What Would Love Say?

SPEAK TRUTH IN LOVE

I recently read an article in a Christian publication (http://christiannews.net/2012/11/18/franklin-graham-mormonism-will-never-be-labeled-a-cult-again/) dealing with Franklin Graham’s decision to remove a note from their website that named Mormonism as a cult. His decision was not made because he believes their doctrine is sound, but because he didn’t want to shut the door to possibly ministering to a Mormon. In his opinion, to call them names (classifying them as a cult) is not helpful in keeping dialogue open.

In that same article John McArthur spoke:

[Mormonism] is a damning religious system,… It is so far from Christianity that it is more like paganism than Christianity.

Evangelicalism is in a desperate situation, and that is made manifest by its inability to distinguish who is a true Christian. We have abandoned any clear understanding of what it means to really be saved… We have no right to redefine [salvation] in our own terms in order to be be popular or in order to be accepted. True and historic Christianity has never been confused about what it means to be a Christian.

I am of the opinion that in our attempts to keep doors open and practice love, we have in fact shut doors and done anything but demonstrate true Biblical love. To muddy the waters of pure gospel truth with the idea that it is possible to have eternal life apart from the righteousness of God through His eternal Son, Jesus Christ, plus nothing, is to shut the door upon eternal life and to act in a most unloving manner.

How can it be construed as love to hide or confuse the gospel of Jesus Christ in order to keep dialogue open? Dialogue about what? What does such thinking hope to accomplish? Was Jesus unloving when He told the religious, well-meaning, Nicodemus that he must be born again? Would it have been more loving for Him to have encouraged Nicodemus to continue in his religious pursuits, just as he was?

The most loving things we can do for others is to lovingly communicate the truth! Eternity hangs in the balance. For those with whom we have already shared the gospel truth, we should live out that gospel in our relation to them. Do not bend your life to accommodate their wishes. Live your life with purpose to distinguish yourself as a Spirit-filled believer. 

The Spirit of truth blesses truth! Speak it and live it!