In Ephesians 4 Paul is discussing how the church can be built up through Christ. He goes on to say in Ephesians 4:14, "Then we will no longer be infants tossed back and forth by the waves and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ."
These directions were given so that the church would become a grown up, steadfast instrument of God in Christ. They were given so that people would be guided in love to live in the truth of Christ rather than the lies of man.
Recently I've heard a lot from friends, from different news sources and society in general that the church and in particular the Christian church needs to be more tolerant. In other words just take the "in love" part from the verse above. People choose churches based on how tolerant it's attitudes are towards different practices, faiths and world views.
What does tolerance really mean when you put it into the context of the church? It means that the church is taking on the role of God and in fact claiming superiority to God. The church is now deciding what sin it will tolerate instead of leaving the judgement of sin to God. Some churches are even stepping away from claiming Christ as the only way to God. In these churches the goal is comfort, with the greatest downfall being offending people. Sadly, the comfort they seek will last only a short time as God demands payment for sin. Those who are fooled into thinking they can live in their sin and deny Christ will end up in eternal discomfort without a savior by their side to rescue them.
Churches that water down scripture probably think they're doing so out of love. But, if they truly loved their congregations they would care enough to tell them the truth about what God desires for their lives. God's moral will for people's lives is not to put them in a rigid box of rules, it is to make people more useful instruments for His kingdom and to set them free from the slavery of sin. Those aren't empty words either because I have experienced that freedom firsthand.
It's very convenient to remove truth from scripture because it allows the church leaders and it's members to go on without the persecution that comes with standing up for God's will. However we get a very different picture of faith from the early first century church. Paul and many others were willing to die for what they saw with their own eyes and knew to be true. They were willing to die spreading the good news of Christ because they knew he died for their sins. They knew it wasn't their place to decide what truth best suited their needs.
Jesus said he is the truth and the only way to God. He's the son of God, so I say okay. I don't get to decide if that's too harsh or strict or intolerant. He was God's gift to me, my creator's provision for my sin. And if God says, this is it, this is the way I made for you, take it or leave it. I take it. This is the truth that needs to be taught in love to the thousands that pour through church doors every weekend. To hide that truth is to hide the amazing grace, love and peace given to us in the truth of Christ.
