Does Tolerance Equal Justification?

     After reading recent articles regarding the acceptance of LGBT and transgender lifestyles in many of our nation’s churches, it is still very difficult to understand how such immoral behavior can actually permeate the leadership areas of a church as well.  Yet, it is happening.  In many instances, church officer roles, as well as pastoral, are being infiltrated by individuals who are willingly and deliberately leading sinful lifestyles and then promoting that behavior within church functions.  Do you think it cannot and will not happen in a church near you? 

     Well, think again.  It is becoming common practice in our schools and in homes where family members are forcing their deviant behaviors upon their parents and siblings – in the name of love and tolerance.  Yet in the midst of all of the turmoil and family chaos that ensues, what people really need to do is to just stand firm on the values they know to be true.  Parents and church leaders need to be able to provide guidance and answers that are based upon the actual Word of God.  Guidance is not giving in.  The definition of guidance is: 

     Advice or information aimed at resolving a problem or difficulty, especially as given by someone in authority.  Such as, "He looked to his father for inspiration and guidance."  Synonyms: advice, counsel, direction, instruction, enlightenment, information.

     A father can help a child understand what sin is and that it cannot be “just tolerated.”  Sin in all of its forms must be denounced.  Jesus willingly laid down His life for any and all sin and to tolerate it is to justify it.  When parents give in because they don’t want to emotionally harm their children they are actually leaving them in mortal danger.  Their kids are dancing blindly on the edge of an unseen cliff and since they are having such a good time doing it, parents hesitate to confront them by shouting danger.  Yet, they need to understand their precarious situation - that they are on the verge of falling off of the cliff.  Do we worry about spoiling our young children’s good time playing in the street by dragging them kicking and screaming out of the face of danger?  No, we run to them and we pursue them if necessary - whether they like it or not. 

     God can provide the strength to resist temptation.  When a person truly understands what sin is and why Jesus paid such a horrible price because of it, that person truly can change their behavior due to that knowledge.  It is a real choice.  By accepting God, He really does provide the strength and the direction to overcome the lustful desires of the mind.  Hearts are literally transformed.  It is not always an overnight process, yet sometimes it is.  Either way, if a person has a willing heart, God willingly provides the guidance. 

     So, can and will your local churches and their leadership become tolerant of deviant sinful behavior?  Church officers are elected by the members of the church.  As we know, the wheat and the tares are sitting side by side in the pews worshiping together.  It is sad to admit that often, because actual Christians are so tolerant of some types of sin, we can’t even discern the difference between them.  For this reason, many of the tares become leaders who then teach more of the tolerance and love of God toward sin rather than the love of God that paid for and defeated the sin that He hates. 

     Is this judgmental?  It is true that we have all sinned.  Yet, as Christians we have put on the Righteousness of Jesus Christ.  We have never been good enough to overcome sin but He was.  By and through Him we are cleansed from all of the sins and unrighteous acts we have committed in our lives.  Therefore, we need to be so grateful for His sacrifice that we also strive to live in a manner that is pleasing to Him.  How can a person, once understanding the love of Jesus that gave His life for you, then willingly dive back into sin?  How can a Christian tolerate the same sin that nailed Jesus to a cross?   

     When people become Christians, they repent, which means they have turned away from their sins.  Their focus is now on Jesus.  Sin is no longer looked upon in the same way because we are looking at it through new eyes and renewed hearts.  Conversion is a transforming of our hearts and minds to the mind that is more like Christ’s, a process that spans the entirety of our Christian lives.  Sure, Christians fall down but we ask for forgiveness and then we get back up.  It is not judgmental to therefore hate sin.  We can love our neighbors but still hate sin.  We can love our children but still hate sin.  We can love sinners but still hate sin.  Our greatest show of love toward our family members and neighbors is to remain Christ-like in our behaviors, to witness and to warn of the dangers regarding the sin in their lives.  Sin is justified in the minds of sinners if they have never been confronted as to the reality of its sinfulness. 

     There is a choice to be made by all.  Eternal life is not necessarily the issue since we will all live for an eternity.  Each person, however, has a real choice of where they will spend that eternity.  Accept Jesus as Savior of your life and then remain true to God’s Word even in the midst of extreme social pressures.  Remain shining beacons of light who boldly proclaim the love of Christ to forgive and save all who choose to ask Him into their hearts as Savior and Lord of their lives.

© 2017 G. R. Workman  

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