Speaking the Truth in Love: PART 1

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

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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.