Something needs to be said...

about this very popular opinion that Christians are to accept and tolerate anyone, regardless of their behaviors, language, actions, and so on. I do not believe this opinion is Biblically grounded in either the Old or New Testament. Studying through Matthew’s gospel this year has only solidified my belief. Let’s look at a few examples of whom Jesus accepted and tolerated.

In Matthew 4, Jesus is approached by Satan who attempts to tempt Him to disobey God’s will. Satan’s tactics are crystal clear misinterpretations of Scripture, twisted into a different meaning that does not accord with the revealed character of God. Jesus rebukes each devilish perversion with correct interpretations of His Father’s Words. Jesus does not accept or tolerate the devil or his tactics of teaching.

I know, that’s kind of a strawman argument, you’re saying. Of course, Jesus wouldn’t tolerate the devil. Come on.

Okay, you’re right. But seeing as how the point needs to develop as to whom exactly Jesus does accept and tolerate, we might as well start with the antithesis example. At the very least, in reading Mt. 4:1-10, you should come away with the understanding that Jesus does not accept or tolerate the twisting of God’s Word to accord with personal opinion.

Let me try again. I’ll use a religious example this time. In Matthew 5:20, Jesus says, “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Whoa! Now that’s a pretty non-accepting and intolerant attitude towards the righteousness of the noted and established religious leadership of the day. It’s one thing to argue that Jesus won’t brook with the devil (Mt 4), but now to say that He’s not too fond of the religious leadership either? Well, we could give this one to the atheists as a point on their side that Jesus doesn’t like religious people…..or we could try to understand why He’s being a tad bit critical here.

Matthew 5:20 is within the context of the Sermon on the Mount which is an incredible discourse where Jesus describes the true character of a Christian (Beatitudes, Mt 5:1-10), the true influence of a Christian (salt & light, Mt. 5:13-16), and here in 5:20, He gives the bar for true righteousness that is accepted by God versus righteousness that is not. The outward, self-righteousness of the Pharisees did not, does not, and will not satisfy a Holy God who requires the true righteousness of Christ alone (Rom 3:21-22).

All righty then, now we have a standard of what and whom Jesus accepts and tolerates—those who are clothed in His righteousness alone. Those, by grace who have received faith, a gift from God, have believed the gospel of God and are now justified and given the righteousness of Christ. That’s about it in a nutshell. Here are some helpful references, Eph 2:8-10; Rom 10:9-10; Jn 3:16-18, 36.

But I know that now you’re asking about all those other examples of sinners and such that Jesus demonstrated obvious compassion towards and acceptance of, not only healing their diseases but forgiving their sins; and some of them were quite unclean (lepers), quite socially isolated (women), and quite politically unpopular (Gentiles).

Great if you’re thinking that because now we can get on to the next point. Jesus did in His time on earth as manifest flesh come into contact with every score of person from the highest rulers to the lowest on the social ladder rungs. And in every circumstance those persons were challenged and confronted by His truth. Not the other way around. He did not allow one of those persons to simply exist as they were without being confronted as to their illness, their error, their ignorance, their arrogance, their power, their self-righteousness, their sin, or their state of being. Every single one was confronted by the Lord Jesus Christ and the truth of His gospel.

There was no patent acceptance and tolerance of the state, situation, or circumstance said person was in. The blind were given sight, the lame were made to walk, the demons were cast out, the Pharisees were rebuked, the disciples were challenged and taught, the sinners were forgiven, the Gentiles were invited, and the political leaders were judged. Every single person was forever changed by his or her interaction with Jesus. Whether it meant that His truth caused a new birth in their lives and therefore, a new way of living; or His truth was rejected by them, thus sealing their condemnation.

The misapplication of the words acceptance and tolerance are wreaking havoc in Christianity because the lie has been purchased with cheap grace that anyone can do anything spouting any profession and still be okay with Jesus. He didn’t brook such nonsense in His physical lifetime, why would you think that now in the giving of the Holy Spirit that convicts the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment (Jn 16:8-11) that it would be any different?

You can come to Jesus as a sinner (for everyone does), as a social outcast, as a leader having great power, as a wealthy person, as a destitute, as a woman or man, as a child or teen, as anything. But you cannot remain with Jesus unchanged. And thank God for that!