Confusing Love and Tolerance

 

Reading Glasses Resting On Open BookJesus is the greatest example of love ever known. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).  But Jesus went beyond that. He died for his enemies too. “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—  but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8). The Golden Text of the Bible, John 3:16, says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son…” Truly, Jesus shows his love in undeniable ways.

What is the purpose of his love? What is it that Jesus is trying to accomplish through his love? Is it not our salvation? Does the Lord not weep at the consequences of sin? Does Jesus, despite his love, tolerate or condone any sin? No!

It is Jesus’ understanding of sin that makes him intolerant of transgressions. Sin cannot be ignored.  [bctt tweet=”It is Jesus’ understanding of sin that makes him intolerant of transgressions. “]

“Tolerant” is the current buzz word of western culture. Each of us is to accept, without question, any action or lifestyle no matter how sinful it may be. That tolerance now has the imprimatur of law. I can no longer expect to practice my faith apart from some federally backed demand for tolerance.

Worse yet is the idea that I must tolerate sin because Jesus taught love. In truth, I must oppose sin because Jesus taught love. You see, I can know the ultimate outcome of sin (Romans 6:23), I can know that sin brings eternal punishment. Jesus’ own words ring clear. The sinner will be cast out, “depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41).

The Jesus of love never accepted sin because he knew the everlasting consequences of sin. [bctt tweet=”The Jesus of love never accepted sin because he knew the everlasting consequences of sin.”]

The woman caught in adultery is instructive. There is nothing in the text (John 8:1-11) to suggest she was innocent. She was not. She was caught. She was guilty. Jesus showed his love to her by defending her against the angry mob. Yet, he did not accept her sin. His final words to her? “…go, and from now on sin no more (vs. 11). There can be no question that Jesus loved the woman and had compassion on her. But he did not accept her sin. She was told to stop. We all have friends and family caught up in sin. We love them and would do anything to help them. Yet we reject their sin. To tolerate sin is to usher a man swiftly down the broad way of destruction.

The Christian must stand with Jesus against all sin while showing great love to all men. Nothing cheapens love more than our tolerance of sin. [bctt tweet=”Nothing cheapens love more than our tolerance of sin.”]

To those caught in any sin we plead for your repentance and for your submission to our Lord. While we are often imperfect ourselves, we still love you deeply and pray for your redemption. There is freedom from sin in Jesus (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). But to the one who ignores the gospel call there is only heartache and eternal damnation. Please understand, we will always accept the seeker of truth but we cannot, must not, will not, accept any sin or lifestyle that conflicts with Jesus’ words. He calls you to a changed life. Will you reject his love?

 

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