| Whatsoever
Things Are True
by Dan Coburn Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church pastordan@mtida.net Back when I was a kid (sound like my Dad), tolerance meant I needed to respect your right to your opinion without regard to how much I disagreed with you. Today, tolerance means I don't have the right to disagree with you. This is especially true in the realm of morality which society is teaching us is relative. What is right for you, may not be right for me, and there is no amount of diplomacy I can employ to lovingly tell you otherwise in which I won't be called a hater, narrow minded, dogmatic, bigot, religious zealot or some sort of phobe. But it's getting even worse of late. The social evolution of the non believers or the "weaker brethren" (God's term not mine), has been as follows. Traditionalism: God sets the standards. He determines what is right and what is wrong. Modernism: Science will determine what is truth. Then Post-Modernism: Which has decided there is no absolute truth. Truth is what each person decides for themselves. This has been born out recently in the firestorm of letters to the Editor in every local paper I have seen, with regard to Sen. Nuxoll's boycott of a Hindu prayer. Before I turn the Spiritual Switch, let me say I don't know Sen. Nuxoll. I have met her a couple of times during election cycles, but that's about It. So the following is not about her. Also, I don't know what she did or didn't do with regard to "the incident". The following is about all the negative responses I have followed closely and with amazement. I hear arguments like: "Not everyone shares your gospel", or "there are lots of different gods", or "your truth isn't the same as everyone else's truth" "All the religions are equal, and all are headed toward God" etc etc etc. May I say as politely as I can, - NOT! I am a Christian, and we have a long and beautiful history of fighting and yes dying so you can worship however and whatever you want to. I will still fall on that sword. But you have gone from "tolerating" my beliefs to demanding that I participate in yours else I run the risk of being called terrible names, blackballed, or even losing my bakery or my florist shop or my Church building. You boldly insist it is all right to believe how I desire but deny my practice of such. Let me school you. For a Christian, Jesus said "I am the Way, the Truth and The Life" (singular definite article) "and no one comes to the Father but by (through) Me" John 14:6. Act's 4:12 = "Neither is there salvation any other, for there is no other name under heaven, given among men by which we must be saved". John 3:36 = "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth (remains) on him." 1st Cor. 3 tells us - "No other foundation can any man lay than that which is already laid,..... Christ Jesus". And if you aren't seething yet, we believe Jesus is Lord (God) - John 1 and Colo. 1. Question: What is the first Commandment? When the Nation Israel followed other gods in Hosea, God said they were committing "Spiritual Adultery". Again, He says "You have gone whoring after other gods". Meanwhile, back at the ranch; Put simply, I'd have walked out too. I would be as quiet and respectful as allowed BUT if you asked me why I did, I would proudly tell you - 1st Peter 3:15. Come Awake Church. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so. I'll humbly end with this quote from Acts 4:19 "But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye." As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Happy Easter |
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