CAN WE PREACH TOLERANCE AND TRUTH ??

WITHOUT Biblical AUTHORITY !!

My friends , TRUTH DOES MATTER! (and sometimes DOES "hurt" ) . For years, Christians have stood alone on the matter of the New Birth experience of Water and Spirit and on the matter of holiness (1 Thessalonians 4:7, Hebrews 12:14). Now, rather unexpectedly, it appears that we will once again have to stand alone on the matter of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. However, this should not surprise us, for these three truths (Justification, Sanctification, Glorification) are eternally bound together in Scripture: Hebrews 9:28 tells us ; " So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. "

I have repeatedly exposed the Non - Bible based doctrines of Catholicism , atheism , Islam , and others - and WILL CONTINUE to do so - as well as all other Non-Bible based doctrines !! And make no apologies for it !! Now , many will (and have ) told me , "But you're 'offending' people." I reply , " SO WHAT !! " - Hey , my friends , Don't be afraid to offend other people. I don't mind if you 'step on my toes', as long as you don't 'stomp on my feet'. And sadly to say , many (even Christian BIBLE BASED denominations) are 'tippy toeing' around controversial subjects , because they're afraid that if they "offend" people - BAM !! there goes their congregation (or at least a vast amount of them into other churches) , as well as their TITHES !! If pastors are "afraid" of preaching the "uncomfortable" parts of the Bible , they should at least be HONEST as to WHY they are NOT preaching it !!!

The Bible tells us (the church) that we WOULD BE 'lukewarm' , and the Lord will spit us out of His mouth !! Revelations 3: 14-16 states ; " And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. "

Take note ,my friends God will spew them out . Many church leaders and people that call themselves a Christian and are sure they are saved will not be going to Heaven . The Bible tells us - you have acquired wealth , but your true condition is wretched , Let's look at Revelation 3: 17 ; " Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked " . This is today’s church . Most churches preach VERY LITTLE scripture , but lots of worldly stories . Many sing a great deal , but put very little emphasis on repentance , obeying , serving , and fearing (Revering) God , the fruits of the Spirit , Bible Prophecy , water baptism by immersion , and studying your Bible faithfully every day . Many are only entertainment centers that teach what their members want to hear . People will not endure sound doctrine - 2 Tim: 4:3 tells us that ; " For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;" 2 Tim : 4:4 tells us that they will turn away from the truth of the word of God ; " And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

Many church members are so lukewarm or dead , they don’t even bring their Bibles with them to the house of God . Many ministers think this is the best church age ever , yet the Bible clearly shows it is the worst and most deceived .

The Bible gives us OVER FIFTY descriptions of people as we near the end of time - OH. . .BUT ..let's DARE NOT preach the word of GOD , for 'fear' of " offending" these people ?? ( I'll get to that in a minute ) But let me first say that I , for one WILL BOLDLY preach GODS word - and NOT MANS , just as I'm SUPPOSED TO DO - as COMMANDED BY GOD HIMSELF !! " Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men." In Acts 4:29 it says ; "And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word . " Let's not overlook Acts 4:31 ; " And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness."
We also need to SERIOUSLY pay attention to Revelation 3: 19-22 ; " As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. "

ESPECIALLY the LAST VERSE !!!

Let all within the sound of your voice hear what the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 6: 9-11 ;
" Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."

AND . . let them hear it from YOU BOLDLY !!! "

Do you think Jesus cared about " offending " the scribes and chief priests when HE (Jesus) turned over the money tables , ran 'em all out and implied they were thieves ? The 'high and mighty ' chief priests were not used to the TRUTH , which is why they wanted to kill Jesus ( v . 18 ) .

" And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. 
And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine. " ( Mark 11: 15-18 ) .

Now , this is NOT to say that we should intentionally look for ways to offend people , nor does it imply that Jesus was " intolerant " of all ; On the contrary , there are instances where Jesus actually rebuked his disciples for THEM wanting to 'destroy' certain people.

Jesus' disciples had rejected a healer who was exorcising demons in Jesus' name, yet was not one of Jesus direct followers. Jesus criticized his disciples and accepted the healer. Mark and Luke report the incident in parallel passages:

Mark 9:38-40 "...we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbade him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part."

Luke 9:49-50 "...we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbade him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us."

Jesus' teachings were rejected by the inhabitants of a village in Samaria. His disciples asked that he exterminate the people of the village by issuing a curse. Jesus refused to do it, and simply move on to the next village.

Luke 9:52-56: "...they did not receive him...And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village."

Jesus even showed respect for a Samaritan woman . Jesus initiates a conversation with a Samaritan woman in Sychar, Samaria. This is unusual in at least two ways: Jewish men did not talk to women who were not their wives or were not from their family. Also, Jews normally treated Samaritans with contempt. Jews did not have dealings with them, because they had deviated from Judaism.

John 4:7-27: "There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink...Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water...Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father...And upon this came his disciples, and marveled that he talked with the woman..."

So , my fellow Christians - if we are to follow Jesus and minister HIS word , let's do so AS IT IS WRITTEN . Oftentimes , we can NOT avoid  "offending" people - it ( more often than not) simply can NOT be avoided with certain issues . BUT . . when it IS done , it should NOT be done with the INTENT to "offend" , nor with malice or ill - will - BUT WITH 'BROTHERLY / SISTERLY ' LOVE !!!

As ANY true Christian will attest to , we , as Christians must OFTEN 'step outside ' our 'comfort zone ' if we are to be a mirrored reflection of Jesus . THIS was difficult for me after I got Saved , and I will freely admit - in many instances NOW - it STILL IS . But in those instances , I pray , meditate , continue to study scripture , fellowship with members of my Christian and Church 'family ' , and consult with my senior pastor / mentor - and continue with my Theological and Ministerial Studies via the distance learning (DL) online seminary program in which I'm enrolled .

As for myself , though " And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. " ( Ephesians 6: 19-20 ) .

My the Grace , Love and Peace of Our Lord and Savior , JESUS CHRIST , be with you ALL . . ALWAYS . .  

Your Brother in Christ ;