DESTROYING OUR CHILDREN WITH TOLERANCE

Revelation 2: 20 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.

Every generation looks at the next and they wonder, “What did we do wrong?”  Maybe it is time we looked in the mirror.  It began with us being TOLERANT.

TOLERANT – Willing to ACCEPT feelings, habits or beliefs that are different from your own.

TOLERANCE has become the hallmark of an intelligent, progressive society.  Our TOLERANT SOCIETY has become TOLERANT of everything except INTOLERANT PEOPLE.  Any lifestyle, any philosophy, any choice or action is TOLERATED AND CELEBRATED except a LIFESTYLE OF HOLINESS, a PHILOSOPHY OF TRUTH or a CHOICE OF COMMITMENT.  There is no TOLERANCE for a belief in ABSOLUTES or RIGHT vs. WRONG or the people who embrace such a narrow worldview.

We began to equate TOLERANCE with LOVE and celebrated every word, action or thought from “Little Johnny and Mary,” without correction because we “loved” them.  We sent them to school with no firm foundation on which to base all the information and situations they would encounter. Then, when they came home from school with “progressive” philosophies, we celebrated their ability to “think outside the box.” 

We fed them a daily diet of media and sitcoms before tucking them into bed, without nightly devotions, because we didn’t want to influence them or direct their life choices.  Then when Dad was disrespected as a “buffoon” and lifestyle experimentation began, we tolerated their behavior as just “kids being kids,” positive that someday they would grow up.

Well they DID GROW UP and we got exactly WHAT WE TOLERATED.

We now have a new segment of Society that has no respect for authority or anyone who disagrees with any action, thought or word that comes from their celebrated little brain.  They embrace the Constitution in protecting their right to “FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION,” but also believe it protects their “right” of “FREEDOM TO BE AGREED WITH.” And they will shout you down or use violence if necessary to protect that “right.”

This new population also believes in the “RIGHT TO SELF-FULFILLMENT” no matter how it may affect anyone else in their life or society.  They have a “right” to a job they like with the wage they desire regardless of how it may affect the employer or the consumer.  They have a “right” to destroy you, your business and financial health, if you disagree with their “right to self-fulfillment.”  They have a right to sexual expression and experimentation; if it means families are destroyed, kids are broken and confused, that’s not their problem; they have a RIGHT!

If they wake up and decide to use a different bathroom or locker room, who are you to feel uncomfortable?  YOU ARE INTOLERANT!  If they choose to mutilate their bodies, kill their babies and change the definition of Biblically established institutions, we should not only set our “archaic and outdated” philosophies aside, we are expected to pull out our wallet and pay for their choices.  Yep, we need to look in the mirror!

SO WHAT IS THE CURE?

Is there a cure?  Have we “jumped the shark?”  NO!!!  The secret is in the word, NO and it begins IN OUR HOMES!  It is time to stand up and say NO…we will NOT tolerate or celebrate UNGODLINESS, whether in speech, thought or lifestyle.

We WILL NOT TOLERATE such things coming into our home nightly or leaving our house in the mornings.  This means CENSORSHIP has to be practiced…censorship of media, Ungodly speech and thought.  It calls for PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY to teach, practice and enforce Godly Principles.  There will be a need for DISCIPLINARY MEASURES to be instituted.   “Little Johnny or Mary” will have to realize they do NOT rule the world and there are ABSOLUTES, consequently, at times they WILL BE WRONG!

YOU WILL PROBABLY BE ACCUSED OF BEING INTOLERANT BUT REMEMBER, WE ARE SAVING A GENERATION.

THE PAIN AND JOY OF THE CALL

Hebrews 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the JOY that was set before Him, ENDURED the cross, despising the shame and sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God.

This blog is for REAL PEOPLE…People who have heard and answered the CALL OF GOD on their life, have faced disappointment and confusion, have lost their faith in people but still trust God; People who have experienced the PAIN OF THE CALL.

If you are ULTRA-SPIRITUAL with one foot in heaven and only a tip of your toe touching earth, don’t bother reading; you’ve transcended the PAIN OF THE CALL. 

If you have ever heard the Voice of God drawing you into Kingdom Service, you have experienced the JOY OF THE CALL.  You know the burden for souls that wakes you in the night and the empathy for the dear ones God has placed in your care that breaks your heart and causes the tears to fall.  You have experienced the exhilaration of the anointing flowing through you as you preach, teach, pray and the glory when even one soul makes that commitment to follow Jesus. And you never want to lose the sweet peace of knowing that you are living in the PERFECT WILL OF GOD.  But then…

There are those times when your mind becomes cluttered with circumstance and the messages become confusing.  The times when you feel God is not done with this season of your call but you are at the mercy of leaders, a Board or even a congregation and they declare, “YOUR SEASON HERE IS OVER!” And you feel the PAIN OF THE CALL.

What do you do?  You are supposed to be an example?  Did you really get it right?  Why doesn’t God step in and stop the events from taking place?  You gave all; you loved, left friends, family, jobs, houses and lands to follow THE CALL; what now?  The JOY OF THE CALL is overshadowed by THE PAIN.

This week, I was reminded of that pain once again and as I wept and bared my heart to God, I wondered, “If I had known the pain would I have accepted and followed the call?”  Honestly, I DON’T KNOW!  Then God, because of His great love, wrapped His arms around me and reminded me, He has been there.  Even Jesus experienced the PAIN OF THE CALL!

Matthew 26:39 He went a little farther and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “O Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will but as You will.”

But He was God…and He was man.  Can you imagine knowing all the details of your life, right up to the circumstances of your death, from the moment of birth?  That would be too much to handle and we would probably try to change our destiny.  Jesus, as fully God, knew all the details of His “Call,” and as fully Man, he experienced the pain.

His mission was to be the “Sacrificial Lamb;” the sacrifice that would satisfy God’s judgment of sin for all; forever.  As God, He willingly left the splendor of Heaven, robed himself in flesh and dwelt among us. But as Man, Jesus had questions and even prayed to escape THE PAIN OF THE CALL! So what prevented Him from walking away from the mission; from disappearing in the wilderness or even using His power as God to rain down vengeance on those who had condemned Him? 

Hebrews 12:2 gives us the insight, “For the joy that was set before Him.”  The JOY OF THE CALL overrode the PAIN OF THE CALL!

At this moment, THE PAIN is so great that THE JOY has faded.  The successful moments have been swallowed up in the moments of defeat. You feel suspended between the WILL OF GOD and the ACTIONS OF MEN.  But remember this one fact in the midst of your pain, GOD IS NOT SURPRISED AT YOUR CIRCUMSTANCE AND HE HAS IT ALL FIGURED INTO THE MISSION!

Allow God to wrap His Arms of Love around you and refocus your vision.  The PAIN will not go away and even 5 years later, it may threaten to overwhelm your heart but THE CALL still remains and His MISSION is still the same…SOULS!

Stay faithful; there is a great reward and one day, we will bring THE PAIN AND THE JOY OF THE CALL and lay them down before THE THRONE!

WHAT A DAY THAT WILL BE!

AND FOR ALL

1 Thessalonians 5:18 In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

I used this verse in a devotional that I posted this morning.  My devotional was on Being Thankful but inevitably I hear from someone who is embroiled in an impossible situation and cannot understand why they would want to be thankful or how they can give thanks and especially, how this could possibly be the WILL OF GOD for them. 

Once again, I explain that it is not the situation that is the will of God but this verse is an exhortation for us to live a lifestyle of thankfulness because God is our provider, sustainer, healer, peace-giver and guide in every situation.

Turning back to 1 Thessalonians, I read the preceding verses, what else was God speaking through Paul.  God opened my eyes to three words that I had never before considered while meditating on this passage.  Let’s read the entire exhortation together…

1 Thessalonians 5:14-18 Now we exhort you brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. 15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves AND FOR ALL. 16 Rejoice always. 17 pray without ceasing. 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

The words that caught my attention…AND FOR ALL!!!

We live in an increasingly hedonistic world.  We reinterpret the Constitution to grant “rights” that will benefit a chosen lifestyle without regard to anyone else’s “rights” or lifestyle.  Students protest loudly, drowning out any voice that doesn’t agree with their philosophy.  It doesn’t matter that they are shutting down “free speech” as long as they can express their viewpoint freely.

We find this “Me First” attitude in every area of society.  The “War ON Marriage” being waged by the government in redefining the institution, is not nearly as destructive as the “War IN Marriage.”  A WAR of never ending skirmishes as husbands and wives fight for supremacy and the right to have their desires fulfilled without regard for the other.

The “Power Struggle” continues even in the midst of Church Congregations all because we forget that we are to “pursue what is good both for ourselves and FOR ALL!”

What could happen; what revival would take place; what peace would reign over all if we would begin to understand that part of the WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS FOR YOU is pursuing what is good FOR ALL!

Churches would begin to fulfill the mission; their light shining brightly in a dark world.  Husbands would “love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it,” instead of seeking to fulfill their own lusts and desires.  Wives would have no fear of the word “submit” because her goal would be seeking that which is good for her husband as he seeks that which is good for her.  Children would OBEY their parents that are pursuing GOOD FOR ALL.

There would be no fences between neighbors and no need for doors and windows to have locks.  Bosses would treat employees fairly, knowing that the employee is pursuing GOOD FOR ALL!

Even Governmental Politics would cease…IMAGINE THAT….because policies would be made only to pursue GOOD FOR ALL!

Okay, I know…I’m living in a fantasy world; it is nothing but a “pipe dream;” Utopia doesn’t exist. BUT….WHAT IF…

What if YOU and I would embrace the WILL OF GOD CONCERNING US? It could happen if we would PURSUE WHAT IS GOOD BOTH FOR OURSELVES AND FOR ALL!