Selwyn’s main point in today’s study is: “Those who are prepared to demonstrate brotherly love to all, but are not prepared to stand up for truth when it is being compromised, are also off-balance.”
He uses Revelation 2:12-17 (NLT), Jesus’ message to the church in Pergamum, to illustrate this point: ” … I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching. Repent of your sin … “
You can see from what John wrote in Revelation that tolerance of false teaching, is a sin. In addition, Paul, in a number of his letters also makes it clear that a Christian community must not tolerate false teachers, and they should expel those people, after appropriate counselling, who refuse to accept the truth.
Of course, Scripture can never be used to justify the harsh treatment or torture of people who hold heretical views; and, while on this theme – Scripture can never be used to justify ‘state’ violence, such as the Crusades. God’s role in the conquest of Canaan, is fully explained in the Old Testament; and the circumstances of that case, as far as I can see, has not been duplicated, in the New Testament. In summary, Jesus tells us to love our enemies, in the same way that He loves them; and it’s obvious that His love does not include the tolerance of sin.
What’s your view?
Stand up and be counted
Selwyn’s main point in today’s study is: “Those who are prepared to demonstrate brotherly love to all, but are not prepared to stand up for truth when it is being compromised, are also off-balance.”
He uses Revelation 2:12-17 (NLT), Jesus’ message to the church in Pergamum, to illustrate this point: ” … I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching. Repent of your sin … “
You can see from what John wrote in Revelation that tolerance of false teaching, is a sin. In addition, Paul, in a number of his letters also makes it clear that a Christian community must not tolerate false teachers, and they should expel those people, after appropriate counselling, who refuse to accept the truth.
Of course, Scripture can never be used to justify the harsh treatment or torture of people who hold heretical views; and, while on this theme – Scripture can never be used to justify ‘state’ violence, such as the Crusades. God’s role in the conquest of Canaan, is fully explained in the Old Testament; and the circumstances of that case, as far as I can see, has not been duplicated, in the New Testament. In summary, Jesus tells us to love our enemies, in the same way that He loves them; and it’s obvious that His love does not include the tolerance of sin.
What’s your view?