Why do we confront? Why do we challenge? Because some things stop unity.
It could be unconfessed sin. It could be injustice. It could be faulty teaching. For as we looked at confrontation yestereday, look how praise can be as cutting.
A Song of Ascents. Of David.
Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!
It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.
And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.
We have a duty to confront sin. That has always been part of the faith. It is not loving to tell someone that they are perfectly healthy when they are sick, without, hope.
And that is where our society finds itself. Toleration does have limits, and systematic, entrenched and unrepentant sin is one of these points.
The theologian who challenged CHrist was correct in his answer: and was given high praise. He was close to the kingdom of God. But close is not within the Kingdom: that we cannot do. ALthough we may love the LORD with fervour — and many do, our sins will keep us apart from the righteous unless they are atoned.
And yes, that is old-fashioned, judgemental language. But it is also a hard truth. It is the completed work of Christ, being killed for us, and then rising from death, that saves us.
And this is not our doing.
So do not listen to those who talk understanding, and tolerance, and love without boundaries or limits, that tolerates abuse and assault not merely of our wealth and bodies but demands we join the entryists in hell. What the elite call love is an agenda of destruction: it will not benefit you.
Our Orthodox sisters crawling are a better example: even though I don’t think it is needed, at least they understand and hunger for righteousness.
Our unity and equality is in our poverty and unclean state. Before the Almighty we are not rich, wise, content, and accomplished: we are poor, desperate, foolish and desperately evil.
The unity we have is when we kill our pride and defend our brothers. The correction of our teaching then follows, for we can then accept correction. Do not let your delusions of accomplishment and spiritual development blind you to your status.
For our salvation is in Christ alone.
