Thursday, March 30, 2006

Speaking the Truth in Love: Part 2


Speaking the Truth in Love: Part 2
Brad Reiches
Mar 30 2006 09:31AM

Thursday, March 30, 2006
GodThougths Wired!
"Speaking the Truth in Love"
PART 2
Does belief in ultimate truth, imply “intolerance?”  I would suggest no.  For example, it has been scientifically demonstrated that human beings cannot live without breathing in oxygen.  Frankly, I believe it.  Does that make me intolerant?  Is it rational to deem people intolerant because they affirm certain truths?  Of course not!  Human beings need oxygen to live.  It is a fact, an absolute truth.  Accepting such a reality doesn’t make one tolerant or intolerant.  It simple makes them…CORRECT!

An objective look at “relativism” (the belief that there is no absolute truth) reveals, “The relativist stands on the pinnacle of an absolute truth and wants to relativize everything else.”[1] 

Indeed, an unbiased glance shows the world to be absolutely full of absolute truths.  However, for relativism to be true, it would require a world full of contradictions.  I say, “That’s a candy bar.”  You say, “No, that’s a goat.”  If we’re both right, then the candy bar is the goat at the same time, but, of course, that’s impossible (yet, today’s tolerance suggests, “That’s ok, as long as it’s true for you”).  So, for truth to be relative the impossible…must not be.

Again, the Christian says, “There is a God,” and the atheist proclaims, “There is no God.”  Relativism and today’s “tolerance” suggests that both are true.  Indeed, it is as Geisler suggests,

If truth is relative, then no one is ever wrong –
even when they are.[3]


[1] Geisler Norman, Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics (Baker, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1998), p.745.
[2] Kreeft Peter, Handbook of Christian Apologetics, (Intervarsity, Downers Grove, Illinois, 1988), p.372.
[3] Geisler Norman, Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics (Baker, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1998), p.745.
 

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Speaking the Truth in Love: PART 1


Speaking the Truth in Love: PART 1
Brad Reiches
Mar 29 2006 12:58AM



Wednesday, March 29, 2006
GodThoughts Wired!
"Speaking the Truth...in Love"
PART 1

"Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up
in all aspects into Him whi is the head, even Christ."
Ephesians 4:15

 What Does the Bible Say About "Tolerance?"*

This has become an extremely important and controversial topic today.  Indeed, it has become a point of divisiveness and conflict for many.  Webster's New World Dictionary defines the word "tolerate" as follows:

"To respect others beliefs, practices, etc.
without sharing them."

Ok.  so far, so good.  Biblically, we are called to love all people without condition.  Indeed, this is the way God loves us.  We can't do anything so good as to make Him love us any more than He already does, nor can we do something s bad as to cause Him to love us any less.  His love for people is unconditional and unchanging, and we are called to love one another in precisely the same way.  Indeed, this concept is affirmed in the great love chapter (1 Corinthians 13) where the apostle Paul declared, "Love...endures all things" (1 Corinthians 13:7).

However, twenty-first century America is redefining "tolerance" in radically different ways than previously described.  Consider the following definition from Thomas A. Helmbock, the executive vice-president of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity,

"The definition of new...tolerance is that every individual's beliefs,
lifestyle, and perception of truth claims are equal...Your beliefs
and my beliefs are equal, and all truth is relative."

Such perspectives are gaining popularity rapidly despite their incredible nature.  It's highly probable that you've heard the phrase, "all truth is relative" (or something like it) before.  You may well have also heard something along the lines of "there is no such thing as absolute truth."  Yet, logic dictates that for such statement a statement to be true...it must be false.  That is to say that the statement itself assumes at least one "absolute truth" (the statement itself), therby invalidating its original premise.

Christians are increasingly accused of "intolerance" because of their biblically based beliefs in ultimate truth (see exibit A, below), right and wrong.

Is this assertion reasonable?  Does belief in ultimate truth imply "intolerance?"

Stay tuned.

*To receive your free copy of The Bible Says Brochure on "Tolerance," simply send me an e-mail, include your snail-mail address, write TOLERANCE in the subject box, and send.

EXIBIT A.  The model of Jesus.

"Jesus showed the tax gatherers and prostitutes
‘unconditional’ LOVE, not tolerance." 
-Linda York, Moraga, CA

According to the Bible, Mrs. York is absolutely right.  A classic example is found in John, chapter 8 and the story of the woman caught in adultery.  The text reads as follows:

"The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery...
they said to Him (Jesus), 'What, then, do You say?'...
'He who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her...'
When they heard it, they began to go out one by one...
Jesus said to her, 'Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?...
Neither do I condemn you.  From now on sin no more.'"
John 8:3-11

What a marvelous example of unconditional love...and uncompromising truth.  The love?  "Neither do I condemn you."  "There is therefore, no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (see Romans 8:1).  The truth?  "From now on sin no more."  "He who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the only begotten Son of God" (see John 3:17).  As Mrs. York so eloquently intimates, the truth about the love of God is this:

Jesus ALWAYS loves sinners unconditionally,
and He NEVER tolerates sin irregardlessly.

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Speaking the Truth in Love: Introduction


Speaking the Truth in Love: Introduction
Brad Reiches
Mar 28 2006 09:54AM



March 28, 2006
GodThoughts Wired!
"Speaking the Truth...in Love"
INTRODUCTION

"Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up
in all aspects into Him whi is the head, even Christ."
Ephesians 4:15

Truth without love can be legalism, "the letter kills" (see 2 Corinthians 3:6), but love without truth is impotent.  The Bible tells us that others will know that we are Christians by our love (see John 13:35), but then goes on to explain that the "love" God is referring to translates into action.  "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" (John 14:15, see also 14:21; 2 John 6).

Yesterday's GodThoughts Wired! "The Age of Tolerance," hit a nerve with an "anonymous subscriber."  He writes,

"Never in my life did I ever think that a Christian would be speaking out against tolerance...
Last time I checked, Jesus ate with prostitutes and tax collectors,
and he showed them tolerance when no one else would..."

Well, he's certainly right about a couple of things, Jesus IS our model and He certainly ate with prostitutes and tax collectors.  This subscriber goes on to say,

"I must protest your disbelief of the normality of homosexuality...
I am in disbelief that you honestly feel homosexuality to be a sin."  

In regard to these issues, other comments I've recently heard are, "You Christians are so narrow-minded!"  "You think that your way is the ONLY way!"  You're right and everyone lese is wrong!"  How 'intolerant' can you be?"  "Why can't you just live and let live?"  Have you ever heard some of these comments, or others like them?  I bet you have.  Aren't Christians supposed to love all people unconditionally?  Doesn't the Bible warn us not to judge?  What Does the Bible Say About "Tolerance?"*

Stay tuned.

*To receive your free copy of The Bible Says Brochure on "Tolerance," simply send me an e-mail, include your snail-mail address, write TOLERANCE in the subject box, and send.

Monday, March 27, 2006

The Age of Tolerance


The Age of Tolerance
Brad Reiches
Mar 27 2006 12:55AM



Monday, March 27, 2006
A GodThoughts Classic:
"The Age of Tolerance"


Today, as I write this, the United States of America has entered into what I call, an "Age of Tolerance."  Practically, this "tolerance" reflects a rejection of any absolute moral authority.  Proponents of "tolerance" suggest that there are no moral absolutes and therefore, encourage us to accept all forms of moral devotion, no matter how perverse.  The mantra of tolerance is, "to each his own."

What do I think about the, "Age of Tolerance?"  Well, I do know that we are not the first country to try it.

"In those days there was no king in Israel;
everyone did what was right in his own eyes."
Judges 17:6; 21:25

And God warns, "You shall not do at all what we are doing here today, every man doing what ever is right in his own eyes" (Deuteronomy 12:8).

And God predicts, "There is a way which seems right to man, but its end is the way of death" (Proverbs 14:2;16:25).

And God declares, "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes" (Proverbs 12:15).

Who does God think He is anyway?!