*** MORSEL EXTRAS***
Re: Tolerance vs Reproof
The fashion now is to tolerate anything lest we gain a reputation of
being intolerant. The tender-minded saints cannot bear to see Agag
slain (I Sam 15), so they choose rather to sacrifice the health of the
Church for years to come by sparing error and evil; and this they do in
the name of Christian love.
We are under obligation to disturb all seats of wickedness, and where
this is done out of sincere love for God and men, great good is bound
to follow. No true work of God will suffer from the prayerful
examination of Spirit-filled men. Timidity masquerading as love has
allowed useless forms and unscriptural practices to persist in many a
church till they have slowly smothered the life out of it and brought
it to desolation.
We must not be afraid to inquire. The difficulty, of course, is to do
this in a Christian spirit. It is hard to find fault without being a
faultfinder or to criticize without being censorious. But we have it to
do if we hope to keep the work of God pure in a day of iniquity.
-- A W Tozer
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether
they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the
world." (1Jn4:1)
"Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather
reprove them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which
are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made
manifest by the light." (Eph5:11-13)
"It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among
you...and you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who
has done this deed might be taken away from among you...deliver such a
one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be
saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." (~1Cor5:1-5)
"Brothers, if a man is overtaken in a fault, you the spiritual ones
restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering yourself,
lest you also be tempted." (Gal6:1 -MKJV)
(VW)
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