The Sin of Intolerance

George Matheson [1842-1906], the blind Scottish theologian, author of “Studies in the Portrait of Christ,” comments on the story of the Samaritans rejecting Jesus, recorded in John 4…

James and John, true to their appellation as “The Sons of Thunder,” wanted to call down fire from heaven upon the Samaritans. Matheson says, “John did not err by want of love but by love’s intolerance. The Samaritans and John were both intolerant—one from pride, the other from love… The Samaritans…rejected all who had a larger sympathy [weren’t Samaritans]; John would destroy those who narrowed the sympathy of universal love.”

Sin is love gone wrong. In this case, the love of Jesus and of his universal love by James and John went into the wrong, the sin, of intolerance.

There are so many intolerant followers of Jesus these days. They want to call down fire on Muslims and even fellow Christians who don’t share their narrow beliefs.

One of the points of wisdom that should come in the years of winter is the ability to be faithful to one’s convictions without demonizing people who are different. That is not automatic, but it is worth working toward.