By Patrick Weaver
Somebody needs to hear this...it's a lie. Tolerance of pathologically diabolical, soul crushing, destructive behavior from any one, including a spouse, is not a Christian duty and no scripture in the Bible actually means that - when rightly divided.
Forgive 70 x 7 (Matthew 18:22), is not related to nor tolerance of willful sin, destructive behavior or an individual who delights in evil. It literally is referring discipleship of the unbeliever leading to salvation. Basically, when Peter asked if he should forgive up seven times, he thought he was being generous because the rabbinic tradition of forgiving under the law was three times. It's a recurring phrase in Amos 1 and 2: "For three transgressions...and for four, I will not revoke the punishment" (Amos 1:3, 1:9; Amos 2:1, 2:4, 2:6). Rabbis interpreted this phrase to mean that God forgives up to three offenses but executes judgment on the fourth. So, Peter was asking Jesus can Agape love - God's love leading to salvation, save someone who had sinned 7 times. Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times but seventy times seven" (Matthew 18:22).
Bottom line, this scripture (forgive 70 x 7), is not a commandment for you to tolerate bad behavior, it's a commandment to not limit God's ability to forgive or save someone based on the number of times they've sinned.
When it comes to your personal life, God's word deals with the question of tolerating evil or keeping evil in your life: "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 3:10-11).
2 Timothy 3:1-5 reads: "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people."
Tolerance of evil is not synonymous with Christianity, boundaries are. Stop asking yourself how many times and for how long do you need to tolerate evil, wickedness, destructiveness....you don't earn brownie points in heaven for letting people trample on your pearls. "Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces" (Matthew 7:6).
Tolerance of evil, wicked, abusive, destructive, soul crushing behavior in any relationship is not a Christian question...it's a boundary question. Christian boundaries do not tolerate being repeatedly harmed, so don't ask how long you should tolerate pathologically intolerable, abominable behavior...as a Christian, the answer is never.
Forgive and remove, forgive and cut off access, forgive and do not be unevenly yoked, forgive and do not continue throwing your pearls down before swine. But don't sit in hell telling yourself that Christian is synonymous with Carpet. The devil is a liar.
Carry On!
(I love the Carry On ending since it reminds me of that Carry On song you loved by Fun)
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Matthew 18:22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times."
Amos 1:3 Thus says the Lord, "For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have threshed Gilead, with threshing sledges of iron."
Amos 1:9 Thus says the Lord, "For three transgressions of Tyre, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they delivered up a whole people to Edom, and did not remember the covenant of brotherhood."
Amos 2:1 Thus says the Lord, "For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because he burned to lime the bones of the king of Edom."
Amos 2:4 Thus says the Lord, "For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have rejected the law of the Lord, and have not kept his statutes, but their lies have led them astray, those after which their fathers walked."
Amos 2:6 Thus says the Lord, "For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals."
Titus 3:10-11 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self , lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
Matthew 7:6 Do not give dogs what is holy and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.
