Lake Eufaula Christian Church
Society today embraces the post-modernism idea that everything is relative, and as long as you believe strongly enough about something, it is your truth. Because no absolute standard of right and wrong exists, if you can’t tolerate what I believe, then you’re labeled a bigot, a racist, or a petty, prejudiced person.
This new idea about tolerance means that you must not say that anyone is wrong about anything. You must say that all positions are equally valid. If you want to fit in with popular culture, you must be tolerant to what was previously called sin.
Tolerant churches in our world no longer preach against sin. A Pastor at a tolerant church doesn’t tend to preach anything that could make congregation members feel bad about themselves. They no longer label lawlessness, rebellion, treason, spiritual adultery, or breaking God’s commandments as sins. Instead they use words like struggle, spiritual disease and unhappiness.
Just as society now demands respect for people’s many pronouns— whether they want to be he, she, or they— tolerant churches use a vocabulary that is sure not to offend. Doing so, however, must be truly offensive to God. Aaron Tippin had it right in his country song that said, “You’ve got to stand for something, or you’ll fall for anything.”
We shouldn’t fall into the trap of refusing to call sin a sin. Jesus makes this point clearly in His letter to the early church in Thyatira. He began by commending them for their love, faith, service, and perseverance, but added a reprimand: “Nevertheless, I have this against you. You tolerate that woman Jezebel who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.” (Rev. 2:20) Jezebel was a leader of Gnosticism, a dangerous heresy that taught what you did in the flesh would not affect your spirit. Gnostics claimed to possess an elevated knowledge—a higher truth acquired not from the Bible, but through mystical, new-age divine revelations given only to a privileged few.
Many Thyatira church members had been lured by Jezebel’s message that satisfying their own pleasures any way they wanted was holy. They sought bodily delight, gratification, and fulfillment, believing such acts were not only not sinful, but spiritually acceptable.
Jesus set them straight. “I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of their ways…. Then all the churches will know that I am He who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.” (Rev. 1:2223) God doesn’t want us to tolerate sin, and the Bible tells us how to avoid doing so. “Submit yourself to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:12) God not only loves, but the Bible says, “He is love.” Therefore, His love is holy and pure. This love, through the power of God’s Holy Spirit, helps us to submit wholeheartedly to God, and wholeheartedly resist the temptation of the enemy. He will help you too, when you come to Him in humble repentance. Jesus not only loved you enough to die for you, but He also loves you enough to forgive your sins, and help you walk in newness of life.
At LECC we examine the areas of our lives in which we need to resist the enemy. We’d love for you to visit us at 415987 Highway 9, Eufaula, where we have small group Bible study at 10 a.m., worship at 11 a.m. and Wednesday night classes for all ages at 6:30 p.m.
Join us in calling a sin a sin and denouncing the immorality that society wants us to tolerate. Join us in taking a stand for God’s truth. We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s standard. But, our imperfect family of believers realizes our need to worship a perfect God together!
