I have been reading, enjoying and learning from the example of Rev. Matt Tittle, whose controversial blog posts about liberal religion have challenged me toward a new understanding and practice of love and “tolerance”.
While we have heard much in recent years about the subject of tolerance, to “tolerate” someone is to miss the ideal. In the Christian scriptures, Paul wrote that we should actually strive to “esteem others higher than ourselves.” A far cry from merely tolerating a person, this new ideal requires that we carefully consider the opinions, beliefs and choices of others as if they are better than our own.
In short, we must discipline ourselves to ignore our first judgements and impressions of an individual – which are almost certainly wrong, in most cases – and purpose instead to adopt the posture of a “learner” with regard to anyone and everyone we meet. Rather than quickly labeling an individual, categorizing and summarily writing them off because of obvious differences, we need to search instead for our commonalities. Indeed, we should purpose to discover the unique characteristic(s) of God in them.
On the topic of dissolving the distinctions between “us” and “them”, Dr. Matt writes…
As long as there is an ‘us’ and a ‘them’, then there is not equality, there is not affirmation and advocacy. I often tell my congregation that their goal should be to ‘help’ no one. Because if they are just ‘helping’ then they are not leaving themselves open to being helped and transformed. If I am with the ‘least among us‘, then I am among the least.”
Not only does Dr. Matt teach this, but if you take the time to read his gentle and careful responses to the many angry “Christians” who react to his blog posts, you’ll find that he practices it as well. I admire the way he responds to and lovingly embraces each reader, whether they agree or violently disagree with him. If you’re like me, you’ll find yourself asking, “just who is the most like Christ?”
I’m reminded of my good friend, Rick Spencer, who often says, “My circle is big enough to include you, whether you choose to include me or not.”
Rev. Dr. Matt Tittle is minister of Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church in Houston. He is also a former university professor, retired naval officer, marathoner, and triathlete.
Rev. Dr. Matt Tittle’s Blog: Keep the Faith
1 response so far ↓
Gordon // May 20, 2008 at 10:46 am |
If my memory serves me right, Rev. Tittle was also a Baptist at one time. Or at least a traditional ‘Born Again’ Evangelical Christian. But, one who began to honestly question those doctrines that people violently defend, but that don’t really demonstrate any semblance of Christ-likeness. Rev. Tittle is often accused of being a heretic by ‘Christians’, but then so was Jesus! He’s in good company.