Should we be more tolerate?
We preachers have just been much too hard on thieves and thievery. We have spent too much pulpit time condemning theft when we could have been preaching on understanding, love and tolerance for thieves. We have instead insisted upon telling people that stealing is a sin and that they shouldn’t behave that way.
Now, I know what the Bible says about stealing. One of the ten commandments given to the nation of Israel was "You shall not steal" (Exodus 20:15). Of course, the Law of Moses was fulfilled by Jesus and we don’t live under that law any more. Still, the gospel of Jesus Christ as revealed by the inspired preachers and writers of the New Testament also comes out against theft. The apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians that any thieves should stop stealing (4:28) and he actually told the Corinthians that thieves would not inherit the kingdom of heaven (1 Corinthians 6:10)! Paul seems to have believed that stealing was a sin, but then he probably also hated thieves, don’t you think?
If someone steals a car, I guess the proper thing to do is to avoid referring to that person as a "thief." Identifying someone by their conduct has never helped anything, has it? The person who stole the car probably couldn’t help it anyway, since we all know that some folks are compulsive thieves. Besides, the Bible is an old book and we are a more enlightened people now.
The reasoning offered above is seen to be ridiculous when applied to stealing. Does anybody actually believe that preachers who identify theft as a sin therefore hate thieves? Is it "discrimination" to identify someone who steals as a "thief"? Unfortunately, the same kind of arguments are routinely used to defend other kinds of immoral behavior and to attack those who speak out against such behavior.
I personally have had enough of "political correctness." Note the craftiness of the homosexual movement which portrays any criticism of homosexuality as "discrimination" tantamount to racism. Those who identify homosexual behavior as sinful are classified as "bigots" who hate homosexuals. Never mind that the Bible identifies homosexual behavior as "vile passions," "against nature," "shameful," "error" and "debased" (Romans 1:26-28). Never mind that forgiveness of sin and eternal salvation is available to ANYONE who will turn from his sins and seek divine grace (Acts 17:30-31; Titus 2:11-14). I know that there are individuals who are hateful toward homosexuals, but to assume such of everyone who disapproves of that lifestyle is no more reasonable than suggesting that disapproving of thievery implies the hatred of thieves!
Christians must not be afraid to stand up and identify what the Bible calls "sin." If we don’t, our society may lose all moral bearings, beginning with our young people. At the same time, we must remember that the object of the preaching of the gospel is to encourage men and women to seek God. We must be plain, but not hateful. We must be firm, but not vindictive.