Today is Friday, June 22nd, 2007; Karen's Korner #1090
Have you noticed that the new catch word in our society is 'tolerance'? We are told to tolerate and be tolerant of nearly every choice, decision, and living style? It might be different from what we would choose, but we must be tolerant.
I couldn't help but think, "Are we tolerating things that Jesus wouldn't?" We learn from childhood that God loves all of us unconditionally. I believe that it is true; nothing any of us can ever do will ever screw that up.
But while we are loved unconditionally, Jesus didn't let our behaviors off the hook. When he met the woman at the well, he knew of her past, allowed her sins to be forgiven, and told her to go and sin no more. When Peter denied Him three times, Jesus knew Peter could do better. Peter was forgiven and went on to do fabulous things for the cause of the coming Kingdom and in the lives of many followers of Jesus. Tax collectors were told to abandon their cheating behaviors; what they were doing could no longer be tolerated.
When God gave Moses the 10 commandments, he was telling his people and us today that all behaviors and life choices couldn't be embraced. He was intolerant of some of them; not because He is a vindictive and cruel Creator, but because some choices we make aren't the best for us or hurt people with whom we live, love, and work.
We must learn from the Master and love ourselves and others unconditionally, but at the same time not be tolerant of every choice we, and others around us, might make, if it deviates from what God says and what Jesus did.
No small task!
"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter." -- Isaiah 5:20
Back