How Far Will We Go?

Just a sideline thought I’m working through. I appreciate any insights you may have.

There’s an old saying I’ve shared several times, but it really points me to my morning thought.

What we tolerate gets accepted.
What we accept we eventually cultivate.
That which we cultivate we celebrate.

Sideliners and rug rats watch our lives closely, and we let them know what is acceptable. These accepted practices, words and sentiments pass to the next generation, and they take it even farther. We are left shaking our head, “What have we created?”

Growing years found me living within the framework presented by my circle of influence – family, close friends, authority figures, laws on the books, and, of course, the Bible. From any perspective, I was surrounded by those who would push the boundaries, live a little outside the lines. While we all do this in one area or another, there are some strict boundary rules that I followed keeping me within safe zones.

One way of thinking about it is comparing tolerance to “sin.” If sin separates me from God, then tolerating that sin will keep me from God. The further I go, the harder it is to understand the roots of my beginnings. Go too far, then you may never hear His call again. (Think Adam and Eve.) Sin creates a barrier over which God will not go, and if lived long enough, the barrier becomes an insurmountable wall. Too long on one side of the wall and you will forget what that other side was all about.

Think about the variety of our culture. We’re expected to tolerate anything, everything, and any variation that anyone applies it to. Until, that is, you step on someone’s toes. Then your right to tolerate has gone too far if that injured party challenges you successfully.

Could this be part of the problem? We’ve tolerated some things too long, and before long it becomes something to be celebrated.

Is There Bible?

Some think we should tolerate anything, everything. As we move down that train of thought it’s easy to see how much we become like that which we tolerate. As we tolerate, we cultivate, and eventually celebrate. Where does God come into the equation? Remember, God’s Word must be factored into every parcel of our life. God is Love, but he is also the Judge. We think of examples of Jesus teaching us to “turn the other cheek” or to “love everyone” and that means we tolerate their example of life.

The Ten Commandments are the foundation of God’s Law to Israel when they finally came out of bondage. After 400 years in Egypt, God sets his commandments on their lifestyle. From the ten commandments, their style of living changes to be connected to the God of their Fathers. It’s as if they were having to relearn God from a time before their years in Egypt. Why? They had drifted too far from their roots, and God need to separate them from what they had become.

What does this say about today? When will God step in and change our approach to life? Perhaps it’s too late. Or, maybe it’s up to me. Not to fight back, but not step back from His Word. Live Jesus the best way “me” knows how, but do it by the Word.