‘38 - North Shore News — Friday, October 13, 2000 : Pastor Jamey McDonald. Contributing Writer = GOOD question. If the divine were a resident of the North Shore and participant of the goings .. - on in local circles, there would be a lot of pres- sure to convince the Holy One to behave in a tolerant way. But is God tolerant? ‘ Retore considering further, let's move thei issue d¢ our own human levels: Are we tolerant? [ would sugesst there at times we are nots and rightly so. When the bank teller hands you 2.10, a five, and: two toonies and says “Here your $20 bill broken for vou,” are you tolerant? When the pilot says he will land 500 metres short of the runway because it’s more. ? your: Grade 6‘science student says Water, boils at. 120 degrees - Celsitis, ‘are you tolerant?-T suggest there are e things i in life are not folerant of, nor should \ we be... s none of us is it means financial conse ‘quence! But what aboutin matters of opinion or preference, how tolerant are we? Sometimes it’s very easy tobe tolerant, truth we really. aren't tolerant at ail. If someone's - don’t have te be tolerant. ‘Or. ‘someone’s $ opinion stands right against * ur opinion, tir Opinion, and sometimes rubs with our opinion, and they a 7 example, mast of us who prefer a bowl of cereai : before bedtime | have no ‘trouble with the idea that some. peo- ple in ion sandwich before settling... own: And we wouldn’t even be upset if we found 0 out cur: mm. Family Worship . Mecting at 3590 Mc. Highway. ‘at St Stephen's Anglcan Church 885 Street, West Von SPIRITUALLY are, antithetical, how tolerant SPEAKING t? ~ nest door neighbour did. But how tolerant would you be if it were vour sleeping partner who enjoyed such cuisine? © Surely [ jest. you say, and perhaps the simplicity of thé illustration reduces the seriousness of the matter. But it is true, most of us have no problem being tolerant of things : that we differ in opinion from, as long as they don’t impinge upon our private space. But when they do? Watch out. | sug- gest that it’s part of the human condition to be intolerant of opinions different from our own. As a result, the NIMBY. factor reigns supreme in many neighbourhood development discussions, tensions boil sometimes benveen newer. : Canadian youth and established Canadian youth in our North Shore high schools, and interest group assails interest group in community discus Where does all this lead us? We ell, we could alt do with a “good dose of willingness co understand each other. Much of “our energy gors fo defining and defending our respectiy . positions — channelling some of the same energy into listen ing and hearing another perspective would be, helpful. And: not just one side in each discussion, both sides. The intoler- © vance of the’ open-minded element looks strangely like the intolerance of the conservative element at times. 26°". _ Compromise i isn't a dirty word cither. Willingness to change one’s opinion after. hearing fresh or fuller information is also a marvellous trait! One of thé‘marks of good niental health is’ _the ability to change and handle change. Even the presence ; ot a neutral, independent arbitrator can be valuable... Tolerance i is nota bad word, it is how we can aruly get along i in a multi opinioned society... ee "But back to the original question, is God tolerant? In: m os opinion, ‘sometimes yes, but not always so. In some, thing: : forces work out their fairs. The stor the situation, willing to fet human - God is blissfully abov is told of Yogi Berra TauRs 5:450m Men's Proyes Mig ~- 6:45 pen Cub for 56 Tpm BL Coss. “unscathed isn’t an indicator of His tolerance. the New York Yankee catcher who, in observing an opposing barter make the sign of the cross before stepping into the batter's box, opined, “Why don't we leave God out of this - and let Him just enjoy the game like the rest of the fans?” But in some things, God is not tolerant.at all. His opinion that crime and i injustice is wrong is more than His opinion, it is the truth. His pinion that death and destruction and™:.™: haman wreckage is unacceptable, is more than opinion, it is the law of God. The fact that so much of human kind lives i in . flagrant disregard of the Divine and seemingly goes: : Et indicates His ; patience. All of us will one day have to live with the conse quences of our behaviour in this life. As Maude the television comedian of the mid-°70s used to, say to her sit-com charac:: ters, “God is going to get you for that!” She may be: ‘a bit skewed, but she is not far off the’ mark. Because He:co: structed the universe, He also. constructed the rules of oper: ating the universe. And as judge, He preserves the right:to pronounce judgment in His time. The things that: ~ | thought were inconsequential may just prove: tobe’ more * consequential than we first thought. “..The concept of God as Judge.seems harsh and totalitaria in this day of level playing fields. But it is one’aspect of Hi character. Each of us has to get our heads around "how. For sake of ‘discussion, the next time you speak wi your sinister, priest, or rabbi, or spiritual léader.: Ask hi her-about the above. And as a follow-up questionZ ask the * about what can be done about finding mercy’and forgiveness .- from one who does not tolerate certain behav jours. Not. only: li it provoke good discussion, but it can pro’ d ben efit to you the questioner!” = Pastor Jamey McDonald, Delbrook Baptist Vancouver, . : ina Valtey Ful “Seopa Chore, 7) E, 29th St, . + a Nocth Vancouver, B.C. Ph, 880-0307. “Pastors Stat ‘Owers Scott, Glen Rylarid, Marcel Kurtz, Me! \.: Malley Church is made up of ordinary people. whose lives have bean fouched bythe Pereon of Jesu LYNN VALLEY. UNITED CHURCH: 3201 -Mouneain Highway.” 10:30 aM WORSHIP » SERVICE “Youth Group 2nd & 4th Sundays 7-Spn : Sud S School oo Narery Care Communion : School - :