Jim Miller
Gray, Maine
I am sick to death of watching the Lords church fall into the trap of everything is love and kisses, hugs and back slaps. The oh I will over look your sin and make you feel as though you are part of the group. True and honest love is none of these things. Some think that love doesn't allow for rebuke and chastisement. Too many preachers, teachers and elders are accused of lacking love because they rebuke and reprove one who needs correction. If the preacher or anybody else for that matter lacks love they are nothing, however, rebuke and reproof are necessarily so that we keep our lives in line with God's instruction. It is necessary for strong preaching to be done most of the time because of a love for souls and the truth of God.
One way God shows his love is by chastening (Heb. 12:6), and parents do the same (Prov. 13:24). True love necessitates chastisement. It will not compromise truth or overlook wrong. The compromiser's are the ones who lack love.
Too many today do not understand or even think that love will not permit hate for anything. The liberal will tell you the saying "If one hates, he doesn't love". But the Bible teaches we are to hate certain things. The Psalmist said, "I hate every false way" (Psa. 119: 104). Christ hates iniquity (Heb. 1:9) and false doctrine (Rev. 2: 15). Solomon said of God, "These six things doeth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him" (Prov. 6:16). Yet, God is love (I Jn. 4:8). Hence, we are to hate what we are to hate and to love what we are to love.
Many today have been taught that love will nullify obedience. "If we love God with all our hearts, he will overlook a lack of strict obedience to his will" this is another false teaching of the liberals. But God's word teaches that strict obedience is how we show our love. John wrote, "But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected . . ." (I Jn. 2:5). Genuine love produces obedience. One who will not obey does not love as he ought to love. Some just see one side of God. They forget that God is a God of severity as well as a God of goodness.
Think about it!
