Tolerance - 2 Series

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.