Accepted Quote by Rick Warren
“The problem is that tolerant has changed its meaning. It used to mean 'I may disagree with you completely, but I will treat you with respect. Today, tolerant means - 'you must approve of everything I do.' There's a difference between tolerance and approval. Jesus accepted everyone no matter who they were. He doesn't approve of everything I do, or you do, or anybody else does either. You can be accepting without being approving.”
About This Quote
Source Sermon: The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren, 2002
Tolerance has shifted from respectful disagreement to demanding approval, confusing acceptance with endorsement.
In simple terms: Tolerance now means approval, not just respect.
Key Takeaway
Distinguish respect from approval.
Themes
tolerance
respect
acceptance
faith
Mood
thoughtful
reflective
Type
ethical
theological
When to use this quote
- church leadership
- interpersonal conflict
- public discourse
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
Christian ethics
social dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we respect differing views without endorsing them?
- What boundaries separate acceptance from approval?
A Different Perspective
People may misuse tolerance to suppress dissent.
![“We have reached a situation where a theory has been accepted as fact by some, and possible contrary evidence is shunted aside. [This is] mythology rather than science.” quote by Robert Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c31/robert-shapiro-26969_accepted_we-have-reached-a-situation-where-a-theo_19120.jpg)
