True Love Warns

Have you ever noticed that we respond differently to warnings depending on the topic? For example, if you are about to cross the street, and you do not notice a car coming, you are pretty happy to be warned to watch out. But, when you are about to have a piece of your favorite dessert, and your spouse reminds you that you should be watching your health, the warning is less appreciated. Something about our desire, our love of what we are about to do, impacts how we respond to a warning.

 

In our modern society, warning people against sin is certainly not in favor. It is as if the world around us has decided that it is completely unloving to speak out against sin. The world loves rebellion against God like a man might love ice cream. And the world is upset if a warning is raised against the beloved activity.

 

Strangely, the world has decided, and some Christians seem to agree, that to tell people that what they are doing is destructive is an unloving act. The world would have us believe that to warn against sin is to lack grace, love, and kindness. But, is this true?

 

Paul’s letter to the Galatians is one of the most grace-oriented books in the New Testament. The apostle writes to oppose those who would make a submission to ritualistic law a part of Christianity. Paul points out time and time again in the book that we are saved by God’s grace and not at all through submission to law.

 

In our modern context, many in the world and many in more liberal churches would expect that Paul would not include any sort of sin list. How, after all, could he have a vice list in a book on grace? Aren’t we supposed to just love and accept each other?

 

But see the warning that Paul includes as he approaches the ending of his letter.

 

Galatians 5:19-21 – 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

Paul lists some sins that, honestly, many in our culture love. Yet, in verse 21, this apostle who is writing about grace after grace is telling people that those who participate in the activities in this list will not inherit the kingdom of God. Unrepentant participation in the sins in this list is a mark that a person is not saved.

 

What gives? Where is the love? Where is the grace? Is Paul undoing all the grace over law stuff of the previous chapters?

 

Paul is not opposing grace. Paul loves grace as much as any New Testament writer. But Paul knows something very important: true love warns. To love a person is not to allow them to continue in sin with no warning.

 

It would be unloving and unkind to allow a person to step in front of an oncoming bus without a warning. It would be unloving of a spouse to take no concern for their partner’s health. It would be unloving for a parent to allow their children unchecked freedom. It is unloving to let a person walk toward hell without a warning.

 

Grace warns. When the world embraces what opposes God, we must be honest enough to tell them that they are putting themselves in danger. This is not to be mean. This is not to be judgmental. This is not to be unloving. The most loving thing we can do is tell them the truth, even if we have to oppose the things they think they love. We have to be honest, even if we have to go against what the world decides is good. If we love, we will warn.