I typically follow a lot of apologetics websites and speakers. For those who don’t know what apologetics is, simply put, it’s defending the faith. Today, and article jumped past my eyes entitled “Have we been mistranslating words for over 2,000 years? I didn’t dive in to it, but I this sort of headline is becoming more and more common in our present culture. People are accusing the ancient Israelites of mistranslating their own language, as well as modern scholars who’ve built upon several millennia of scholars who’ve come before them (I know Christianity has been around for nearly 2,000 years, but we take the scholarship of the Hebrew Scribes, from which our faith blossomed when the promised messiah came, very seriously). This is not new thought. Solomon wrote that there was nothing new under the sun. What is happening in this generation is what happens in each generation as heretics and apostates try and have their way in the church: they want to change the meaning of scripture to suit their own lifestyles.
Why do I say all of this? Why is it important? Because the world is deceptive. They will tell us that if we stand on scriptures and the historical Christianity and Judaism that we’re hateful, bigoted, and a number of other names. They tell us to shut our mouths, to keep quiet, and to fall in line with their thought, or else we’re hateful (all the while missing out on the irony that they’re shutting down thought because it disagrees with them). I say, however, that it is far more unloving to tell someone they’re all right when they are not. If your house was on fire, but you chose to ignore it, I’d still do everything I could to get you out. If you don’t know Christ, your life is on fire, and I’m going to do everything I can to get you to the One who can restore you!
It is unloving to be silent on sin. And yes, I can tell you from personal experience how much it hurts when people you love turn their back on you because you try to call it out. I’ve had family and friends turn on me because I hit too close to home, said or done things they don’t like, but, instead, held fast to my convictions and the Holy Spirit’s leading through Scripture. I’ve offended people who it was taboo to touch, but I knew that I was answerable to a higher power. And it all hurt. It hurt to watch people intentionally try to hurt me. It hurt to hear from friends what people said to them about me. It hurt when people said and did things to my faith that never put in to question my integrity, but rather deflected their own pain on to me. My pain does not excuse me from trying to get them to Jesus. It does not excuse me from speaking the Truth in Love. It does not stop me, even should I face death for the Truth. Jesus, Peter, James, Paul and the rest of the apostles did the same, and we, believer, are also called to such boldness and truth. Speak the truth in love, and hold fast to that truth. Do not compromise. It’s far more unloving to ignore sin because you want someone to think well of you, than to speak truth and risk a relationship. We cannot be silent on Sin if we want to follow Jesus. He literally died and rose again because of it. Galatians 6: Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.
Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which[b] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
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