Don't Tolerate False Teaching

“But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.” (Titus 3:9-11)

True love is intolerant. Does that sound like a misprint? Today we’re told that love loves everything. That love supports everything. That love tolerates everything. 

That’s not love. True love is intolerant. If you are in love with someone, you don’t tolerate the person who tries to seduce them into adultery. If you love your family, you don’t tolerate the cancer that wants to eat away at their bodies. If you love your country, you don’t tolerate divisive forces that try to tear your country apart. True love is intolerant. It is intolerant of whatever gets in the way of that love.

Here’s what that means for Christians: Love for Jesus and the truth of his Word means that Christians are to be intolerant of false teaching. “Avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law.” If you love the true message of salvation by faith in Jesus, you can’t tolerate any other message. You can’t tolerate those who boast about their heritage or insist they keep all God’s laws or incite controversies that distract away from Jesus. 

Paul goes so far as to say, “Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.” Those are strong words! Christians are not to tolerate false teachers or false teachings.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that Christians should be mean. This intolerance of false teaching doesn’t encourage physical violence. That’s never the answer in the Christian Church. Yet, this does mean separation. Keep away from any person or any teaching that begins to pull your heart away from Jesus.

You already have a Savior—Jesus Christ who gave up his life for you. Who can compare with Jesus? You already know where the truth is found—in the Word of God which is inspired by the Holy Spirit from beginning to end. Why would we trade the Word of God for the words of men? 

You already have a true love, and true love is intolerant.

Dear Lord God, there is no one like you, and there is nothing that can compare with your Word. May Christians be so in love with your truth that we don’t tolerate any false teachings. Amen.

Pastor Nathan