TOLERANT

Johnny Hester of Sikeston, Missouri has written an article that I want you to read. Johnny writes about the tolerant cannot seem to be tolerant.

Read

Many in the mainstream media (especially those of “celebrity” status) are becoming more and more vocal in their condemnation of Christians as being an “intolerant” people. They just cannot seem to tolerate what they view as our intolerance. Do you find that somehow ironic? We (Christians) should be tolerant, they tell us, of those who choose a homosexual lifestyle and “same-sex marriage,” as opposed to marriage ordained by God in the Bible. We should be more tolerant of Islam by viewing it only as “a religion of peace” regardless of what the Koran teaches and what the evidence clearly shows. We should be tolerant of those who choose death rather than life, for defenseless infants in their mother’s wombs. We should be tolerant of sexual promiscuity rather than advocating the “narrow” view that only husband and wife should become “one flesh.” Am I reading things all wrong? Or, is the case that the “tolerant” are becoming increasingly intolerant of...our unapologetic conviction that truth is absolute (John 8:32)...our unapologetic conviction that truth is attainable (2 Tim. 2:24-26)...our unapologetic conviction that truth is revealed through the infallible, inerrant words of the Bible (2 Tim. 3:16-17)...our unapologetic conviction that truth is non-negotiable, even when some find the truth offensive (Gal. 4:16)...our unapologetic conviction that Jesus is the only way to God (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). Truth is, by its very nature, intolerant of that which is false (1 John 2:21). If the choice is between being tolerant of falsehoods and being true to the Word of God, then may we have the courage to stand firm and bear the reproach of those who choose not to tolerate us!

STORY

Tommy came to school one day with a knot on his head. I asked him how he got it and he replied, “I fell out of bed.” “How did you manage that?” I asked. “I stayed too close to where I got in it.” he replied. Some Christians are guilty of the same thing. We are saved, but then instead of growing in Christ, we stay too close to the world we are supposed to have left, and to which we should have become dead. It’s much easier to fall there. Let’s move as far from the edge as we can and lesson our chances of falling out of God’s bed of blessings.

BUSY TIME

The busy out of school season is here and the children and young people are excited. Even at a busy time we don’t want to forget the Lord. Be in the assembly of worship every week. A few Sundays ago in Millington, TN when the flood came, there were no church services on Sunday morning and I must tell you it left me with a lonely feeling not to be in the assembly until Sunday night. Make plans at home or away to worship on the First Day of the Week. Come early and stay late. Come with a Bible in your hand and a smile on your face and a spring in your step. I’ll look for you in your place.

-Pat Casey