Thou Shall Be TOLERENT!

 Believers in Jesus Christ have been accused of being Intolerant and un-accommodating.

 What do those words even mean? Since these are “UN-“ words; one must understand the regular word.

“Tolerant and accommodating” – means to be able to change and lower the standards to allow someone with those lower standards to feel acceptable and unoffended

Based upon that definition, Believers in Jesus Christ BETTER BE intolerant and unaccommodating.  Those are the teachings one is accepting when calling themselves a “follower of Jesus Christ”.

Unfortunately, the church is wrong in how much it is tolerant and accommodating.  No where in scripture are believers told that they are to lower all standards in order to be able to love the unbeliever!

The abuse in making the gospel message acceptable has turned the act of “love” into an act to become culturally and socially acceptable. Believers are to be SEPARATE from the World.

Anyone who claims to be a believer and is OFFENDED by these words; I have one statement for you:

Pharisee and Hypocrites need to run and hide before they come face to face with the man they claim to follow!  He will not be able to tell you apart from unbelievers!

 

Matthew 16:1-4; 23:1-36; 25:31-33; 1 Timothy 4:6-11; 15-16; 2 Corinthians 4; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Be-ATTITUDES

Every preacher has probably preached on the Beatitudes at some point in their time in the pulpit. There are probably a few people who can even quote them.  A lot of people reading the Gospel of Matthew probably skim over these nine verses just to get past them since the passage is so familiar.  The verses can even be found on knick-nacks at a discount store. Nothing here to waste time on.  HOLD ON a minute, turns out Jesus had a lot to say about the ATTITUDES prevalent in our society right now. There are more solutions in this passage than in any other media available.  What? Well, take a better look at it ONE VERSE AT A TIME.

Matthew 5:3-11 are the BE - ATTITUDES…

1) BE POOR IN SPIRIT – Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven

How do you think of yourself?  In humility or pride? If in humility, then what form of humility?

There is vanity when one considers how much was sacrificed in giving.  Being proud of how much offering was given or how wonderful it was of us to give those groceries to the needy.  Being proud of how “un-wealthy” we are is just as bad as King Midas counting every one of his gold coins.

Be poor but not proud.  Job was as thankful for the “taking away”; as he was for “the giving”!

Be humble and lowly.  Matthew Henry puts it this way:  “accommodate ourselves to our poverty…not in pride or prejudice….not throwing away what God has given us…be as little children in our opinion of ourselves…”

2) BE MOURNFUL – Receive comfort

Has this verse ever been used for anything other than during the occasion of the death of someone?

We are to be mournful.  Not the sorrow of life in this world but mournful over sin.  We must feel the sorrowfulness for our sins.  Sins which were paid for by the high cost of a blood sacrifice.  Mournful enough that we are apologetic for our sinful nature. Life must be lived in repentance.

There is a second reason for being mournful.  We need to have sorrow for the sins of others.  Do you feel the sorrow watching your fellow man wallow in his depravity?  Jesus did.  That is why he blessed those who mourn.  In Luke 19:41, Jesus wept over Jerusalem and its “state/condition”.

3) BE MEEK - and inherit the earth

This word IS NOT even a part of our vocabulary today.  What does it mean?  You have heard the expression: “Google it”.  Well do that and you will find this definition:

 “quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on; submissive”

That entire definition is so opposed to what is broadcasted from every angle of culture and society.  Look for an example of a person around that fits this description of being meek.  How many can you list?

For a follower of God, this one should hit them in some sensitive areas of their lifestyle and attitudes. What a directive on how a child of God should live and conduct themselves daily. It is also a VERY SIMPLE answer from God on how we should be reacting to the strange chaos we are finding ourselves living in today.

Then there is submissive.  An entire paper can be written on that.  Submission is expected to both authority here on earth and in heaven.  We are expected to be submissive in our homes, marriages, jobs, and authorities.

This is “Quiet Submission” to God and man. Not boastful about that submission or humility.  Calling attention to the fact that you are being submissive is false humility.  Titus 3:1-2 dictates that we are to be gentle in dealings with the evil of men.  Not allowing ourselves to being provoked.  OUCH, does that mandate what our reaction is to look like?

4) BE HUNGRY AND THIRSTY FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS – and you will be filled

Thriving constantly for purity.  Not for perfection.  When are you hungry?  Have you ever missed more than one meal?  Your stomach starts talking to you.  When you have that kind of desire for God’s Word and for being in the presence of God you are getting closer.  Unlike eating food, you will never reach a full “stomach” until you are standing before the throne of God.  Our goal is to be as much like Jesus as possible without the self-righteousness displayed by the Pharisee in scripture.

5) BE MERCIFUL – and you will obtain mercy

How quick are we to snap a response at the actions of those we see on media today? We are very quick at pronouncing our judgment.  This does not mean or dictate we condone a sinful life style.  A sinful life will send the soul to Hell. Period, end of story!  BUT, there is NO SOUL THAT IS NOT ABLE TO BE SAVED! 

How much do we assume the afflictions, problems or needs of others?  To little time in our seemingly busy schedule to bother with them.  Where is the compassion and care for our fellow man?  Scripture is filled with examples of mercy.  There were those who lowered their friend through the roof just to be healed.  Boaz allowed Ruth to get food from his fields.  It is also filled with those who treated lepers as outcasts and did not show mercy.  Which form of mercy do you display?

6) BE PURE IN HEART – and you will see God

Cleanliness of the heart.  If your heart has never made a commitment to Christ, then none of this will mean anything to you.  The first thing needed is a heart that has been totally surrendered to God and has agreed to Him being the master of everything.  Once that has happened, priorities begin to change and these Be-Attitudes begin to make sense.

7) BE A PEACEMAKER – to be called the children of God

Are we striving to obtain peaceful solutions or are we always an instigator to say or do something to cause dissention or unrest.

8) BE RIGHTEOUS AND PREPARED FOR PERSECUTION

This covers both blatant persecution and the suffering that comes as a result of standing for the righteousness of God. Persecution WILL COME for adherence to righteousness!

Those living in America have not known true persecution. Are they prepared for it?  There are those who have given their lives for the Gospel.  Persecution can come in many forms from simple name calling and false accusations. However, are you prepared for persecution that results in not having food on the table or a home to live?  How about the loss of a job to pay the bills UNLESS you agree to a lifestyle or organization that denies Biblical principles?

Remaining true to convictions and righteousness is the most difficult of all these.  Being rooted in God’s word will be the greatest weapon available to the children of God.

Each of these BE-ATTITUDES builds upon one another. They were not spoken by Jesus to be used as just another common liturgy or as a cute plague on the wall of an office. Better read them slowly again and pay more careful attention to them before quoting them.

The Dirtiest Three Letter Word

The Dirtiest Three Letter Word

What is the dirtiest three letter word today?

I am certain you would not have said it was this word:  “SIN”

Don’t mention that word. It is the word that is least mentioned in our vocabulary.  Did you ever see it on a school spelling test? Ever see it mentioned on a prime time TV sitcom?  In our world today a person can do anything they want, go anywhere they want or act in any manner that they want to.  However, not once will the word “sin” be uttered in reference to their actions. Ask the person on the street to define the word sin.  Can they define it?  Mankind has determined that they cannot be held responsible for anything.  Therefore, why worry about what sin is? Just ask your lawyer.  However, do not ask God.  If you do ask God, you may find that what he says it is; will most likely contradict what you believe.

What is Sin?

A child might tell you: “it is doing something you are not supposed to do”.

Could it really be that simple?

We live in a complex world today.  We expect everything to be complicated.  There is nothing complicated in understanding what sin is.  Maybe the complication comes from understanding what we are not “supposed to do”.  If there is a belief that nobody can tell us what to do, then how can we be guilty of sin? Why can God tell us what to do, when as a society we do not believe in God?

Oh, now we are getting to the root problem.  How can we define sin, if we do not acknowledge that there is a God? Without an acknowledgement of God; there is no reason to be concerned with sin in our lives. Understanding and acknowledging the presence and influence of God in a man’s life is paramount to knowing that sin is in existence.  Without a God there is no one to sin against.  How can a child sin against a parent without having a parent?  How can an employee sin against the employer without having an employer?

Without an acknowledgement that God exists; and that he is the sole reason for each breath man takes, there will continue to be a rise in the viciousness of sin in our land.  We must show the world that God does exist and that the problems and issues of this world will only get worst as we decide to move further and further away from his will.  How can we show the world that there is a God without first cleaning up the sin within our own lives?

1. Acknowledge that there is a God.- Proverbs 3:6; Psalms 51:1-4; Isaiah 45:20-22
2. There is Only one way:
• God’s - Isaiah 55:8
• Not man’s - Proverbs 14:12
3. He took care of sin but all men will die and be held accountable – Hebrews 9:26-28; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23
4. How will this take place?  Revelation 20:12-15
5. How do we get listed in that book – John 3:3; John 3:6; John 3:16; Romans 5:8-9
6. He is waiting to be received by asking – Acts 4:12; John 1:12; Revelation 3:20
7. Call on him and confess – Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13; 1 John 1:9
8. Sin is gone and no longer part of our life– Romans 10:9-10; 1 John 5:13; Ephesians 2:8-9
9. Then What?  Luke 12:8-9; Acts 1:8

Written March 2010

WDK