II John 7-11 “Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.”
In some ways, this passage may seem to contradict much of John’s earlier teaching. Does he really want us to turn people away, just because they disagree with us? Does he really want us to be rude? What happened to all the talk of loving one another? We must understand that John is not telling us to be rude to unbelievers. To the contrary, he wants us to love them with a perfect love, with God’s love.
Here, however, John is referring to people who have wickedly rejected Christ as God’s Son, and who are trying to convince others to do the same. He is talking about teachers who have no respect for the sacrifice Christ made for us on the cross, and who deny that salvation comes through Christ alone.
These people are being used by Satan to pull people away from God, and we certainly don’t need to help them along! Of course we should be as polite as possible. And we should pray for them. But we must not give them any impression that we agree with them, or that we condone their teaching. By inviting them to speak in our churches, by providing food and lodging for them while they spread heresy, we are helping them spread lies. And in so doing, we will forfeit the reward that God has in store for those who are faithful to Him and to His truth.
Father, There are many people in the world who deny Your Son, and who try to keep others from believing in You. Please give me wisdom as I deal with these people. Help me to be loving, yet firm, as I take a stand against their beliefs.
Amen
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