Yes free will is what separates man from the rest of creation. Man lives by making choices some good some not so good. Why is it that when we caution someone against buying an item that has a history of low quality we are patted on the back and honored for being a real friend. Yet if we caution against sin we are viewed as having stepped outside of love and friendship?

I believe it takes a greater degree of love to reach out and try to pull someone out of the fire than it does to stand back and just watch. I said earlier “if I had a child” well I do — three of them in fact. All of them grown. I no longer speak to them as I did when they were children but my love for them and my want for eternity compels me, to still from time to time bring an awareness of where certain actions can lead. This same love from time to time has also brought me speak to some I am not blood related to. Is it a fine line yes, for I never want to be the cause of someone falling away.

2 Timothy 4:2 (NAS) — 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

These words — reprove, rebuke, exhort — take us to a point beyond simple observation. There are so many examples in the New Testament of Godly people risking their relationship with others in order to try and bring the lost to Christ.

Ephesians 2:8 (NAS) — 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

Man has never been able to earn salvation; the above scripture and the whole book of Romans states that clearly enough. No one can save a man except God. I cannot neither can anyone else I know of, for all that would come to God must come on His terms.

Somehow all this must come into balance as there are no contradictions in scripture. Somehow I must tell the world about becoming obedient to God while still maintaining my love for him and them.

Matthew 28:18–20 (NAS) — 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

1. 1. You wrote:
   

   Love does not only ask you to stand back and allow our children or other people (as adults or young adults) to make their own choices…God requires it of us as christians [sic].

   I somewhat see what you’re saying here, but Scott’s example of watching a child eat lead-based paint was an example that would have resulted in harm to the child if allowed to continue. And you do point out that Christian behavior would stop the kid from doing that, but let’s take an example of sin, rather than an example of a child who hasn’t developed enough life skill yet to know what’s physically harmful and what’s not. Let’s use the example of homosexuality, since Scott brought it up first. The Bible clearly teaches against it, both in the OT and in the NT. Yes, God has given us the choice of whether to engage in homosexuality or not, but he has also instructed us against it. Why should Christians not do the same? I’m not suggesting we should seek out homosexuals and teach them from the Bible that their behavior is distinctively nonChristian — maybe we should do that, maybe not, but that’s for another thread. I’m certainly not suggesting that we should engage in protests, holding up signs saying “God hates fags”. God certainly does not hate homosexuals — or any sinner (you or me) for that matter. He has, however, given us the charge to preach the word, and to “correct, rebuke and encourage” (2 Timothy 4). So no, “love” does not just stand back and watch a friend or loved one engage in behavior that Scripture plainly says is destructive to the soul.

2. 2. You wrote:
   

   The fact that Love entitles christians [sic] to “point out wrong”, is a very fine line to cross. It brings to mind the bible-thumpers of days-gone-by.

   You’re exactly right — we’re not to put on our bird dog goggles, looking for every infraction of the law, and holler SINNER! when we find one. Actually it’d be all right to stand in front of the mirror and do that, but probably not on the street corner.

3. 3. You wrote:
   

   Although, standing up for what is right, is one way God wants us to share our faith.

   You bet He does, and simply living a positive Christian example can be very effective (1 Peter 3:1-7).

4. 4. You wrote:
   

   …what separates us from the fundamentalist Islamic nations which legislate their muslim beliefs on society: who claimed out of love, to point out others wrongs and force them to do what is right

   We’re not trying to “force them to do what is right”, and I don’t think Scott’s post called for that. All his post suggested was that when presented with the opportunity, we have the obligation — the Christian duty — to stand up and to speak out and teach Bible truth on the subject.

5. 5. And lastly, you observe that
   

   The old testament is filled with rules and laws. The new testament brings us the message of Grace, and Godly Guidelines.

   Yep. Again, correct. And we are saved by that very grace, but I don’t see anywhere the admonition that Christians are to stand back and just “live and let live” (not your words). We are to speak up and speak out against sin and destructive (not alternative lifestyles) when presented with the opportunity. In fact, many times Paul did just that — used his public pulpit to teach against sin (Romans 1 and Galatians 5, to name just two).

Thanks again for speaking up. I don’t know how much farther we can carry this discussion, but it’ll be interesting to see what others have to say.