Live and Let Live?
Live and Let Live? This is a common statement for those who call for tolerance of others. By definition, it means, "you should tolerate the opinions and behavior of others so that they will similarly tolerate your own." Does this statement come from the Bible or culture, or both? Should Christians confront one another or should they just "live and let live"? Should Christians even worry about whether or not others tolerate their faith?
Because this can be a delicate subject, I encourage you to pray about your motives before going out to correct a fellow brother or sister in Christ. The intent ought to always be to bring about repentance and restoration. Although confrontation is often necessary, Ephesians 4:32 reminds us of our attitude when it comes to speaking to one another: "Be kind and tender to one another. Forgive each other, just as God forgave you because of what Christ has done." With this kind of attitude, we are then set to "speak the truth in love" (Eph. 4:15) in order to gently restore the person who is caught in sin (Gal. 6:1). Clearly, the "live and let live" statement does not come from the Word of God. More so, the statement is also contradicted by Jesus Himself in the gospels.
Matthew 18:15-17 gives us a clear picture as to how confrontation is be carried out if the person is unwilling to repent and be restored: Jesus states, "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector." Wow! How many churches actually follow this prescription for unrepentant sinners within the church? Again, this procedure is also ultimately done in order to bring the unrepentant person to repentance and restoration with the people of God.
Another point to make about this is that Christians should not fret over whether their beliefs are tolerated by others who do not share their faith. In Matthew 10:34, Jesus says, "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword." Although Christians are to strive to live at peace with all (Heb. 12:14), the friction caused by such differences between Christians and non-Christians is not always avoidable. Nevertheless, may we be comforted that "the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Rom. 8:18).
It is obvious that the "live and let live" mentality fails the test of Scripture. Instead of "live and let live," it ought to rather be, "lovingly confront and let God handle the results." For a Christian to think like the former, how could one take a stand against anything and/or follow biblical mandates to admonish, rebuke, and confront in love? For a Christian to think like the latter, however, he is following the biblical pattern and trusting God to rake in the glory.
Because this can be a delicate subject, I encourage you to pray about your motives before going out to correct a fellow brother or sister in Christ. The intent ought to always be to bring about repentance and restoration. Although confrontation is often necessary, Ephesians 4:32 reminds us of our attitude when it comes to speaking to one another: "Be kind and tender to one another. Forgive each other, just as God forgave you because of what Christ has done." With this kind of attitude, we are then set to "speak the truth in love" (Eph. 4:15) in order to gently restore the person who is caught in sin (Gal. 6:1). Clearly, the "live and let live" statement does not come from the Word of God. More so, the statement is also contradicted by Jesus Himself in the gospels.
Matthew 18:15-17 gives us a clear picture as to how confrontation is be carried out if the person is unwilling to repent and be restored: Jesus states, "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector." Wow! How many churches actually follow this prescription for unrepentant sinners within the church? Again, this procedure is also ultimately done in order to bring the unrepentant person to repentance and restoration with the people of God.
Another point to make about this is that Christians should not fret over whether their beliefs are tolerated by others who do not share their faith. In Matthew 10:34, Jesus says, "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword." Although Christians are to strive to live at peace with all (Heb. 12:14), the friction caused by such differences between Christians and non-Christians is not always avoidable. Nevertheless, may we be comforted that "the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Rom. 8:18).
It is obvious that the "live and let live" mentality fails the test of Scripture. Instead of "live and let live," it ought to rather be, "lovingly confront and let God handle the results." For a Christian to think like the former, how could one take a stand against anything and/or follow biblical mandates to admonish, rebuke, and confront in love? For a Christian to think like the latter, however, he is following the biblical pattern and trusting God to rake in the glory.
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