HOLINESS AND TOLERANCE (Kent Smith 5/7/23)
HOLINESS AND TOLERANCE
Holiness: Week 3 of 7
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WHAT IS HOLINESS?
Holiness is the character of God, as separate from all else and all others.
To be holy is to be set apart by God, and unto God, and for His glory.
1 Peter 1:15 Likely the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior.
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Leviticus 19:2 Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.
1 Peter 1:15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;
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What is Tolerance?
The indulgence of beliefs or practices differing from, or conflicting with, one’s own.
The societal practice of tolerance grants equal freedoms and rights to all, even for those with beliefs, values, and actions contrary to ours.
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John F. Kennedy, “Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one’s own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression of persecution of others.”
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THE DANGERS OF TOLERANCE
The application of total tolerance would grant equal freedom and rights to everyone regardless of their behavior.
In every peaceable society there is a limit to what conduct is tolerated. In fact, the limits of tolerance undergird all law and politics in society.
The practice of tolerance diminishes holiness.
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Total tolerance requires that all persons must accept the behaviors of others no matter how immoral, inhuman, reprehensible, or destructive to society
Pedophilia, ritual rape, cannibalism, child sacrifice, and slavery would all need to be equally tolerated.
Clearly in a society such as ours this is loathsome.
Limited tolerance is evident in every society that has laws.
Most societies acknowledge basic human rights such as the right to life and the right to food. These rights cannot be taken away.
Our declaration of Independence declared that it is self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
In many democratic societies individuals are granted certain rights
In the United States these were enumerated in the Bill of Rights or our Constitution.
Freedom of religion, speach, press, assembly, and petition.
Freedom against illegal search or seizure of property
Freedom to bear arms
Freedom to a speedy trial, and to face our accuser.
And others
Tolerance has a threshold of what it permits. Most often it comes down to tolerating the rights of others to act as they choose
But only so far as they do not infringe on the human or individual rights of others.
Our country is getting ever closer to a crisis of freedoms wherein the demands of society may require individuals to tolerate the very thing their religion says they must NOT tolerate.
Tolerance diminishes holiness by presuming all opinions are equally valid so long as they do not infringe upon the rights of others. BUT this is not the case
Pornography objectifies another person, though it may not violate their rights, it does devalue their personhood. Holiness cannot tolerate objectifying others for personal reasons.
Abortion, euthanasia, and assisted suicide devalues a human life of its potential. Holiness cannot tolerate the devaluing of human life.
The present debate concerning preferred pronouns likewise creates confusion, and supports the incorrect and unscientific opinion that a person can change their gender. Holiness cannot tolerate the falsehood that there is more than two genders, and that they are fluid, and interchangeable. In the beginning God created man, male and female He created them, and it was good, and it was finished!
These are some of the hot button issues of our day, but let us consider what God finds intolerable.
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GOD’S INTOLERANCE
Jesus speaks against the church of Thyatira for tolerating false teachers who mislead the church. (Rev 2:19-23)
God is a jealous God, and He will not share His glory with another (Deut. 4:24, Is 48:11)
God does not tolerate sin. (Prov. 6:16-19)
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GOD DOES NOT TOLERATE OUR EXCESSIVE TOLERANCE! Revelation 2:19-23 ‘I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. 23 And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.
GOD DOES NOT TOLERATE COMPETITORS FOR OUR AFFECTION AND WORSHIP
Deut. 4:24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
Is 48:11 For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act; For how can My Name be profaned? And My glory I will not give to another.
GOD DOES NOT TOLERATE SIN
Prov. 6:16-19 There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: 17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, 19 A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.
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CHRISTIAN EXCLUSIVITY (INTOLERANCE)
There is no other God! (Deut. 4:35)
His name is YHWH. (Yahweh - Jehovah)
“I am who I am.” (Ex 3:14)
Jesus is the only way of salvation. (John 14:6 / Acts 4:10-12)
You will be in the minority (Mt. 7:13-14)
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Deut 4:35 To you it was shown that you might know that the Lord, He is God; there is no other besides Him.
Not the many gods of the Hindu, or Shinto, or Druids, or Wiccan.
Ex 3:14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
His name is not Allah, Not Vishnu, Not Akal Murat, Not Buddha. His name is Jehovah / Yahweh / The Lord God
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Acts 4:10-12 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead - by this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11 He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but which became the chief corner stone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
Mt. 7:13-14 Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
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PRACTICE HOLINESS
Be INTOLERANT of YOUR SIN
Be ready to defend your faith with gentleness and reverence, backed up by good behavior. (1 Peter 3:14-16)
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But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, 15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; 16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.
But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God, (Romans 2:3-5)
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