Pastor's Pen December 9, 2016
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The Love is Tolerance Deception
“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” 1 Corinthians 13:6
One of the reciprocal commands in the Bible says we are to “bear with one another in love.” The phrase can be translated, “tolerate one another in love.” God is telling us to agree to disagree with others on issues that are debatable or non-essential; to put up with those differences. This is a part of love.
But there is a cultural message that has taken our nation by storm which says that the essence of love is tolerance and the essence of evil is intolerance. To the purveyors of the tolerance message holding to a Biblical morality on the issues of our day, such as the definition of marriage, is not simply out of date, it is dangerous. “Stop the hate,” they say.
It seems it is okay to tolerate just about anything except people who hold to a Biblical worldview.
This has taken a toll on the minds of many Christ followers including pastors and leaders of major denominations. The love is tolerance message has taken root in the church producing a level of compromise that is shocking. The only way to counter this compromise is to be firmly rooted in Scripture.
1 Corinthians 13 defines love for us and one of the descriptions is, “Love...does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth” (v 6). Therefore, when you refuse to delight in evil (tolerate it) and choose to rejoice in the truth from a pure heart you are demonstrating love even though many will call you a hate monger or worse.
Jesus came to bear witness to the truth. During His interrogation before Pilate He said, “For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” If you want to know the truth listen to the One who said, “I am the truth.”
Jesus also said, “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division” Luke 12:51. All of humanity is divided between those who believe and follow Christ and those who do not. TRUTH DIVIDES! It has to!
Our protection from all forms of deception is to hold tightly to all that God has revealed to us in the Bible. Only then are we able to truly love.
So endure the hateful labels and angry rhetoric that comes your way. Ask God to strengthen you in your inner man and stand firm in the evil day. And be faithful to proclaim the good news of Christ who promised, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free” John 8:31.
Pastor Dan
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