Author: Rev. Lek Aik Wee

The word “to bear” literally means “to cover” with reference to a roof that provides good cover, that does not leak. It keeps water out. It has the idea to protect or keep by covering. It also has the idea to cover with silence, to keep secret, to hide and conceal. It hides and excuses the errors and fault of others. It is translated to endure, to forbear, to put up with. In the context of the redeemed man’s disposition, charity is the grace that enables one to endure, to forbear, to suffer. It is a humbling disposition. It bears the pressures of life and does not crumble under it. There is also that element of patience that endures what suffering it has to bear in life’s pathways.

Biblical love enables the Christian father to discipline his son. He instructs, corrects and chastises his son who has erred from the truth. It grieves the father’s heart to have to correct his son but he knows that it will help his son to walk right again. He will not hesitate to correct his son because he knows that obeying the commandments of God is a blessing for his son. It will do his son good for the discipline brings the son to the blessing of obeying the truth as he repents from his waywardness.

There is no animosity between God’s love and His truth. They harmonise well. This is the blessed thought that we would like to meditate upon – “charity rejoices in the truth”. God’s love has no conflict with God’s truth because His love is the fulfilment of His truth.

Homosexuality is fast catching on to become a legalised alternate lifestyle in many countries. It is this sin that sent God’s wrath raining on Sodom and Gomorrah in times past. History is repeating itself. Indeed, judgment is coming. The Christian separates himself from such sin as Abraham did by living not in the city but removing himself from these places of sin. The undiscerning Christian in the person of Lot will pitch his tent toward Sodom and gradually finds himself in Sodom before finally sitting at the gates of Sodom. Lot rejoiced in iniquity. He thought he could out manoeuvre sinners and gain a carnal profit in Sodom but he had his soul vexed by all the sinfulness around him. Lot was not abounding in biblical love. Remember his uncle Abraham prayed repeatedly for God’s mercy to spare Sodom and Gomorrah if there are even ten righteous men, knowing that his nephew and family was living there? Lot and his two daughters were the only ones spared of God’s judgment. Remember Lot’s wife who was turned into a pillar of salt for rejoicing in iniquity.

True biblical love or charity does not condone sin. It abhors and grieves at the outworking of sin in this fallen world. This is the meaning of the word “iniquity”. It is the outworking of sin in crooked or perverted behaviour that violates God’s Holy Laws. The word “iniquity” simply means a disregard of God’s divine laws. It means to act unrighteously and lawlessly.