In the Bible we read that if a parent does not discipline his children, he doesn't love them. Likewise, the Bible teaches that God Himself, chastises or disciplines "those He loves".
This isn't just in reference to "correcting" those we love but also, it's obvious that in doing so, you're obeying The Word of God, and doing what's right.
Consequently, NOT "correcting" those you love means that you don't love them at all.
So why is it that people have such a hard time with issues of correction, judgment, discipline, holiness, etc.
Why is it that when people teach further on SIN, REPENTANCE, HOLINESS, JUDGMENT, HELL, etc., even "professed" Christians are troubled??
Consider the following case examples:
What would you think about a close friend of yours who struggles with alcohol, and his brother who buys him a beer every now and then?
Or a husband who's prone to cheat on his wife, and his friend handing him a porn magazine?
Do you think the brother of your close friend loves his brother so much and that's why he's giving him more beer?
Or the husband who's struggling with lust... Do you think his friend fully understands what he's going through or even cares?
Each of these people THINK they're engaging in acts of loving, understanding, not judging, supporting, uplifting etc.... but the Bible says otherwise.
The Bible teaches about a diff. type of love than what we see coming from the world. The world will hold back TRUTH in order to appease a LIE OF SIN for the sake of emotions rather than SACRIFICE in TRUTH in order to free from the bondage of sin. It's a major difference.
TODAY the Truth teller, is the villain because he offends, he chastises, he disciplines and judges right from wrong.
Someone once said - "Your best friend is the one who tells you what you need to hear over what you want to hear".
Kinda sounds like Jesus doesn't it?
I tell you ... If something inside of you gets heated at the mention of God's judgment, God's law, repentance, sin, etc., You might be a false convert.
Because the True disciple of Christ moves QUICKLY to the Word to examine themselves, to confirm that they're in line with God's teaching. In fact, his/her main objective to be holier every day, and be more like Christ.
The false convert is the one who's pricked in the conscience, and resists Biblical Truth even after they read it for themselves. They're the ones who feel judged, ridiculed, etc.
But God says He resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
People who compromise The Word also compromise their own loved ones. They don't know what love is because they're stuck on what they perceive is love based on their emotions. When God has clearly stated that "The heart is evil and desperately wicked, who can know it"?
Bottom line, Christ died for ALL our sins. He's manifested Himself clearly in His Word. We either believe it and live according to Biblical righteousness or we reject His Word, and continue in condemnation. God has clearly said what is sin in His revelation. It's about believing and obeying. That's it. It's not much more than that. God will forgive a broken and repentant spirit, but a proud and stubborn heart, He won't hear. They're not the words of any man but His. Many will say on that last day, "Lord, Lord" ... and will be shut out from His presence for ever. Many will THINK they know Him but they don't. If you're rejecting anything that immeasurably pushes deeper into God's holiness, if you're rejecting anything that pushes deeper into the explanation of the deepness of our depravity, .... if the words REPENT, SIN, HELL, JUDGMENT, JUSTICE, bother you ....
You might be following a gospel that is not Biblical. The Word is filled with parables and examples and teachings Jesus gave regarding false assurance of salvation. For Heaven's sake, open the book and study what the scriptures say.
LOVE those around you for real by telling them TRUTH.
Love without Truth is actually HATE. Because knowing what God says about the Truth, if we willingly decide to hold back the Truth, we deceive not just ourselves but those who need to hear the Truth from you as well. So you're in disobedience to God's Word, and you're helping condemn the person who you "claim" to love.
Who says this is easy to do? No one. But I rather obey God than men. Selfishness is determined not by great obedience to God's Word but by people who want to be accepted by the world in the face of compromising God's Word, the Christian faith, and God's commandments. When you reject Truth, you reject God
"The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day". - John 12:48
God bless.
