Who are the lovers? Who are the haters? God knows. For only God knows the fragrance of our motivation. That said, if I want to love well I will look toward the advice and word of Love Himself. Jesus says this - “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” (John 8,17) Freedom and sanctification is via God’s word, not ours. So if I want people free and ready for heaven I must release God’s word, not mine. God is love, love’s origin. In this way I don’t get to define what love looks like, God does, and He has done so via His word, as revealed in the Holy Scriptures. The goodness of God is not on trial, but my goodness and faithfulness is. When I change the word of God or chop bits out so as not to offend cultural trends, I do not love anyone. I am doing one of two evil things, or both – making myself God or protecting my own comfort at the expense of others’ freedom and salvation. According to Jesus I am leading people into spiritual bondage in this life and potential damnation in the age to come (Mark 7:7-8, John 8:34, James 1:21). What many would describe as ‘tolerant’ and ‘inclusive’ can end up grossly irresponsible, even hateful. The word of God says there will come a time when ‘doctrines of demons’ will invade the church (! Tim 4:1, 2 Tim 3:8). We are in such a time and must use scripture (the measure, or ‘canon’ of truth) to bring correction, without apology (2 Tim 3:16). A little leaven leavens the whole lump, therefore purge out the old leaven (1 Cor 5). We live in a world where those who proclaim absolute truth are sooner seen as intolerant, unloving and even evil, rather than loyal to the word of God for the sake of His good purposes and as such in order to love the world well (Eph 4:15). Just because we proclaim truth and don’t agree with certain lifestyles, this does not mean we do not love people, nor accept them. On the contrary, by presenting not our fleshy, unstable opinions desperate for the affirmation and love that comes from the world, but by presenting His word, which we believe is ultimately good for people in this life and in preparing them for a very real Judgment Day and eternal age, we love them well. Today this comes at a very real cost, more so a sign of love (John 15:13). I’ll end appropriately with the word of God undiluted – ‘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.’ (James 5:19-20)
Posted on: Wed, 29 Jan 2014 10:14:39 +0000
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