The midland journal., 1946-05-03
TWO BROTHERS LEARN
TOLERANCE


LESSON TExT-Mark 3:14-17: Luke s:49-
GOLDEN TEXT-And this commandment
have we from him. that he who loveth God
love his brother also.-I John 4:21.
Intolerance Is soundly condemned
in our day, and we agree that the
spirit which hates or hinders man
because he is of a certain race or
C; 4 is definitely wrong. Even
within Christian circles we could
well learn more of that fine spirit
of Christ which is epitomized in the
words, "no respecter of persons"
A word of caution is needed,
however, lest we come to extend
our tolerance to that which is sinful,
wicked or destructive. One should
never tolerate poison in child's
food, or in his textbooks. One does
not tolerate fire while it destroys
ones house. Nor should one be
tolerant Of false teaching which
breaks down faith in the Bible as
the Word of God.
James and John were outstanding
in their places of leadership for God.
We learn in our lesson for today
that
1. God Wants Powerful Men
! mark 3:14-1O.
| There seems to be an impression
current in some places that being
Christian is practically synonymous
with being a weak, frightened, neg
ative person without either person
ality or power.
The fact is that the gospel of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ right
| ly interpreted, and fully received
into the heart and life of a man,
brings such tremendously enrich
ing and Transforming experience
that it appeals to all, including the
vital, dynamic type.
These two men were "the sons
of thunder; that is, they had that
flashing alertness and power of per-
sonality which made them quick to
understand and decisive in action.
True, it showed itself in an impa-
tience which was wrong and de-
sire to bring down judgment, when
they should have shown compass
sion, but that was power out of con-
troll, always a dangerous thing.
ii. God Wants Balanced Men
(Luke 9:49, SOY.
Power goes to a mans head, and
he needs the balance of God to keep
him from going astray. Then too,
strong men have intense loyalties
and are not afraid to assert them,
and are prone to condemn all who
do not conform.
John was here exhibiting that
dreadfully sectarian viewpoint which
persists even in our day. To him it
was not enough that man was do
ing the Lords work; he must either
| join their particular circle or quit.
He was willing to stop work Of
grace because this disciple of Christ
was not in the regular group. That
same spirit prevails today.
One wonders how some narrow
sectarians can read the words of
Jesus without blushing in shame
and rushing to his feet for forgive
ness and cleansing.
God wants dynamic men to work
for him; but he wants them to be
| poised and balanced in their deal
ings with others, especially with the
| brethren.
III. God Wants Patient Men (Luke
9:51-56).
The friction between the Jews and
the Samaritans dated from the time
when the latter-a half-Gentile peo-
| ple-were denied the right to help
in building the temple. That be-
came the foundation for long and
bitter strife, which showed UP in
such discourteous act as to re-
fuse nights lodging to travellers
because their destination was the
hated city of Jerusalem.
Their offense viewed from anoth-
er angle was far more than bitter
lack of courtesy, for they were turn
ing from their door the Son of God,
the Lord of glory.
Stubborn prejudice combined with
spiritual ignorance to make this
tense and explosive situation. The
sons Of thunder had an answer
ready-let's blow them off the earth.
Simple, wasn't it? Yes, but nei-
ther right nor kind. These poor
people should have drawn forth
their compassion, not their hatred
or desire for revenge.
Whenever and wherever you see
man set to get revenge on an
other, you see man who knows
nothing of the true spirit of Christ
| ". 55).
Nv. God Wants Loving Men Il
John AT, 81.
Love is not merely something
that God shows toward men or in
spires in their hearts. God is love.
Being God, he is love, and that love
is not passive quality but an ac-
tive one. He loves.
Because he is love, those who
profess to belong to him are also
to love one another, to love a world
lost in sin, yes, to love even the ut
terly unlovely.