is the one in whom we live and move
and have our being. It is the attitude of Christ that justifies
how we act.
Can you imagine Jesus "trashing" any person
or lifestyle with which He disagreed? Can you imagine Jesus retaliating?
"Simon Peter, put away your sword!" (John 18: 11)
The goal of life is to work to transform
the world into the image of God. That transformation happens when
people see in our behavior Ð not just hear in our words Ð a Christ-like
attitude. Tolerance is a Christian virtue. Demonstrate it when you
are cut-off while driving the expressway, in a heated political
or religious argument, at work, and in your relationships. Let the
world see that there is another way to act, and work to transform
the world one situation at a time.
There seems to be a lot of God-talk among
politicians, athletes, political pundits and ordinary people. Talk
is cheap. Actions speak so much louder than words.
"Be kind to one another, compassionate,
forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ."
Those are nothing more than a bunch of words
that can be quoted by almost anyone who can memorize a few sentences.
When they are lived out, they become the transforming actions of
God flowing through us. They reflect the tolerant behavior so desperately
needed in our society today.
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