Welcome, as used in our religious traditions, does not refer to social grace, politeness or distant charity . We have not necessarily been hospitable by giving money to a worthy cause. We have not been hospitable by shaking a stranger s hand at coffee hour and then turning away to talk to a friend. Neither of those are truly welcoming since the key component of welcoming is relationship . Welcoming is also not the same as tolerating .
Tolerance is certainly preferable to intolerance, but tolerance is a dangerous attitude.
It is dangerous because it holds the other at arm s length and refuses to engage. It is dangerous because it can t survive crisis. History demonstrates that over and over again. Strangers are tolerated so long as their case arouses sympathy or their presence provides some benefit to us. Strangers are tolerated if they don t challenge our political convictions or our standard of living.