Aug 29, 2024, Doing Good While Tolerating Evil?
One of my responsibilities as a school principal was to observe classrooms and then meet with the teacher to share what I had observed. I always shared the positives before discussing areas where improvements were needed. That’s what Jesus did in the letters he had John write to the seven churches.
“I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. Nevertheless, I have this against you: you tolerate that woman Jezebel…” (Rev. 2:19, 20a).
Doing Good While Tolerating Evil?
The seven churches in the Book of Revelation reflect our churches today. I also believe they are representative of us individually. The church at Thyatira must have been ecstatic to receive a letter from “the Son of God” (Rev. 2:18), praising them so highly for their love, faith, service, and perseverance. Since they were doing so well, perhaps Jesus would just overlook their shortcomings. Maybe he would just focus only on the good and not concern himself with the evil they were tolerating in their church. But he pointed it out. They were tolerating a so-called “prophetess” who was leading church members into sexual immorality.
Are we showing love, walking by faith, serving well, persevering, moving forward, becoming greater while tolerating certain immoral activities by certain people because of who they are? And are we holding on to some secret thing within ourselves that we know is not right? Jesus wasn’t just addressing the church at Thyatira. He was addressing you and me! I am looking inward now. Lord, help me to turn the searchlight on my soul!
I will quote Mother Pettiford, the old church mother in my home church when I was growing up who used to make up songs—songs like, “Sin is Sin, Don’t Care Who it’s in.” I know I’m in deep water and will likely not get any positive responses. But this is a message of God’s love (Rev. 3:19). I’m in so deep now I might as well keep treading and end with this essential question. Was Paul’s message in the focus quote below only for the Corinthian church in the first century AD?
Focus Quote:
“Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NLT).
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“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14).