02/17/2026
What to Say When Challenged to "Love & Accept" Like Jesus.
Article by Greg Koukl...
"Genuine love does not require approval and acceptance of every behavior of the one loved—a point obvious to thoughtful adults and foundational to wise parenting. Indeed, in the most famous biblical passage on love—one frequently quoted even by non-Christians at weddings—Paul himself declared that love 'does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth' (1 Cor. 13:6)."
"Contrary to popular opinion—and surprising even to me when I checked—Jesus actually said precious little in his public preaching about love in general, and he said absolutely nothing affirming the kind of 'love and acceptance' being promoted in Jesus’ name through the student’s line of questioning."
"Search your Bible concordance for all of Jesus’ public admonitions to love that are recorded in the Gospels. You’ll find only three directives: Love God, love your neighbor, and love your enemies. That’s it."
"Jesus gave one other command to love, but it was not a public one. It was private, made to his disciples on their final night together. After washing their feet as an example to them of servant leadership, he gave them a 'new commandment.' He told them that—as a witness to others that they were his disciples—they were to love one another sacrificially just as he had loved them (John 13:34-35; 15:12-13). He also added, 'If you love Me, you will keep My commandments' (John 14:15)."
If you’re asked the question “Doesn’t Jesus teach we should love and accept one another?” beware of naively affirming it, for two reasons. Greg Koukl explains.
