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“ Tolerance toward people is a good and biblical virtue, but tolerance toward false teaching is sin.” – John MacArthur
In today’s culture, tolerance is often presented as one of the highest virtues. We are told that good people are tolerant people—people who accept every belief, every lifestyle, and every idea without question. To challenge something is often seen as unkind or judgmental. Yet when we read Scripture carefully, we discover a kind of tolerance that can quietly damage both our faith and our spiritual health.
In Revelation 2, Jesus speaks to the church in Thyatira and commends them for many good things: their love, faith, service, and perseverance. They were active believers doing many admirable works. Yet despite these strengths, Jesus confronts them with a serious problem: “Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel…” (Revelation 2:20 ESV).
Notice the issue was not simply that false teaching existed. The issue was that the church tolerated it.
Tolerance, in this case, meant allowing something destructive to remain unchallenged. A teaching that led people away from faithful obedience to God was being permitted to influence the community. Instead of addressing it, the church allowed it to continue.
This reveals an important truth: not everything should be tolerated.
The Bible certainly teaches love, patience, and humility. Christians are called to treat people with grace and compassion. Jesus himself showed extraordinary kindness to sinners and those on the margins of society. But Jesus never tolerated teachings or practices that led people away from truth.
There is a difference between loving people and accepting ideas that harm them.
A “little tolerance” can slowly reshape what we believe. False ideas rarely arrive announcing themselves as dangerous. They usually appear reasonable, compassionate, or culturally acceptable. Over time, however, they begin to erode conviction, blur moral clarity, and weaken spiritual commitment.
The church in Thyatira likely did not intend to drift. They probably believed they were being gracious, patient, or open-minded. But in trying to avoid conflict, they allowed something harmful to grow within their community.
The same danger exists today. Christians sometimes remain silent about difficult issues because they do not want to appear harsh or intolerant. While the desire to be kind is good, silence about truth can lead to confusion about what God actually calls good.
When Jesus addressed Thyatira, His words were not meant to shame them but to call them back. He urged them to recognize the danger and return to faithful obedience. Even in correction, there was an invitation to repentance and restoration.
That is an encouraging reminder for us today. When we notice areas where we have grown too comfortable with compromise, the response is not despair but renewed commitment. God calls His people to hold firmly to what is good and true. We are called to practice discerning faithfulness. We love people deeply, extend grace generously, and show compassion freely. But we also refuse to tolerate something that leads people away from God.
Discussion Questions:
- In what ways can the desire to appear loving or open-minded lead Christians to tolerate ideas or behaviors that move people away from biblical truth?
- How can believers hold firmly to truth while still showing genuine grace and compassion to people who disagree with them?