Life beyond Tolerance

Share to

18 April, 2021Pastor Mark SimpfendorferLife Pulse

Tolerance. In its original meaning, to be tolerant meant to 'endure' something. To endure views and opinions you may disagree with but to debate and reason with empathy for each other, to discover and discern truth. But in a post-truth era, tolerance has segued into meanings of acceptance and approval, where all lifestyles, viewpoints, and values are to be accepted and affirmed as equal. It has led to a non-judgmental indifference - a "be nice" and "do what you like" attitude because truth is seen as fluid, flexible and relative. It's ironic, that in an age calling for tolerance, we have become a society that is deeply intolerant - where legislation has to be passed on "hate speech", where "cancel culture" instils fear and removes freedom of opinion or contrary ideas and 'zero tolerance' policies have had to be implemented across all sectors of society. In a changing world where truth is a moving reality, Jesus gives us a fixed, reliable, dependable and universal truth about ourselves, our lives and the eternal life he freely offers. It's a way, a truth and a life that enables us not just to 'endure' others, but to live with true love for all, true hope in every circumstance and true grace that transforms the fear and uncertainty of this world. We'll explore a life beyond tolerance today. 

#2 in series: Life Pulse

John 14:1-7

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no-one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

The resurrection of Jesus is the fixed point that makes sense of our lives and launches us into a life that pulses with freedom, grace and truthfulness.

  1. What sources do you rely on to determine truth in your life?
  2. Who are the fixed-point dependable people in your life?
  3. Amongst your friends/work group is Christianity seen to be inclusive/exclusive? Why do you think that is? 
  4. What is one thing that resonated with you today from the sermon and how will you apply that to your life and relationships this week?

Read the Weekly News here

More from 'Life Pulse'

Life beyond Religion

16 May, 2021 Pastor Mark Schultz

"Free Religion Template...download here." Jesus Crown Thorns. Islamic Mosque Sunset. Monk Budhism Meditation. Take your pick...attractive templates, perfect for every presentation. A template gives you a preset mold, form, document that you can use all over again, to provide design consistency, a set overall look and feel. You just have to choose which template you want to use. So often when it comes to Church and faith, we take a cookie-cutter approach, operate in a pre-determined way to make all people look and feel the same. Just tick the boxes, add some of the components like going to church, saying grace occasionally, putting a couple of dollars on the offering plate and you will have the look, feel and benefit of being a Christian. Perhaps it is this template concept that has led to 68% of Christians here in Australia not seeing faith as important in daily life. Jesus didn't come so we could tick a couple of boxes and feel good about ourselves. Today he throws the template out the window to bring a radical change that gives an eternal relationship and life beyond religion.

#6 and final in series: Life Pulse

View

Life beyond Anxiety

7 May, 2021 Pastor Mark Schultz

Have you ever watched the spin cycle on the front loader of a washing machine? It starts off slow, builds in speed and intensity as the clothes are forced to the edge of the drum, ultimately all wrung out. That's anxiety in a nutshell…or guilt…or shame. It starts with a simple thought that goes round and round, spinning faster and faster, leaving you in a tight, on edge, wrung out knot! Sometimes the weight of that anxiety is so much, the whole machine of your body begins to shake, shudder and makes noise because it is so off kilter. Whatever spin cycle you are in right now – anxiety about the state of your world/lives, shame that you aren’t who you are supposed to be according to some exacting standard, guilt that in this instance or that circumstance you messed up, let your guard down or let someone else down - Jesus wants you to know that he is not ashamed of you, disappointed in you or out to make an example of you. He knows you completely and loves you unceasingly, assuring you of his grace that is larger than your need and more abundant that all your fears. Come to Jesus and receive that life and experience that life today…a life beyond anxiety, guilt and shame.

#5 in series: Life Pulse

View

Life beyond Politics

2 May, 2021 Pastor Mark Schultz

Aristotle once said, "Man is by nature a political animal.' Wherever there is an opinion, there are politics. Whenever two people get together there are politics. Wherever there is an agenda, there are politics. Wherever there is power, there is politics. It crosses into every sector of life - Government (Left/Right. Liberal/Labour/Green/Independent, Federal/State), the Church (Liberal/Conservative), Workplaces (Management/Workers), Communities (North Shore/Inner City/West). Sports clubs. Families. Life, as the world presents, is highly political and full of power plays where our attitudes and beliefs are closely tied up with our most basic human needs - safety, belonging, identity, self-esteem and purpose, and where keeping up appearances is sometimes seen to be more important than substance. Today Jesus reveals a life beyond politics that is full of substance and purpose, gives security and identity and creates belonging and worth and gives power for everday living.

#4 in series: Life Pulse

View

Life Beyond Addiction

25 April, 2021 Pastor Mark Schultz

It's been said that "insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.' That sounds a lot like addiction doesn't it - repeatedly doing something that self-reinforces patterns of behaviour, despite harmful consequences. We become addicted to ourselves and our wants or our prized purposes. We’re slaves to the things that bother us and break our heart. We’re in bondage to keeping our kids happy, or the device, or our work, our pride, our sense of entitlement or our feeling of being a victim. Addiction can happen to anyone…anytime. Deep down, all of us desire to live. We crave freedom to be truly alive, truly loved, truly accepted, truly secure and truly known. Jesus knows that desire for life and freedom; he also knows how easy it is to give our life over to things that steal, kill and destroy the very life we seek. But in Christ we are given a freedom and fullness of life beyond addiction that releases his best in us and releases us for his purposes in this world. He comes to bring the broken, stolen and dead parts of us back to life and restore in us a fullness of life that nothing on earth can match, and which nothing can take away. Today Jesus offers us true freedom and fullness of life beyond addiction.

#3 in series: Life Pulse

View

Life Beyond Suffering

11 April, 2021 Pastor Mark Schultz

We were not created to live stagnant lives. To be stuck, bound or broken. We were created with a pulse, to be fully alive with a single-minded purpose, a holy calling, a clear mandate and an explicit mission. Even in times that are uncertain, chaotic or incomprehensible, this calling remains. That’s relatively easy when life is good, but what happens when suffering hits, or circumstances cause our heart rate to elevate, our anxiety levels to go through the roof, and we can no longer cope with the stress and distress that confront us? Jesus has some encouraging words for his disciples that not only redefines their circumstance and renews their strength, but reorients their hearts to a joy that is always life-giving and always life sustaining. It doesn’t take away the suffering, the pain or the anxiety, but it gives a framework that enables us to respond to suffering wth joy, embrace hardship with hope and overcome all things in the strength of the risen Christ. We’ll explore and experience that today as we embrace life beyond suffering.

#1 in series: Life Pulse

View