Do We Possess Bible Love?
All too often when the preacher preaches a sermon on specific sins within a local congregation some brethren are heard making these statements: "I don't think you have Bible love because you are always condemning someone"; or, "preach love of the brethren, and don't ever say anything that might hurt their feelings." Such expressions are the defense of those who cannot stomach "hard" preaching.
For years our denominational friends have hidden behind the dilapidated refuge. "Why don't you leave us alone? We are not hurting anyone," when faced with scriptural proof condemning their practices. Now such has become a seemingly safe harbor for many members of the church who have had their doctrines and arguments refuted by the scriptures and thus have nothing else left for defense.
Such a sanctuary is constructed of faulty thinking and cannot withstand the thrust of the truth. Where does the word of God imply that we should not speak out against error? Where is it recorded in the New Testament that a person possessing Bible love should not preach anything that might hurt someone's feelings? On the contrary, Christ said unto the church of Laodicea, "As many as I love, I reprove and chasten ..." (Rev. 3:19). Will anyone dare to say that Jesus did not possess "Bible" love when he uttered those words?
In Matthew 23 our Lord used the word "hypocrites" seven times referring to the evil practices of the scribes and Pharisees. The words "fools" and "blind guides" are also used to describe the same individuals. Could our Saviour have used much stronger language? Is anyone willing to say that the words were not spoken in love? Can one be so naive as to imagine Christ coming from the safety of heaven to die on a cruel cross for all mankind without possessing "Bible" love? I think not! Yet, Christ used much stronger epithets in condemning sin than any mortal whom this author has had the privilege of hearing.
Twice Jesus drove men out of the temple accusing them of making a den of robbers out of the house of God. Was this action by Christ prompted by His love? The writer to the Hebrews answers the question. "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth..." (Heb. 12:6.)
The apostle Paul wrote unto the church of God at Corinth a very "hard" letter condemning certain practices which he heard were taking place there. He even threatened to visit them with a rod (I Cor. 4:21). However, the things he wrote in his epistle were not written from a hateful heart but as he said, "to admonish you as my beloved children." (I Cor. 4:14.)
In condemning error Paul was simply doing as Christ." (I Cor. 11:1). But, for some to be like Paul is an almost impossible task because they can hardly stand for any "negative" preaching. To them the instruction of the apostle to Timothy to, "preach the word? be urgent in season out of season? reprove, rebuke exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching," is a bitter pill, very hard to swallow. Yet, notice that Paul's directive in preaching is to be followed "with all long-suffering and teaching"? thus, in order to fight the good fight of faith it is necessary to be both "negative" and "positive."
Brethren, if we would be certain of possessing "Bible" love then our love must be the love of Christ which was manifested in the apostles. Let us practice love by being' zealous in the battle for truth--always condemning error. (I John 5:3? I Cor. 13:6). "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not vain in the Lord." (I Cor. 15:58)
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