The cultural acquiescence of the Church is also due to the common misunderstanding of Jesus's warning to "Judge not, that you be not judged." An example is the case of the university professor who, in reluctance to call the 9/11 terrorists evil, explained "After all, we've sinned too."

Contrary to what many, like the good professor, have come to believe, Christians are not instructed to be silent about the beliefs and behaviors of others. Neither are they expected to be sinless before counseling others and speaking out for moral truth. Rather, in his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus instructs his disciples to remove the blinders to their own moral conduct so that they can clearly see the truth about their own behaviors AND the behaviors of others. It is in that context that Paul exhorts believers to "demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God" and coaches believers in restoring a brother "caught in a sin."

The Truth that Liberates

In contrast to the self-based pietism that Jesus continually condemned, the hallmark of the Christian life is radical Other-centeredness: first toward God, by ordering one's life through the prism of God's word; and then toward fellow man by giving aid, encouragement, and counsel to those afflicted in a morally anorexic world. By modeling this radical way of living, Jesus's daily bread was to do his Father's will while pointing the Way to life-giving water to all who sought him.

Paul tells us that in Christ "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge," and that in the present age this "manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church." In view of Paul's teaching, the "keys of the kingdom" given Peter is the revelation that Jesus is the Christ, the source of all truth. As such, it is only Jesus who can "loose" us from the tyranny of popular opinion by showing us how to live in line with our design and our Designer. And that is true freedom.

But in a "feel-good" culture where folks are intent to "go along to get along," St. Augustine observed that truth is loved when it enlightens and hated when it accuses. Accordingly, our reticence in naming the actions of others, evil, is our aversion to acknowledge a standard to which we too may be bound and against which we too may be accused. For those unwilling to admit moral accountability, much less personal guilt and the need for redemption, the very possibility that such a standard exists can be a troubling notion indeed.

"If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own...If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

--Jesus Christ