The Church in Thyatira: Toxic Tolerance

Is tolerance good?

Church in Thyatira

• trade-guilds
• Lydia of Thyatira (Acts 16)

8 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.

19 “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 

20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit
adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, 23 and I will strike her children dead.

And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. 

24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 25 Only hold fast what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he will rule[c] them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Appearance of Jesus to the Church in Thyatira

18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.

Commendation to Church in Thyatira

 19 “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 

Warning to Church in Thyatira

20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, 23 and I will strike her children dead.

Possible roots of toxic tolerance

1) Selective interpretation without context

Romans 6:14
14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Romans 10:4
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

1 Corinthians 8:4
4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” 

1 Corinthians 10:23a, 25-6
“All things are lawful …
Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” 

1 Corinthians 10:19-21
What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 

2) Believing one can grasp the deep things of Satan

24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 25 Only hold fast what you have until I come. 

1 Corinthian 2:10

10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 

Revelation 2:23

“And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.”

Tolerance is necessary, so is intolerance.

 “I may detest what you are saying, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

New tolerance is intolerance.

John Macarthur:

“In this postmodern era, one virtue is esteemed above all others: tolerance. As a matter of fact, tolerance may soon be the only virtue secular society will embrace. 

Instead, with the beatification of tolerance, what was once forbidden is now encouraged. What was once universally deemed immoral is now celebrated. Marital infidelity and divorce have been normalized. Profanity is commonplace. Abortion, homosexuality, and moral perversions of all kinds are championed by large advocacy groups and tacitly encouraged by the popular media.”

Choose Love, not tolerance

Rev 2:25-28

25 Only hold fast what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 

• People of God reigning with God: Rev 5:10; 20:4, 6; 22:5

Matthew 19:28

28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Luke 22:30

30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Revelation 22:16

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”