Power Point - Oct. 27, 2006

October 27, 2006

 

  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

 

--Romans 12:18

 

Tolerance is the key word of our culture today. The world teaches us that we should be tolerant and accepting of others’ beliefs and behavior…or whatever it is that one defines as truth.

 

But the tolerance Paul speaks of in the 12^th chapter of Romans is a different kind of tolerance. He’s encouraging us to make allowances for the differences between people. But he’s not condoning a blind tolerance for those who disregard the truth as revealed in God’s Word.

 

Jesus was forgiving of others and tolerant of those who thought differently than He did. He never attacked them or resorted to personal insults. And you and I are to follow His example in this area.

 

But we also need to realize, as Jesus did, that tolerance only stretches so far.

 

In our world today, Satan has done a masterful job of twisting the concept of tolerance to mean we should be accepting…and even embrace…anything the world tries to pass off as truth.

 

But the fact is we should have absolutely no tolerance when truth is at stake!

 

God’s truth is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And we, as His people, are called to teach and defend it without apology or compromise. While we are tolerant and accepting of people, we must be intolerant of false ideas that deny the truth of Jesus Christ.

 

Today I encourage you to stand firm in the truth of what Jesus taught…regardless of how unpopular you might be in the world’s eyes. And don’t let popular opinion change your mind!

 

As a follower of Christ, you are called to defend truth…regardless of how unpopular it might make you.