Tag: Spiritual

Abhorrence, Not Tolerance

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Vance Havnerby Vance Havner

Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Romans 12:9

We are not to tolerate evil but abhor it. The mood of the age is to put up with evil, allow it, and then move easily to play with it and finally practice it. Tolerance is a pet word these days, and we stretch our consciences while we “broaden” our minds. But the Word of God tells us that the fear of the Lord is to hate evil and that we are to abstain from the very appearance of evil. There is no leniency toward sin whatever in that. Nothing is more dangerous to our spiritual well-being than a mild amiability that smiles at sin. Some have come to think that there is something noble in a mild attitude toward sin. Compassion on the sinful is one thing, but never confuse it with tolerance of evil. We have sunk to an acceptance of that toward which God counsels abhorrence and behold the harvest!

A holy, healthy hatred of sin and indignation at evil is our crying need today, because we fear not God – and the fear of the Lord is to hate evil.

by Vance Havner

Die to self

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A.B. Simpsonby A.B. Simpson

Afterward that which is spiritual —1 Corinthians 15:46

God often has to bring us not only into the place of suffering, and the bed of sickness and pain, but also into the place where our righteousness breaks down and our character falls to pieces in order to humble us in the dust and show us the need of entire crucifixion to all our natural life. Then, at the feet of Jesus we are ready to receive Him, to abide in Him, depend upon Him alone and draw all our life and strength each moment from Him, our Living Head.

It was thus that Peter was saved by his very fall and had to die to peter that he might live more perfectly to Christ. Have we thus died, and have we thus renounced the strength of our own self-confidence?

We begin life with the natural, next we come into the spiritual; but then, when we have truly received the kingdom of God and His righteousness, the natural is added to the spiritual, and we are able to receive the gifts of His providence and the blessings of life without becoming centered in them or allowing them to separate us from Him.

by A.B. Simpson