| Whatsoever
Things Are True
by Dan Coburn Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church pastordan@mtida.net Tolerance is not Biblical. Barb was an encourager. No, not an officially recognized position at a Church, but necessary, and most Churches have at least one. Encouragement was her Spiritual Gift. She is one of those sincere - seventy times seven Christians. Some think her naive, but God loves her very much. Arnold had the Gift of Administration, so all thought it a good fit when he was elected Church treasurer. He took his job very seriously. There were fail safes in place to protect him from being accused or even tempted with embezzlement. For instance he wasn't to write checks for other than day to day operation w/out the Okie Dokie from two Deacons. One Friday afternoon, a lady from town approached Barb - "My propane tank is empty, it's January, and my children are cold. Can your Church help?" "Certainly" Barb replies; "After all, that's one of the roles of the local Church". She calls Arnold. "Of course" says he; "just let me get an OK from our Deacons as per my mandate". Barb goes off. "We don't have time to do that. Soon the propane company will be closed and it's the weekend!! What's wrong with you!!?" Arnold feels ambushed. "But Barb, this is what I have committed to do with the Church.” "Have you no heart?" Barb cries out in frustration. Let's turn the Spiritual Switch. Which one is right? Both? Can both be wrong? Doesn't matter now, because the Rift is here. It's palpable. even if they try to disguise it, everyone knows there's something fundamentally wrong. How do Arnold and Barb handle it? We in the Church have followed the lead of society, and have relegated Love to Tolerance. We rationalize that when a brother makes us really mad (not that that could ever happen), rather than confront him in love, we will exercise "religious tolerance" and bless him with distance. We'll just put space between us and them. "What's wrong with that?" you may ask, "It's better than a rift isn't it?" Not to put too fine a point on it, No. There are many disputes in the New Testament between even Biblical heroes. Nugget: God didn't come down and settle it - Why? Because He already gave us the commandment - "Love one another". Tolerance is a big step down from that. "If any man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" John 4:20 Here's what scares me - "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled:". It effects the Body -- God's Body. You can bounce from Church to Church, or handle it any number of un-biblical ways, but ultimately you will either reconcile (at least attempt to) or you will dwell in religious tolerance and stay distant. |
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