O Come

O-Come-All-Ye-FaithfulOver the past few days, I have been getting ready for the Christmas season. It is upon us once again. In my Bible study and devotion time, I have been reflecting on celebration and joy. This has been a great study for Christmas time because I tend to get bogged down by the busyness of the season, losing my joy. But a joyful renewal filled my heart mind when two seemingly random events occurred yesterday.

What were the two events? I snuggled with my granddaughter enjoying a few quiet moments alone with her, and I read the words to “O Come All Ye Faithful.”

Last night I was hanging out with my son and his family. As the evening wore on I was getting a little tired and thought it was time to go home. As I suggested that I might leave, my granddaughter Greta got very upset. She wanted me to stay and put her to bed. Because it mattered so much to her, I stayed.

Over the next hour, I told her stories, and we snuggled in her bed. We laughed. We lay quietly. She hugged me. We celebrated and were joyful in the moment. Every time I moved, she said,” Don’t go.” It didn’t matter if I was trying to leave or not, she kept reiterating her desire for me to stay. And the truth was, I didn’t want to leave either. Why? Because we were having fun! We were enjoying our simple, quiet time together. I did have to leave eventually.

On the way home, I was listening to Christmas music. One of the songs was, “O Come All Ye Faithful.” I kept thinking about the song when I got home, so I decided to read the words.

Originally the song was written in Latin and is called “Adeste Fideles.” This literally means, be near or present you faithful ones (Osbeck 367). It is the hymn writers cry for us to stay close to Jesus.

The implications are profound. The great God of Heaven, ruler of the universe came down as a baby. One of the reasons for doing this was so He could draw near to us. Then we could draw near to Him, enjoying God in space and time history. He has come into our world. One verse of “O Come all Ye Faithful” says it this way “Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing”. The Bible says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth…For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace” (John 1:14 and 16 ESV).

A central theme of the Christmas story is the fact that God came to be with mankind. “’Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us)” (Matthew 1:23, ESV). Jesus came to be with us, and he desires us to come, to be near or be present so we can enjoy and fellowship with Him.

He says to come when we are tired (Matt 11:28), when we feel exhausted from the busyness of life. In the quiet places, He lies down and snuggles with us, telling us stories of His love and grace. He stays with us. And He enjoys this time. He wants to be with us, in the moment, celebrating. And the celebration need be nothing more than the fact that we are together and it is fun. And the best part is, He never has to leave. “For he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5, ESV).

“O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.”

I Need to Unplug to Plug In

no cell phone“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3, ESV)

Today I had to take a hard look at how I am living. Like many people in this technological day and age, I often find myself living virtually instead of living actually. My “best friends” tend to be my phone, my television, and my computer. Much of my daily interaction seems to be with machines rather than with people. The scariest part is that until today, it seemed like a good idea.

I live alone, and it can be kind of quiet sometimes. The lack of interaction and isolation can be very difficult for me. I get lonely. I thought I was learning to adjust to this solitary existence. I thought I was actually learning to cope quite well. I realized today that I was not dealing with it as well as I thought.

As I look back over the time I have lived by myself, I can see that I have tried desperately to create opportunities for interaction and communication so I won’t feel so alone. At first that meant calling friends and family incessantly. Eventually, I realized that I was burdening them, and I started to back off. But I still had alone time that needed to be filled.

I started reading, blogging, and watching TV to fill in the time. Then I got a smart phone. Now I can play games, pseudo-interact on Facebook, and text all day long, often while I’m reading, blogging, and watching TV. In lieu of real connections, I have become sucked into the world of virtual relationship.

Even now, I am blogging to a potential audience that includes anyone who is connected to the internet, but in reality I am writing to no one. It feels like I am communicating because I am sharing, but there is really no true interaction. It lacks the personal because I am not interacting with a person. I am only interacting with my computer.

All of this may not seem too odd in today’s world, but it has become very unhealthy for me. I have a hard time enjoying real relationships. I am so often connected to my virtual world that I have even started choosing it as a source of comfort when I could be enjoying the people around me. Living in a virtual world is not living, it is dying. It kills emotion, and it will eventually destroy other relationships.

This substitute for real relationship is detrimental because my mind is focused on something other than God. It is idol worship. God alone should be my hope and stay. “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3, ESV)

The Prophet Jeremiah while crying out, feeling isolated, alone, and shattered remembers God. This remembrance is where I will find my hope. In this passage I find the key to change. If I apply this truth, I will be restored to true and right relationships, first with God and then with others.

“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” (Lamentations 3:21–26, ESV)

My habits and life will change if I hope in the Lord, seek the Lord and wait quietly for the Lord. To wait quietly will be quite difficult for me, but thank God, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13, ESV)

Giving Him Remote Access

I had an amazing thing happen last night. I had a tune-up on my computer and my anti-viral protection updated. No, that isn’t the amazing part. The amazing thing is that I had it done in my home and I didn’t have to do it. The technician did all the work on my computer remotely.

I realize that this is not so incredible in this day and age, but for someone who remembers life before the internet, Wi-Fi, and the Geek Squad, I was astonished. For a while, I watched the cursor move around the screen. It was weird. My computer was controlled by a power I could not see or touch. But it was a good thing.

My computer needed the virus protection update. I also needed the hard drive cleaned up. Old unnecessary files were removed. The technician also defragmented files. Now my computer works better, faster and is less likely to be hacked or crash.

This wouldn’t have been possible if I hadn’t called the Geek Squad and asked for help. I would not have achieved the results I was looking for if I had not trusted the technician. It was necessary that I allowed him to take complete control, although that was kind of scary. I also had to allow him to complete his work without aborting the process.

I had freewill and many choices to make in this process, but did little actual work. The technician had the knowledge and power to make the necessary changes. I needed to give the responsibility to him and wait. It took a couple of hours, and it was impossible to hurry the process. I’m glad I waited though. The results were worth it.

As I sat watching the cursor move magically across the screen. I realized that my heart and mind needed a tune-up. I need to call out to God. I needed His Spirit to move across my mind and heart solving issues and preventing future problems.

I would have to call and ask Him though. He won’t just take over. I have a part in the process. I don’t have the skill and knowledge to make the changes, but I have to trust God and give Him control so He can. It seems weird to sit back and allow another being to have control of my most personal data. I must allow him access to my thoughts, emotions, memories and feelings though. It is necessary if I am going to be a useful and functional instrument for the kingdom of God.

I have old junk that needs to be cleaned out of my heart and mind. I have the potential for serious mental viruses that can cause great damage. If I do not allow God the access and time to work on my mind and heart, I will be in trouble. I must call the Great Technician and turn over control so He can do a great work in me.

I’m glad my computer is working better, but I will be even more excited as I see the changes that God makes in me!

I Am on the Mission Field

“As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:5, ESV)

I am often guilty of complaining about my work situation. My job isn’t easy. The hours are not great. The corporation is all about making money, not about virtue, kindness and love. I also have to work with people. They can be difficult and most are very worldly. I don’t work with very many Christians. So I get discouraged and complain.

The other day I was strongly convicted about my attitude. One of my co-workers came to me and said that he was thankful that I was working with him. He told me that he was glad to have another believer working there. My first reaction was, “I know, we need to stick together. It’s hard here with so many ungodly attitudes.”

His response hit me like a ton of bricks. “I know. Most of the people here don’t know Jesus. That’s why I’m glad you are here to help encourage them and share the good news with them.”

Wow, those words were powerful! They smacked me upside the head and some sense was knocked into me! I’m on mission. I am not stuck here. I am placed here. This is a foreign land and I have been sent to share Jesus. My store uniform is the clothing of the indigenous people. They speak their own language using terminology and phrases unique to that people group. They live in their own culture, a world centered on money and performance. I have been placed among the heathens to share the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Just like any other missionary, I will suffer. I have to give up time with my family to be on the mission field. I have to trust God for provision and support like any missionary. It is necessary for me to filled with the Spirit and His power daily. I will have to learn about the culture and interact with the people for a time before they are receptive to my way of life.

I need to hold fast to these words from Peter. “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,” (1 Peter 3:14–15, ESV)

Therefore it is necessary that I take up my cross daily and head into my mission field. The Lord will lead the way. I pray that many will be saved through the ministry of the few missionaries that I am privileged to serve with. It won’t be easy. Please pray for us as we brave the greed filled, results driven foreign culture to bring the Good News of Jesus.

He Will Hold my Hand as I Cross the Parking Lot Safely

“For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”” (Isaiah 41:13, ESV)

I often mistake the fact that I am middle-aged with the thought that I am mature. It is hard to admit and quite humbling, but sometimes I act like a two-year-old. I was thinking about my granddaughter and her funny two-year-old ways when the Lord pointed out that I acted the same way sometimes.

One day I asked my granddaughter if I could carry her in the parking lot.

She said, “No!”

I asked if I could hold her hand as we walked across the parking lot.

She said, “No!”

I told her that she had to hold someone’s hand since she is small and there were a lot of cars around. I explained that they could hurt her. Her solution made me laugh. She said she would hold her own hand. She clasped her hands together and started walking. Of course, I was right beside her, sticking as closely as I could while she asserted her independence.

A few days after this incident, I was listening to music. One of the songs on the playlist was “You Raise Me Up.” One of the lines really hit me hard. “I am strong when I am on your shoulders. You raise me up to more than I can be.” ¹

I thought about my insolence. I realized that to my shame I had rejected help from the Almighty God He asked if he could pick me up. I said, “No!” He asked to hold my hand. Instead of choosing safety and security, I walked along holding my own hand. He allowed me to do it myself. He laughed and walked closely beside me so he could pick me up when I fall.

He doesn’t want me to get hurt, but he will allow me to throw my tantrums. All the while, he sticks close by so he can protect me from disaster. He grabs me and pulls me back when I get ahead of him. He encourages me along when I lag behind. He watches over me, but I do miss out on some things.

When I let him carry me, good things happen. If I had been content to ride on his shoulders, I would have conserved energy. I would have avoided scrapes and bruises that I got from falling down. Also, the view is better. I could have seen farther ahead. I might have known more about where I was headed and may have seen the obstacles in my way before I came upon them. I would have had his perspective on life.

I do not want to continue to act immaturely. It would be safer for me to rely on God rather than to assert my independence. I know I cannot live successfully on my own. I know it is dangerous to run off on my own. I also know it is lonely to hold my own hand. My goal this week is to remember that God will “raise me up…to more than I can be”. I just have to quit fighting and let him carry me. I have to humble myself and allow him to help. I have to quit acting like I’m two!

1. Groban, Josh. You Raise Me up. Provident Label Group, 2004. CD.

Choose Life

“The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.” (Acts 17:24–25, ESV)

I am saddened by the pro-suicide discussions that I have been hearing lately. As a Christian, I do not agree with the “death with dignity” advocates. There is nothing dignified about dying. It is an undignified situation brought on by mankind’s sin against a Holy God. It is never good, right, happy or dignified. It is loss, sadness, pain, and ugly.

It was not the way God intended things to be. He is about life and living. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10, ESV). The enemy or our soul is the one who kills and destroys.

It seems to me that it should go without saying that Christians would oppose the ideology of the assisted suicide activists. But I have discovered that many do not. I know because I have been hearing their views on this travesty. “To each his own” and “Well, I wouldn’t do it but it might be right for them” are popular platitudes that are going around.

The Scripture is clear, God places great value on life. There are reasons that we as Christians should choose life. Here are just a few of those reasons.

• God created mankind in His own image. Only people have the stamp of God on them. They are not just another animal that we can put down to save them from suffering. He breathed into them the breath of life. They are unique and special, unlike any other created thing. God placed such a great value on humankind that Jesus came to die an undignified death to provide life everlasting for all who would come.

• People face an eternal destiny after death. We should not hasten death for the unbeliever. As Christians, we desire that all people would find Jesus as their Savior. The unbeliever has no hope after death. “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27, ESV). Our desire for all is that they have time in this life to find Jesus, and who knows if the limited suffering in this life might be the catalyst to bring them to Christ.

• Christian’s are called to pick up their crosses daily and follow him. We bear the burdens and exult in the joys of life. “Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the LORD has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted.” (Isaiah 49:13, ESV) We do not avoid suffering, we praise God who comforts us and shows compassion to us as we go through the difficulties of life. We live until God chooses to call us home.

• “In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind” (Job 12:10, ESV). Life and death are in God’s hands. When people presume to defy God and supersede his authority, it is sin and sin is never right, healthy, or dignified.

“Not only is suicide a sin, it is the sin. It is the ultimate and absolute evil, the refusal to take an interest in existence; the refusal to take the oath of loyalty to life. The man who kills a man, kills a man. The man who kills himself, kills all men. As far as he is concerned he wipes out the world.” G. K. CHESTERTON, Orthodoxy

Jesus, the Answer to Abuse

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” (James 1:19–21, NIV)

After reading the story of Absalom and pondering his circumstances, I thought a lot about abuse and how it affects families. I also wondered if we were becoming less abusive in our country. According to all of the statistics that I read, we are not. Rather, abuse is a growing problem in our society.

You would think that it should be on the decline. With all of the government support to alleviate poverty, hunger and discrimination you would think the citizens would have an improving demeanor. We provide education, cell phones and health care. As a society, we do a lot for our citizens. People should be experiencing more safety, security, and comfort because of these provisions. And yet the more we give, the more we abuse one another?

The statistics are staggering. Depending on the survey, it is reported that between 20% and 25% of all women suffer from domestic abuse. Information from the (http://www.childhelp.org/pages/statistics) says, “More than four children die every day as a result of child abuse.” Some organizations claim that the number is closer to 7 every day. According to safehorizons.org, more than three million children witness domestic violence in their own home each year.

The effects of this abuse are horrible. “Children who experience child abuse & neglect are about 9 times more likely to become involved in criminal activity” (National Child Abuse website). The same website claims that the cost of this abuse is $124 billion annually. That is only the cost of child abuse. It doesn’t include domestic violence against adult spouses or partners. People who are abused are much more likely to suffer from mental and even many physical ailments. The cost of abuse is high.

Last week’s blog chronicled the demise of Absalom. His issues began with an abusive situation. Instead of seeking God, he sought justice in the wrong ways. He let his anger control his life, instead of God. Eventually, he became an abuser too. This is why abuse grows. People allow the hurt and pain of the past to fester and grow in their hearts and minds. Eventually, they too become abusers and justify their sin against others. So how do we stop this?

I think there is only one way. “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6, NIV). We know the right way to live when we know Jesus. We understand reality, we know what is true and right when we are in Jesus. We chose things that are life giving and healthy rather than things that are destructive leading to death. The more we follow Jesus, the less we abuse others. People, therefore, need Jesus and He is the hope for the abused and the abuser.

If you have suffered from abuse and need Christian resources to help you, I would suggest starting with Mending the Soul @ http://mendingthesoul.org/

Anger and Its Destructive Power

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” (James 1:19–20, NIV)

Absalom was a handsome and well-liked young man. He had a beautiful sister that he loved. Her name was Tamar. Their mother was the daughter of a king and their dad was a mighty warrior who would be king. It seemed that Absalom had a pretty good life, except he had a dysfunctional family.

Absalom was the third born son of David the king of Israel. “Sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon the son of Ahinoam of Jezreel; his second, Kileab the son of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third, Absalom the son of Maakah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; and the sixth, Ithream the son of David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron” (2 Samuel 3:2–5). And this was only the beginning of the women and children in David’s household.

I f only the dysfunction stopped with multiple wives and half siblings. It didn’t. Absalom’s older brother Amnon hatched a plan to get Tamar, Absalom’s beautiful sister, alone and then he raped her. It seems that Amnon, like his father, had a problem controlling his desire for pretty women.

And the story goes on. Absalom was very angry at what Amnon had done, understandably. And to Absalom’s credit his first response wasn’t spurred by anger but was to act out of love. He loved his sister. He took her into his home even though she was a disgraced woman now. He even named his daughter after this tainted sister. This love was admirable, but the anger still seethed. Absalom never got control of his anger, and eventually become unloving even to those he previously loved.

When no official punishment came upon Amnon by the government, which meant his father King David blew it off, Absalom grew angrier. I think his resentment grew with each passing day as he waited for justice and nothing happened. So Absalom started thinking about revenge.

The idea worked through Absalom’s mind for two years and then he acted on it. He threw a party for his siblings and invited his father also. Absalom’s dad didn’t show up. I wonder if David had attended if the outcome of the story would have been different. Anyway, at the party Absalom ordered his servants to kill Amnon. He sought revenge for the crime against his sister.

Some would say the murder was justified because Amnon deserved it. I am not sure I would disagree. What I did learn from reading about Absalom was that his anger overtook him and it destroyed his life. It didn’t end with the murder of Amnon.

Absalom’s resentment for his father grew. He tried to usurp his father’s authority. Absalom started a coup in an attempt to dethrone is father and establish his place as king in his stead. Absalom did some despicable things during this time, including raping his father’s concubines. He violated the sister’s of other men, and I am sure that in his anger, he believed his sin was justified.

The story ends with Absalom’s untimely death. He got stuck in a tree and Joab, the general in charge of David’s army, ran him through with javelins. Absalom died in rebellion against his father, but also in rebellion against God. His anger and his inability to let go of his past hurt and pain, lead to his ultimate destruction.

I wrote this summary of Absalom’s life after realizing how easily anger can overtake a life. It can easily start out as justified. If left unchecked, it will turn into a vengeful spirit and will eventually lead to despicable acts. The choices that Absalom made out of an angry spirit caused more harm to more people than the sin of Amnon. Absalom never stopped to think about the harm he was bringing to Tamar his sister, nor to Tamar his daughter. He didn’t stop long enough to see the destruction he was leaving in his wake.

Anger is a serious issue and must be dealt with. Letting go of anger is healthy and will save us from future harm. It will also save us from harming others. I learned from Absalom’s story that anger left unchecked is a destructive force that leaves a path of horror and pain in the lives of those around us. Anger does not produce the righteousness of God, it produces sin, sadness, and death.
Dear Lord, help me to let go of all anger today. Let me trust you to deal with evil doers. Help me to remember the wisdom of James, be “slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires”.

Loving Teachers Expose Sin

There is so much in Christianity today that encourages and supports hurting individuals. We know that we are loved and cared for by God. We talk about the love Jesus has for us and how He died on the cross in substitutionary death for mankind. He has paid for our sins and given us new life. We are new creations in Christ. The old is gone, and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:7).

We are God’s children, and we have access to the Throne of Grace. We can go right before the Father and tell him our needs and struggles. He cares for us and blesses us. He wants what is best for me and teaches me how I can live a life full of contentment and peace.

All of this is so good. All of it is true and right. But I wonder if we have neglected to teach about something else. I wonder if we sometimes forget to discuss sin. We can be as positive as we want, but if we don’t discuss sin, we will end up in a mess.

In Lamentations, Jeremiah points out that the teachers neglected to call the people out on their sin and it was detrimental. “The visions of your prophets were false and worthless; they did not expose your sin to ward off your captivity. The prophecies they gave you were false and misleading.” (Lamentations 2:14, NIV)

Sin will take us captive. It will consume our lives and eat away at our spirit and mind. It is unhealthy. It also causes great harm in relationships and breaks down societies. For this reason, we need to discuss it.

Good teachers and leaders will call sin, sin. They won’t euphemize to make it more palatable and acceptable. They will deal with it honestly and expose it. They will use the terminology of the Scripture to describe sin. They will call it an abomination, filthy, deceitful, shameful, debased, perverse, evil, etc.

Loving, honest teachers and leaders know the importance of purity before God. “Be holy for I am holy” (I Peter 1:16). They also know the consequences of sin, “for the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). So they will be honest about sin. The best teachers know that God is just, righteous, holy and pure, and they want us to live that way too.

I would encourage you to seek out leaders who speak honestly about sin. Don’t shy away from them. They actually have your best interest at heart. Honest and worthwhile teaching exposes sin. We will do well to submit to those teachers and leaders that remind us of this and lead us into lives that reflect the glory of God.

Tolerance Can Be Unloving

“The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. “ ‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.’” (Revelation 2:18–20, ESV)

Two-year-olds are self-centered. They have a difficult time thinking of others needs. They also try very hard to demand their own way. It is not uncommon for them to follow a parental directive with “no!” Mine is a favorite word. It is often amusing and frustrating to watch their tactics for getting attention. All in all, they think the world revolves around them.

Wise parents teach them that they have to be kind and share. They teach them delayed gratification. With supernatural perseverance, the parents train children to say yes to what is good and healthy, including obeying the parents often unexplained directives. From this wise parenting, children learn the power of ours instead of “mine”. They learn to give attention and in return attention is reciprocated. They learn that the world is immense, and all that exists is not about them.

A loving parent wants a child to grow to be healthy and happy. So they teach them that they must “Deny themselves.” They teach them to make healthy and wise choices rather than self-indulgent ones. No one wants a 21 year old to continue acting like a two-year-old, throwing fits whenever he or she doesn’t get their way. They will not function in society, in church, nor in their family if they do not learn to give up their self-indulgent behavior. Neither will they be happy with themselves.

We have established that indulgence and immediate happiness does not lead to long-term health and contentment, so we train our two-year-olds. We make them brush their teeth because it is good long term not because it is fun now. We make them eat their dinner before they eat dessert, so they are getting the nutrition they need. As good parents, we teach a two year old to share with others. We teach them to be kind. We teach them to take turns. We teach them to deny themselves for the common good.

We also teach them delayed gratification. We will go to the park later after we pick up our toys. We will have the chocolate after lunch. Learning to control their impulses is necessary to them growing into healthy people.

I said all of this to remind us about the necessary work and self-denial (and parental denial) that leads to maturity. It needs to be said because we see much immaturity in Christianity today. There are many overindulged and lazy Christians who are acting like two-year-olds and demanding their way.

The rules of a healthy household, a healthy family are found in the Bible. It isn’t hard to figure out what God wants. The Bible teaches love, gentleness, understanding and acceptance. But it also teaches that there are times to say “NO.” It is unloving for mature Christians to stand by and tolerate sinful behavior in a less mature believer. Loving them often means saying, “Thou shalt not …” We need to teach denying yourself, taking up your cross and perseverance in the face of adversity. We need to lead others into maturity.

Thought I would write this as a reminder that sometimes tolerance is unloving, and it displeases God!