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Bearing With One Another

TOLERANCE

Allan Bloom writes: "Openness - and the relativism that makes it the only plausible stance in the face of various claims to truth and various ways of life and kinds of human beings -- is the great insight of our times. The true believer is the real danger. The study of history and of culture teaches that all the world was mad in the past; men always thought they were right and that led to wars persecutions slavery xenophobia racism and chauvinism. The point is not to correct the mistakes and really be right; rather it is not to think you are right at all."

Charles Colson Against the Night p. 84.

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As Dorothy Sayers observed "In the world it is called Tolerance but in hell it is called Despair the sin that believes in nothing cares for nothing seeks to know nothing interferes with nothing enjoys nothing hates nothing finds purpose in nothing lives for nothing and remains alive because there is nothing for which it will die."

Charles Colson Against the Night p. 93.

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Let us be on our guard against this feeling. it is only too near the surface of all our hearts. Let us study to realize that liberal tolerant spirit which Jesus here recommends and be thankful for good works wheresoever and by whomsoever done. Let us beware of the slightest inclination to stop and check others meekly because they do not choose to adopt our plans or work by our side. We may think our fellow-Christians mistaken in some points. We may fancy that more would be done for Christ if they would join us and if all worked in the same way. We may see many evils arising from religious dissensions and divisions. But all this must not prevent us rejoicing if the works of the devil are destroyed and souls saved. Is our neighbor warring against Satan? Is he really trying to labor for Christ? This is the grand question. Better a thousand times that the work should be done by other hands than not done at all. Happy is he who knows something of the spirit of Moses when he said "Would God that all the Lord's people were prophets " and of Paul when he says "If Christ is preached I rejoice yea and will rejoice" (Num 11:29; Phil 1:18). 

J.C. Ryle Expository Thoughts on the Gospels St Mark Cambridge: James Clarke 1973 p. 190-91.

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Gibbon...said that in Roman society all religions were to the people equally true to the philosophers equally false and to the government equally useful. It would be difficult to deny that this is true of some of today's "developed" societies...Tolerance with respect to what is not important is easy. 

Lesslie Newbigin Foolishness to the Greeks.

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According to a traditional Hebrew story Abraham was sitting outside his tent one evening when he saw an old man weary from age and journey coming toward him. Abraham rushed out greeted him and then invited him into his tent. There he washed the old man's feet and gave him food and drink. The old man immediately began eating without saying any prayer or blessing. So Abraham asked him "Don't you worship God?"

The old traveler replied "I worship fire only and reverence no other god."

When he heard this Abraham became incensed grabbed the old man by the shoulders and threw him out his his tent into the cold night air.

When the old man had departed God called to his friend Abraham and asked where the stranger was. Abraham replied "I forced him out because he did not worship you."

God answered "I have suffered him these eighty years although he dishonors me. Could you not endure him one night?"

Thomas Lindberg.

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Tolerance can be exercised only by those who have well-grounded convictions...Those who have no such convictions but who espouse polite doubt agnosticism skepticism or downright nihilism can only be indifferent not tolerant. The two are by no means the same and history has demonstrated the intolerance of those who clam that truth either does not exist or is humanly unattainable. 

Evangelical Newsletter Oct 30 1981 v.8 #22 from the "Portland Declaration".

"CHALLENGES A CONGREGATION MUST MEET"
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. As a congregation grows
it is likely to face various challenges...
 a. The devil would certainly love to hinder us in our work - e.g.

 1 Th 2:18
 b. How he does this may not always be evident
as he is a great
 deceiver - 2 Co 11:3
 -- Through simple and seemingly harmless diversions
the devil can
 lead us astray
 
2. We must therefore take up the admonition to "Hold fast..." - Re 3:11
 a. Accepting any challenges the devil might throw our way
 b. Knowing that our efforts to be "steadfast" are not for naught
 - 1 Co 15:58
 
[In this study we will look at some challenges that any congregation
must meet to serve the Lord faithfully...]
 
I. WE MUST REMEMBER WHAT OUR WORK IS
 
 A. TO EQUIP THE SAINTS FOR MINISTRY (EDIFICATION)...
 1. We are to provide for the spiritual growth of each member
 - Ep 4:11-12
 2. This is how the body continues to grow - Ep 4:15-16
 3 Thus we are to provoke one another to love and good works
the
 very reason we are to assemble together - He 10:24-25
 -- Is each one of us doing what we can to help other Christians
 to grow?
 
 B. TO SOUND FORTH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST (EVANGELISM)...
 1. Like the church at Thessalonica - 1 Th 1:8
  2. Through individual and collective efforts
we must "sow the
 seed"
 3. As our building fills
it becomes tempting to slack off
but
 we must either expand or swarm (have some leave to start
 another congregation)
 -- Is each one of us doing what we can to spread the gospel?
 
 C. TO PROVIDE FOR NEEDY SAINTS (BENEVOLENCE)...
 1. The original purpose behind the collection - 1 Co 16:1-2
 2. Even if there is no need locally
there may be needy saints in
  other places
 -- Is each one of us doing what we can to see that needs are
 being met?
 
[The work of the local church goes far beyond providing a place where
people can simply worship from week to week. We should be preparing
ourselves to work! Will we meet the challenge? Another challenge we
must face...]
 
II. WE MUST LIVE ABOVE PETTINESS
 
 A. EVEN GOOD CHURCHES CAN BE HINDERED BY PETTINESS...
 1. Notice Paul's concern for the church at Philippi - Ph 4:2-3
 2. When churches loose sight of their primary purpose
they are
 ripe for being torn apart by selfishness
gossip
and
 factionalism
 
 B. WE MUST KEEP A PROPER SENSE OF PROPORTION...
 1. It is disastrous if we begin to "major in minors"
to blow
  problems all out of proportion
 2. We must see the largeness and importance of our work in
 comparison to our own personal problems
 a. Every church has its problems
for we are imperfect people
 b. Remembering Paul's exhortations in Ph 2:1-5 will certainly
 help
 
[What a sad thing it would be to have a congregation hindered by
pettiness. Yet so many congregations do allow it to keep them from
growing. Will we accept the challenge never to allow pettiness to so
affect us? It will be easy to meet that challenge
if at the same time
we meet another one...]
 
III. WE MUST MAINTAIN GRATITUDE FOR OUR BLESSINGS
 
 A. WE HAVE MUCH FOR WHICH TO BE THANKFUL...
 1. As individuals:
 a. We have many physical blessings
 1) Our families
friends
homes
health
 2) Our freedoms
jobs
 b. We have many spiritual blessings
 1) Salvation in Christ
the forgiveness of sins
peace of
 mind
 2) The love of God
the strength of the Holy Spirit
the
 hope of heaven
 2. As a congregation:
 a. Free from turmoil
free to worship
 b. Filled with love and unity
 c. Blessed with good facilities
signs of numerical and
  spiritual growth
 d. Great potential for both individual and congregational
 growth
 
 B. WE SHOULD BE NOTED FOR OUR "ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE"...
 1. Note how often Paul exhorted the Colossians to be thankful
 a. Giving thanks to the Father - Co 1:12
 b. Abounding with thanksgiving - Co 2:7
 c. As the peace of God rules in your heart
be thankful
 - Co 3:15
 d. Giving thanks to God - Co 3:17
 e. Be vigilant in prayer with thanksgiving - Co 4:2
 2. As individuals
and as a congregation
let us never become
 "unthankful"
 a. It is a step toward depravity - Ro 1:21
 b. It is a sign of perilous times - 2 Ti 3:1-5
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. There are many other challenges that congregations may face...
 a. Such as persecution for the cause of Christ
 b. Or natural calamities that may devastate our community
 
2. But in most cases
even those challenges can be met and overcome if
 we...
 a. Remember what our work is
 b. Live above pettiness
 c. Maintain gratitude for our blessings
 
With a will to do what the Lord desires of us
and with the "attitude
of gratitude" lifting us above any sense of pettiness that might drag
us down
let us do our part to answer the prayer of Paul:
 
 "...to Him (God) be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all
 generations
forever and ever. Amen." (Ep 3:21)
 
Note: The main idea and several thoughts from this lesson were taken
from a lesson by Gary Henry. The URL for his web site containing many
excellent articles and sermon outlines is: http://www.brasstacks.org

－－《Executable Outlines》