Quote:
Originally Posted by Terry
Actually there is a big gap between Matthew 18:16 and 1 John 2:9. We can take a stand for the truth, love our brothers, and love our sisters that they may recieve correction. If you turn away, you're not hating them. There is simply no way to compromise taking a stand for the truth. It's just like when I discipline my children. When their action or their behavior warrants discipline, my disciplining them is out of love. It is to correct their errant actions or behavior. In I John 2:9, the word says "He that saith he is in the light and hateth his brother, is in the darkness even until now." So if you hate your brother, you're in darkness.
If you love when the "truth" doesn't matter, isn't that along the lines of creating a dysfunctional atmosphere? It causes one to ask "what is sacred anymore?" The actual condition does matter. To ignore the condition or sweep it aside is a clear sign the darkness has blinded the eyes. If we have light, the actual condition is seen.
Terry
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I find that the smile and nod of love and service in the face of error and rejection to be one of the true tests of love. While there is an aspect of "tough love" that a parent must give to a child, it is not the place for another child to give that kind of love to his siblings. It is the place of the parent. Within the confines of human existence, the only parent with respect to which Godly love exists in a "tough love" way is His love. We are but earthly siblings. The only part of His love for the world that we have position to display is not "tough love." We have only been granted a very little of it with respect to church discipline. Those not within the family of faith never have reason to face that.