“Life Applications”
Balanced Teaching
It is essential that we live our
lives by balance. Many teach on the love
of God but exclude the wrath of God. It
is essential that we have balance in our teaching. It is IRRESPONSIBLE to simply focus on the
LOVE of God without acknowledging that there is a PENALTY for sin. In regard to wrongdoing, many believe that we
should issue forgiveness without ever holding people accountable for their
actions. The Bible teaches us to forgive
others of the wrongs that they have done to us but we need to also acknowledge
their inappropriate behavior to ensure that it is not repeated.
It is also important to provide balanced teaching in regard to the relationship of Christians and unbelievers. Second Corinthians 6:14 give clear instruction
that we should not BOUND ourselves together with unbelievers. It also warns us that we are to avoid
FELLOWSHIP with unbelievers. However, Romans
12:18 teaches us to live PEACEBLY with all men. This means that we should not have
unbreakable bonds with unsaved people, but we should make ourselves available to them because they need to hear the Gospel and witness Christ’s
example through us.
Finally, as it applies to judging, the Bible does not command us not to
judge; it explains the MANNER in which we are supposed to judge. We should not be JUDGMENTAL, which means to
exercise extreme judgment. However, we
should always EVALUATE the lives of others.
The Bible teaches us that the way we judge is the way WE will be
judged. If we fail to correct a person’s
actions in love, then when we are in the wrong, and at some point we will be,
others will not administer grace when it is time to correct our behavior.
