Dakota Community Church
July 18, 2010
Tolerance – Part 2
We live in an age of tolerance.
This series is not about being intolerant.
As Christians we want to show love and respect to everyone, especially those outside the faith.
What I am talking about here is not tolerating heresy and false teaching FROM CHRISTIAN PULPITS!
We must keep the gospel at the centre of our theology.
Whatever holds the central position in our theology will determine the object of our faith.
If my changed life is central – human effort will be the object of my faith
If supernatural manifestation is central – my faith will be in my “faith”
If world change is central – the community will be the object of faith
If the gospel is central – Jesus will hold the position He alone deserves.
An Issue of Definition
Tolerance has come to mean the acceptance of every viewpoint as equally true and valid.
True tolerance means treating with integrity dignity and humility a person whose opinion I consider to be untrue and invalid.
What about:
1. What about the “no judging” passages?
A.) You have to go to them privately.
Matthew 18:15-17
15"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you.
When dealing with a public teaching there is no need to establish the facts – they are public record!
B.) You have a log in your eye so how can you talk about the speck in theirs?
Now remember we are looking at the topic of tolerance as it pertains to dealing with false teachers.
Is Matthew 7:1-5 a reason not to name the teacher and challenge the teaching?
Matthew 7:1-5
1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
Remember the surest way to prevent scriptural malpractice is to keep everything in CONTEXT!
Before we interpret those verses we must look at the sermon in Matthew that preceded it.
The Sermon on the Mount concerns motives and sin.
Matthew 5:17-20
17"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen; will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
“For I say to you, that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven”
This statement would have shocked Jesus’ hearers because the scribes and Pharisees were fastidious in keeping the law and its external rules.
Righteousness “greater than theirs” - would be seen as impossible to those listening to Jesus. The imputed righteousness of Christ that changes the heart is the only hope of achieving this as a fallen human. Without Christ’s righteousness we cannot enter the kingdom.
Matthew 5:21-22
21"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
Jesus is using the law, dealing with motives of the heart in order to bring his hearers to a realization that they are in need of a savior.
Matthew 5:27-30
27"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.'[e] 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Same thing as with the murder/anger issue
Jesus ups the ante from being about action to being about motive
Matthew 5:43-48
43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Be perfect?
I think we are going to need a savior if that is the standard we are being held to.
Matthew 6:5
5"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
Dealing with the motive again, here Jesus is talking about people who are praying – yet their wrong motives make them hypocrites.
How often would you say your motives are pure?
Matthew 6:24
24"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
These are heart issues that illustrate our need of a savior.
Jesus addresses many sin issues in a manner that would show everyone their sinfulness and need for the Gospel.
Given this context, what is the meaning of Matthew 7:1-5?
Matthew 7:1-5
1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
The answer is that we are being warned against judging how righteous others are in comparison to ourselves.
This passage is a warning against self righteousness.
The content is what matters – not the charisma of the speaker.
Philippians 1:15-18
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
Galatians 1:8
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!
If the message is true, salvation can happen no matter the motive of the speaker.
On the other hand; the nicest, kindest, best intentioned, speaker who preaches lies and heresies will damn himself and those who embrace his false beliefs.
PowerPoint available (Free of charge) on request dcormie@mts.net
