What should we tolerate?

 

The question that stirs in my mind is how are we as Christians supposed to tolerate sin. We see evil surrounding us in so many different ways, the sins of the world are too numerous to count. It is not just an American issue. Sin is rampant world wide. The question is how do we as Christians respond to the evil and the sins that surrounds us? I see the Bible as pretty clear. We cannot remove ourselves from this world and I don’t think we should. How are we supposed to share and have any hope in bringing the lost to Jesus if we remove ourselves from the people who need Jesus the most? Read this in 1 Corinthians 5:

“When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worship idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people.” (1 Corinthians 5:9-11)

I love this passage.

Our biggest problem is not the sins of the world outside the Kingdom. The greatest issue of our day is the sin that resides amongst us, the followers of Jesus Christ. And although this mentions sexual sin, it is not JUST about sexual sin, it is about sin in general, even though it mentions specific examples that are issues.  This is not about us being sinless. All people, including believers, struggle with sin. Once we are justified through the blood of Jesus, we enter into a process where sin becomes less and less and Jesus becomes more and more. The problem is not sin itself. The real problems are sins that are claimed to NOT be sins. When we stop repenting of our sins, justifying them as acceptable, celebrating those sins, within the body of believers, THAT IS THE ISSUE. 

The issue is not the sins of the world. Those sins have been there since Adam and Eve and they will continue in a world that has completely rejected Jesus. We need to make sure we stand firm on the word of God and do not shy away from proclaiming the truth, but we need to love our neighbor, our enemy, and those outside our faith who have not claimed Jesus as their Lord and Savior. BUT, inside the walls, or the fellowship of those that CLAIM Jesus, we cannot tolerate sin that is claimed NOT to be sin. 

“It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.” (1 Corinthians 5:12-13)