Is there a difference between being tolerant, and promoting peace?
According to wise men, no.
According to Gods Perfect and Holy Word?
YES.
Have human beings changed being human beings since the Fall?
Has The Lord's word ceased being true and relevant up to this very minute that you're reading this sentence?
Is every written thought from Our Creator only meant for certain people, or all people?
Here's a few verses that I've been considering:
Isaiah 48:22“There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.”
Isaiah 57:20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt.
Isaiah 57:21"There is no peace", Says my God, "for the wicked."
And a few different translations of Jeremiah 8:11
KJV-For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.
ASV-And they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.
There is no peace.
There is only a superficial covering up, a band aid solution to a severed limb.
Not peace by mans standards at least. Nowhere in the history of Creation has man accomplished a peaceful state on his own, by his own volition. Man is good at fooling himself by what peace means however, justifying certain acts of oppression to some so that others remain comfortable.
By what standard of Peace should we as fallen human beings be held to?
What is the significant difference between True Peace and Tolerance?
As a Canadian I am hardwired to accept people as they choose to be.
As a fallen human being that is easy to do.
As a Christian it is almost impossible to accept everyone and everything they do, as long as it contradicts what the Bible says.
That being said, are we to avoid being out in the world, befriending only those who belong to our certain sect, or belief system?
That would be silly.
But I am getting ahead of myself here.
It's clear that we are to tolerate one another, remembering that we too were once lost, dead, only looking to gain something to build ourselves up, and to promote our interests alone. It's very clear that Jesus Christ showed true tolerance when dealing with the people and learned men of his day.
God shows Tolerance to those who do not belong to Him.
Did God command we were not to rebuke one another?
Did God command us to avoid confrontation at all costs, to 'keep the peace?'
Did God command us to only associate with those who agree with us on every issue?
I am learning to distinguish the contrast between Tolerance and Peace.
I am also learning to discern the people who use such words, and weigh the value of what they say to the life and character they present.
Human beings have not changed.
We are still very much wicked, even in the saving Grace of the Lord.
How can one believe a converted person can no longer be wicked?
How can one preach peace when God stated there will be none?
That is why the cross is that much sweeter.
I have my way.
As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way,
it has already been established
by GOD.
1515
ReplyDeleteAV-peace 89, one 1, rest 1, quietness 1; 92
1) a state of national tranquillity
1a) exemption from the rage and havoc of war
2) peace between individuals, i.e. harmony, concord
3) security, safety, prosperity, felicity, (because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous)
4) of the Messiah’s peace
4a) the way that leads to peace (salvation)
5) of Christianity, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is
6) the blessed state of devout and upright men after death
Mt 10:34 "Do not think that I came to bring peace <1515> on earth. I did not come to bring peace <1515> but a sword.
>>>>> many more verses using 1515!
*****
4623
from siope (silence, i.e. a hush, properly, muteness, i.e. involuntary stillness, or inability to speak, and thus differing from 4602, which is rather a voluntary refusal orindisposition to speak, although the terms are often used synonymously)
1) to be silent, hold one’s peace
1a) used of one’s silence because dumb
2) metaph. of a calm, quiet sea
Mt 20:31 Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet <4623>; but they cried out all the more, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!"
Mt 26:63 But Jesus kept silent <4623>. And the high priest answered and said to Him, "I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!"
Mr 4:39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace <4623>, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
****
1514
1, live peaceably 1, live in peace 1, be at peace 1; 4
1) to make peace
2) to cultivate or keep peace, harmony
3) to be at peace, live in peace
Mr 9:50 "Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace <1514> with one another."
Ro 12:18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably <1514> with all men.
2Co 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace <1514>; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
1Th 5:13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace <1514> among yourselves.
****
1517
1) to make peace, establish harmony
Col 1:20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace <1517> through the blood of His cross.
****
You said, "How can one preach peace when God stated there will be none?"
Not so.
Isa 9:7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end... The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Isa 54:10 For the mountains shall depart And the hills be removed, But My kindness shall not depart from you, Nor shall My covenant of peace be removed," Says the LORD, who has mercy on you.
Zec 9:10b He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be ‘from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth.’
Joh 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Ac 9:31 Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.
Ro 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Phil 4:7 "...and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Methinks you have too narrow a focus on what "peace" is. There are (as I understand it anyway) 3 layers or levels or aspects to peace:
ReplyDelete1. Peace between nations.
2. Peace between God & Man.
3. Peace between individuals. (Whether between believers, between pagans or between believers & pagans.)
Do you believe the world today is demonstrative that there is peace?
ReplyDeleteTrue Peace is between God and Man, through Christ Jesus. There can be no true peace between fallen human beings, only tolerance. We are called to tolerate each other, because we're all born into the same condition, but are at different points in our walk with Christ.
Through Jesus I have peace with God. What other peace matters? None. This world and what it teaches WILL perish. But I, having been sanctified and in the process of, through the blood of Christ by Gods will alone, have peace.
Through Christ I may also have 'peace' with man, but it gets interrupted from time to time because of our sinful nature. My peace with God will NEVER falter. Through Christ I am secure. The passages you referenced said this, God keeps His word.
I would not claim to have had peace with people in my adult life, or in childhood, only that I was tolerated. That's okay.
True, unaltered peace is through Christ Alone, from God Alone. If not, the day will come that Gods white hot wrath will reign down on those who are not in a peace state through Christ.
Not everybody agrees with me, but that doesn't mean I can't have a meaningful, rich relationship with them, ergo tolerance.
Thanks for posting.
You said: "Do you believe the world today is demonstrative that there is peace?"
ReplyDeleteI say, YES! BUT, at the level of God & man, ie people are still being elected/called/redeemed to experience/enjoy the intimacy/peace with God that only He can provide.
At the nation level, there are armed conflicts, though not of the scale of "world war". There are also "humanitarian endeavours", such as famine relief and other aid programmes taking place, around the world.
At the personal level, I haven't added anyone to my "hit list" in years (no, really I haven't.)
You say, "What other peace matters?"
I say, at the visceral level, you are correct. At the practical level, Scripture tells us: Galatians 5:14 'For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."'
Your word "tolerate" is a man-centred idea, as the word "tolerate" appears NOWHERE in Scripture. Ya' might as well drop that word from your christian vocabulary!
You say, "There can be no true peace between fallen human beings, only tolerance. We are called to tolerate each other, because we're all born into the same condition, but are at different points in our walk with Christ."
You then say, "Through Christ I may also have 'peace' with man..."
I say, Come on now, which is it? "no peace", or "peace"? Don't give me non-biblical "tolerance" crap.
Matthew 6:25-7:1-27.
ReplyDeleteDid you notice that I put 'peace' in brackets? This is to indicate that (I) tolerate others using this word and acknowledging their understanding of this word, even if according to scripture they might be incorrect.
I maintain that this world offers no peace, this world is suffering, in agony, and under sin. We are in a battle continually. Just because we're not carrying guns and drawing actual blood does not mean we aren't at war. This includes being at war with our own flesh...just because I'm a Christian doesn't mean I no longer sin. It's just that my desire to sin decreases, and my shame of it increases. But I still sin...oh yes.
When one's world view is under pressure, one MUST fight back...it is the natural response.
People act consistently to what they believe.
I fight for what I hold to be true and proper. Every human being does.
Tolerance is a good word because it is the application of Patience, godly patience that can only be from God, the source of all.
Tolerance should be in the Christian vocabulary because we understand that all are in a process, and we must bear this patience with one another. How do we show this?
God has an INFINITE HATE for sin, and yet He is waiting....who are we to show anything else but godly patience?
God tolerates the unregenerate, He doesn't show patience to them. The unregenerate are not being molded into the image of The Lord Jesus Christ. God is tolerating some, so that His glory may abound in the conversion of His people who He is patiently working on.
We must also be tolerant to all, unconverted and converted, because we are not God, and we don't know who His people are/will be.
Should we expect more from people, fellow sinners, then what Our Creator does?
I am encouraged by the depth of insight and passionate concern to elevate the authority of Scripture here. I humbly offer the following for your consideration/comment.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, consider what the Word of God says, through Jeremiah 23:16: “Do not listen to the words of those prophets. They are leading you into futility; they speak a vision of their own imagination, not from the mouth of the LORD. 17 "They keep saying, "You will have peace "; and as for those who walk in the stubbornness of his own heart, they say “calamity will not come upon you.”
Secondly, peace is a state/status where tolerance is a response.
Peace (noun) is a state of nonbelligerence and/or concord. Please tolerate (pun intended) an illustration. Like a house, peace involves causation: Where a house is caused by bringing together cement, wood, nails, etc., peace is caused by bringing (reconciling) together people and their individual ideas. “He is our peace, He made us one and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14). This is the material cause (the material it’s made of) of peace. A house will owe its existence to a plan/blueprint; peace is also caused by a master plan/design of peace. “I will make a covenant of peace with them” (Ezekiel 37:26). This is the formal cause (the form of it) of peace. Tradesmen cause houses where peacemakers apply their training to the erecting of peace. This is the efficient cause (application of requisite skill) of peace. “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God.” Shelter, protection, and comfort are the end in view and final cause of a house; reconciliation, across the board, and the glory of Divine unity is the end cause of peace (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Acts of tolerance presuppose an absence of peace. Like “Trinity,” tolerance is not expressed plainly in the Bible yet is a valid and essential deduction. Lord grant that we never “drop tolerance from our vocabulary.” Tolerance, I have argued (preached), is the state/condition of individual Christianity (Galatians 5:22-23). The very expression of “love joy peace” is necessarily “patience kindness goodness.” This implies that tolerance is based on the understanding of God’s sovereign unfolding plan (covenant) of redemption. When one knows what God is doing, tolerance results! A lack of tolerance reveals a low view of God, an insufficient knowledge of the gospel.
Lastly, tolerance does not promote peace; it waits for and works towards its development. Peace is only accomplished by God, in Jesus Christ. It will be consummated at His second coming and enjoyed by all those who are “in Christ”. Until that time it is a mere direction and a process. I earnestly hope these points contribute positively to this great topic.
I think there has been a great injustice done by the English language. Peace is commonly used to describe a state where there is no physical acts of violence or bloodshed. I submit that this is not true peace, but rather a calm tolerance.
ReplyDeleteWhen a person isn't actively engaged in a fight, battle or a conflict they are said to be at peace. Once again this is not the case, they are non-combative, and even tolerant, but they are not at peace.
English has watered down the meaning of peace to an Earthly standard. We must be careful not to fall into the thought that we can have peace without Christ.