Tolerance Without Compromise – Sunday, November 23, 1941
Someone has coined the phrase—“Tolerance without compromise”—which briefly expresses an idea that deserves further comment.
To be tolerant of others it is not necessary to partake of their beliefs or of their manner of living. In fact, one may be tolerant of a man and still vigorously oppose everything he represents, yet grant him his right to represent it and to believe and think as he wishes. Tolerance doesn’t imply that a man must get on the band wagon, that he must think or act with the majority, or that he must compromise his sincere convictions. It simply means recognition of the fact that society is complex, that no two people hold the same views on all questions, that all of us have our own right to think and believe as we choose, insofar as we may do so without infringing upon these same rights where others are concerned.
In many places tolerance is dead. In such places he who opposes the prevailing mind and will, even in his thoughts, is in jeopardy of dire consequences. It is natural that tolerance should have died in such places, because tolerance travels hand in hand with liberty, and neither one can long survive the other. But where tolerance still lives, even though a man oppose in principle prevailing opinion, notwithstanding such opinion may be held by the majority, tolerance would still respect his right to hold contrary views, even as liberty would demand it.
Long ago the Savior of mankind gave us the key to tolerance without compromise when He thanked His Father in Heaven for certain of His followers who had remained in the world but were not of the world. (John17:9-21) Sometimes our young people in particular make the mistake of supposing that tolerance means that they must do the things that other people do. They who suppose this have not learned the great truth, the vital and fundamental truth, that a man may be tolerant without compromising himself, or his own traditions or background or beliefs or convictions or habits of life. Tolerance without compromise is one of the great needs of the hour.
November 23, 1941
Broadcast Number 0,640