Sunday, August 19, 2012
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CHRISTIANS AND TOLERANCE (Continued)
Today we conclude our study of the Christian and tolerance.
These lessons have been presented in light of recent events.
Sadly there are many within our
society who want us to accept ungodly lifestyles in the name of
tolerance. We simply cannot do
that. Some are quite
intolerant of those who disagree with them.
In our first two lessons (Sunday morning and evening) we
discussed what tolerance is and established that as Christians we CANNOT
tolerate sin or sinful conduct, even if it means being ridiculed or
worse. However this does not
give us license to act in an ungodly way.
In our second lesson we discussed godly attitudes toward those we
disagree with, whether brethren or those of the world.
These attitudes
include the need for courage (stand up for what you believe in), a
refusal to compromise and passages such as Matt. 7:12 (the golden rule);
Matt 10:16 – the need to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves; Eph.
4:2 – walk with gentleness, humility, longsuffering, etc.; 1 Cor. 13
which speaks of Christian love (agape); Rom. 12:18-21 which calls for us
to treat others in a godly fashion and let God judge , and finally 1
Pet. 3:8-12.
In our lesson today we want to discuss some passages that are
often used by those preaching tolerance with compromise.
When using such passages, they are usually taken out of context
and used to judge those who question their conduct (the very thing they
condemn others for). Let us
notice four passages related to this.
a.
The passage is given in
the midst of the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7), where Jesus is
addressing hypocrisy. The
point Jesus is making is NOT that there is no time for judgment (as we
shall see), rather Jesus was dealing with hypocritical judgment.
He clearly speaks of the plank in your own eye being taken care
of, before worrying about the speck in your brother’s eye.
b.
While there certainly
are times when one is in no condition to condemn another of a specific
sin (because he is just as guilty), this is by NO MEANS intended to
ignore sinful conduct. If
you are guilty of sin it doesn’t mean that another doing the same thing
is innocent. If you are BOTH
guilty of sin, patting each other on the back will not change that.
The ONLY thing that will change your guilt is to REPENT and seek
the forgiveness of God.
c.
We have to make
judgments concerning doctrinal error and sinful conduct.
1.
Even our context calls
for judgment. First there is
the recognition of sin (his – the speck; and yours – the plank).
Second, in vs. 6 Jesus says, “Do not give what is holy to the dogs, nor
cast your pearls before swine.”
This requires a judgment to determine when someone is “unworthy”
to pursue with what is holy.
2.
Jesus taught in John
7:24, “Do not judge according to
appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
Here Jesus calls for us to make judgments, but to do so letting
godliness govern our judgments.
This means exposing sin.
3.
When Timothy was told to
“flee youthful lusts” -
4.
Multitudes of other
passages call for judgment against sin –
Eph. 5:11 calls for us to expose “the unfruitful works of darkness” and
to “have no fellowship” with them.
5.
Passages that speak of
withdrawing from or avoiding those in sin call for us to make a judgment
against sin:
2 Cor. 6:14, 17 – “come out from among them and be separate…”
1 Tim. 6:5 tells us that those who do not consent to wholesome words of
truth, “From such withdraw yourself.”
1 Cor. 16:17 speaks of noting and avoiding those who cause divisions.
2 Tim. 3:5 after describing a list of ungodly attitudes and conduct
tells us, “And from such people turn away.”
YOU will notice that in these passages we find both erring brethren and
those of the world.
a.
We find here the account
of a woman taken in adultery, caught in the very act.
Often you will hear, “Jesus forgave that woman even with her sins
and condemned the judgmental Pharisees who brought her to Him saying,
‘Let he who is without sin be the first to cast a stone.’” The premise
is that since we are all guilty of sins, we are in no condition to pass
judgment on others.
b.
Notice again the
context. Jesus is once again
dealing with corrupt leaders who are seeking to entrap Him.
The response of Jesus on this occasion exposed their hypocrisy
and further He acted in a merciful way to send them a greater message.
They had no answer as He challenged them.
We are told Jesus wrote something on the ground, which we do not know
what it was, but I wonder if it had anything to do with the complicity
of those in the crowd who were accusing the woman.
c.
There are many wonderful
things we learn from this account:
i.
The message teaches us
about God’s forgiveness
ii.
It teaches us how Jesus
does care about our sins. He
died so that we could have eternal life (John 3:16) and forgiveness
(Acts 4:12, 1 Pet. 2:24, etc.)
iii.
Along with other texts,
we learn that He is the ONLY hope we have of obtaining forgiveness.
iv.
Yes Jesus forgave her
sins! The text says in vs.
11, “Neither do I condemn you; Go
and sin no more.” While
on earth, He could forgive sins as the Son of God (cf. Matt. 9:6).
He did so on the cross with the repentant thief (Lk. 23:43,
etc.).
BUT, today, our forgiveness is through His blood – Eph. 2:13, Heb.
9:11-14. How do we come in
contact with that blood – obeying the gospel (Rom. 6:3-4) and as
Christians through repentance and prayer (1 John 1:7-9)
d.
Does this text teach
that Jesus condoned her sinful conduct?
ABSOLUTELY NOT!
i.
Jesus NEVER condoned
sinful conduct. As you study
the gospels, He challenged the materialism of the rich, young ruler
(Matt. 19:16-24); He questioned the ingratitude of the nine lepers who
did not return and thank Him (Lk. 17:17-19); He rebuked His own
disciples for their frequent lack of faith and partisan behavior; and of
course, we cannot ignore His condemnation of the hypocritical leaders
and their corruption.
ii.
I challenge those who
introduce this text to show me where Jesus was teaching, in this context
or any other, that we ought to approve of the sinful conduct of others.
iii.
Do NOT confuse forgiveness with approval.
Jesus forgave sins and for that
we are ALL grateful. AND
while dealing with this, let us not forget that He CAN forgive sins, but
we cannot!
iv.
Jesus said to the
adulterous woman, “Go and sin no more” expecting her to repent of her
sinful behavior. (Jn. 8:11)
v.
Why then did He say,
“Neither do I condemn you”?
If you consider the context and you consider adultery under the Old Law
(the Law He was dealing with at the time), there were many factors to
consider: 1) As a capital crime, multiple witnesses were needed (Deut.
17:6); 2) Adultery involves two people – Under the Old Law, BOTH were to
be stoned to death (Lev. 20:10) - Where was the man?; 3) It is obvious
from the text that the accusers were less than noble in their intents –
Jesus saw through that! 4)
The witness was to be first to cast a stone (Deut. 17:7).
Considering these facts, Jesus – in keeping the Old Law could NOT
condemn her to death on this occasion.
Is that what Jesus meant when He said, “Neither do I condemn
you”? Notice that He first
asked, “Where are your accusers?
Has no one condemned you?” (vs. 10)
Think about it!
e.
As with the first point,
if we are guilty of sin, two wrongs don’t make a right.
In fact, the solution is for BOTH sinners to repent!
f.
Just a thought! Further I ask, if one uses this argument are they admitting that what
they are defending is sinful?
g.
LESSON:
Something to consider before we move on.
As we judge sinful conduct, do we find ourselves acting in an
ungodly manner? Remember our
introductory remarks about proper attitudes toward the ungodly.
There may be times when our motives are unacceptable.
Let us seek to avoid such in dealing with sin.
We must be honorable and truthful in our conduct.
a.
Another passage
sometimes used, especially among brethren to teach tolerance is Romans
14. The chapter deals
with liberties among brethren (things about which God is indifferent).
It governs the way we are to treat each other concerning these
differences.
The chapter applies rules we need to keep in mind in dealing with one
another (cf. Rom. 15:1 – bearing with scruples of the weak – patience
toward babes; consider how your conduct will affect your brother’s soul
-14:15-16; 14:19 – pursuing things which make for peace and edification;
acting with a clear conscience – 14:22-23, etc.)
b.
Sometimes brethren take
Paul’s challenge to bear with one another’s weaknesses (scruples) and
apply them to any differences we might have.
They reason that, according to this text we can still have
fellowship with one who is teaching or practicing error (though they
might put rules upon this – depending who you talk to).
Thus they teach we need to tolerate differences – even things we
might consider sinful.
c.
Such is a misapplication
of the text. The examples
found in this chapter deal with matters such as individuals eating
particular foods and observing days to the Lord (individually).
Read the chapter! You
will find it does NOT deal with matters of morality or clearly defined
sinful conduct.
d.
If someone is engaged in
sinful behavior, we cannot tolerate that as acceptable.
This doubly applies if it is brethren (cf. 1 Cor. 5:5-11), which
is the context of Romans 14.
e.
Romans 14 is NOT
teaching tolerance with compromise!
It is not telling us to ignore sinful conduct!
We are told in Gal. 6:1 that if a brother is overtaken in a trespass, we
are to seek to restore them (in a spirit of gentleness and caution);
James 5:19 says, “Brethren, if
anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let
him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save
a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.”
a.
“God wants us to be
united” someone might say!
Years ago we heard the mantra, “Can’t we all just get along?”
In religious circles this is sometimes called, “Unity in
diversity” or the “grace-unity movement.”
It stems from the concept that since we cannot all agree on
everything, we should simply emphasize what we do agree on and “agree to
disagree” on other matters.
In reality, this is the essence of denominationalism.
And, it has become so prevalent that some are advocating we ought
to tolerate anything anyone else does and let God be the final judge.
b.
The problem is that such
is NOT the Biblical concept of unity.
Nor is it what David had in mind.
David was not seeking agreement with the idolatrous nations
around them. He wanted his
brethren to get along with one another united in a COMMON faith based
upon God’s law!
c.
The Bible DOES teach
unity and it is something we ought to vigorously pursue, but NOT at
the cost of truth or in the name of compromise (or tolerance).
d.
Biblical unity is based
upon a proper understanding of God’s word.
i.
John 17:20-22, when
Jesus prayed for unity He said, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me
through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You,
Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that
the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory
which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are
one.”
Notice the degree to which Jesus was in unity with the Father.
That is what He desires of us!
ii.
1 Cor. 1:10,
“Now I plead with you,
brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the
same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be
perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
Notice how Paul’s plea is that we all speak the same thing.
He will spend the rest of this letter explaining what that means.
e.
Paul was clear in emphasizing that his message was the same everywhere
he went, “I teach everywhere in every church” (1 Cor. 4:17) the same
message. Peter even
acknowledged Paul’s message (2 Pet. 3:14-16) as truthful (and in accord
with his message).
f.
2 John 9-11 warns us, “Whoever
transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have
God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the
Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this
doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11
for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.”
NOTICE how we are commanded to reject those who teach error.
This accords with other passages as well such as Gal. 1:6-9.
g.
Yes, we ought to pursue
unity, but God’s standard and not man’s!
And thus we can see, the Bible does NOT teach us to ignore sin
or sinful conduct! There are
many today who want us to compromise the truth in the name of tolerance.
And virtually anyone who teaches so, will manipulate scriptures
that condemn their sinful conduct AND other passages such as the ones we
have examined in this lesson.
Let us not fall for such!
Instead, let us stand for God and with Him according to His word.
The future depends on it.
Jesus said, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He
really find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8).
That is a sobering question and one that depends upon you and me
defending the “faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).
Will you?