A little something for you to think about in the middle of your week.
Let’s turn to Revelation 2:19-20.
19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.
20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.
Let’s take it back a few verses. In Revelation 2, the Lord addressed the problem of disobedience in His children, and hence in the Church. First thing we must realise is that even if most areas of our Christian life are in line with His will, this doesn’t mean He will overlook those that are not. You can be obedient 95% of the time, but the point at which we knowingly disobey God is exactly where our faith needs to be re-examined. Our Father is patient and understanding, yet He takes our unfaithfulness seriously.
First thing we must realise is that even if most areas of our Christian life are in line with His will, this doesn’t mean He will overlook those that are not.
Jesus turns from commendation to condemnation of the church at Thyatira. We see there was a particular problem at the centre of their corruption. Thyatira had begun tolerating false doctrine and allowing heretics to degrade their walk with God. I believe it was unlikely that this happened in one day, but through an attitude of compromise and unregulated tolerance.
Second thing we must realise is that we need to take a stand on the Word of God. If people or programs do not line up with the Bible, we don’t need them. I’ve got to put my hands up. I mess up in this area. My curiosity often allows me to listen to lots of opinions and views, as I often find it interesting to see how people think, even if I disagree. But eventually, I need to accept that if it doesn’t line up with the word of God, it is likely harmful and detrimental to my walk.
Second thing we must realise is that we need to take a stand on the Word of God. If people or programs do not line up with the Bible, we don’t need them.
“Well, I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. Everyone else thinks it’s OK.”
And I hear that. Loud! I do not want to hurt people either, but I’m more concerned with the wellbeing of our Church and people’s eternity than I am their feelings! If their thoughts and opinions are wrong, it is time to challenge them.
Back to Revelation 2.
Their compromise brought tragic results; it always does. They had allowed a prophetess by the name of Jezebel to teach and seduce them. She carries the same name as one of the wickedest women in the Bible.
Time for a quick biblical history lesson!
She was married to King Ahab and was a key player in defiling Israel in Elijah’s day.
When King Ahab of Israel brought his wife to Samaria, the capital of the northern tribes, she brought her religion with her. Jezebel built a temple to Baal and an altar to Astarte. Baal was a fertility god. Baal worship used both male and female temple prostitutes to appease him. And over time came hundreds of prophets to promote her religion. She seduced her tolerant and weak husband to persecute the Lord’s prophets and led Israel into idolatry. Her name stood for anything that endangers orthodox teaching. The Jezebel counterpart of this verse is a symbolic name for a person who distorts doctrine.
Just a little disclaimer, some manuscripts even read “your wife” instead of “that woman.” If so, this would mean that this Jezebel was the leader’s or even the pastor’s wife! However, the strongest manuscript evidence does not support this.
This Jezebel was a self-appointed prophetess, but she was no true prophetess. Third thing we must realise is that just because people claim something does not make it true. Many people claim religious status in our day, but this does not mean they carry authentic biblical authority.
Third thing we must realise is that just because people claim something does not make it true.
This woman defiled the church by influencing them to commit immorality and idolatry. But she was a prophetess. And it got me thinking about how this could be, and how they could let her do this. I came to the conclusion that she must’ve been teaching that they could participate in this wickedness and still be right with God. However, this of course is me reading into the text and narrative.
The people were being led away from God, by her teaching. By her teaching. Sometimes I wonder whether the church is more interested in the delivery than the content, and maybe this was the case here. Fourth thing we must realise is that we need sound doctrine taught and preached in the church. Delivery is important, but it is not the most important thing.
Fourth thing we must realise is that we need sound doctrine taught and preached in the church. Delivery is important, but it is not the most important thing.
But where did this all start? Tolerance.
A church may think that unrestricted tolerance is a great thing, but the Bible demands that we choose. Indifference will not do. We cannot say that it is right to go along with the permissiveness of unadulterated tolerance. Yep. Unadulterated. Some churches have inadequate standards. No. Some of us have inadequate standards. We have become indifferent to sexual immorality, abortion, or euthanasia.
“This is just a matter of preference.”
That’s what we want to say.
We want to act like we have full autonomy in determining what is true. I’m sorry, we don’t determine right and wrong. Toleration used to mean patience and longsuffering with people. Now tolerance means that all views are equally valid. That is a major shift in thinking. Not only are all views equally tolerable, but all views are equally valid. In this situation, we kill truth. The only truth left is tolerance, which is no truth.
My Sunday Skl 
Leave a comment