Romans 12:17-19 “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.”
Tolerance is defined by Webster’s 1828 dictionary as to bear. The power, the capacity or the act of enduring. Tolerance is being willing to put up with, endure, bear with those whose views or lifestyles are different from others’ views without agreeing with them. And every Christian should be tolerant in the correct and historical meaning of that word. It is what the Bible means in the love chapter of I Corinthians 13: “Love endures all things.” But in no way, shape or form do you hold that any God-rejecting lifestyle is equally true and equally valid as your own Christian belief.
2 Corinthians 6:14-15 instructs us, “Do not be unequally bound together with unbelievers [do not make mismatched alliances with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial (Satan)? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?”
America’s Founding Father John Jay - First Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court stated: “Providence has given to our people the choice of their ruler, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.” Why? Because the Word of God is the standard by which to live, so biblical authority sets precedence and godlessness rejects God’s authority. Founding Father and Second President John Adams stated, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people [pious; godly; loving and reverencing the Supreme Being and obeying his precepts]. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
1 Timothy 4:7-8 “Have nothing to do with godless myths [ideologies and teachings, hatefully deceitful lies] and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
The Lord Jesus said that Believers and unbelievers in this day and age are like wheat and tares in the crop fields. In Matthew 13:30, he instructs us to, “Let both grow together until the harvest.” In other words, we live in a fallen world permeated by sin [the voluntary departure of a moral agent from a known rule of rectitude or duty, prescribed by God; any voluntary transgression of the divine law, or violation of a divine command; a wicked act; iniquity], and on this side of eternity they will always be around us, so tolerate them, but never accept, approve or affirm their sinful thoughts, words or lifestyle. The motto and mantra is “In God We Trust”. The Christian’s religious hope bears up the mind when under godless sufferings. To bear through ungodly ideology, words and lifestyles is to conduct or manage with godly tolerance; to maintain or support oneself to the end; as, the Christian religion will bear us through the evils of life as the Lord is our strength; to endure the effects of the sin nature in others and hence to give satisfaction for standing firm in the faith. Do not be tempted to acquiesce to sin.
James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
Bear with it. Victory
In Christ, Brian
No comments:
Post a Comment