via TJC
“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.”
—2 John 10-11
Wow… Do you think John meant what he said? What in the wide world of sports is going on there? One thing is for sure… this is not just some minor doctrinal issue or some ambiguous theological question. It sounds more like a direct edict from the throne room. Well, it was.
There’s no modern-day comparison to what was happening here. Nothing compares to its magnitude, but I’ll take a stab at it:
Imagine if the President of the United States were to come up with a way to finally bring about world peace, and one nation after another were laying down their weapons and “signing up.” And then… in the midst of the process, another superpower attempts to seize control by starting a rumor that the U.S. was lying about their promise to disarm. It just takes a few nations to believe the lie, and the dominoes start to fall.
The situation in 2 John is even a bigger deal than that. The future of Christendom itself was at stake, and John was intent on stopping the lie dead in its tracks. False teachers were traveling from congregation to congregation denying Jesus was God in the flesh. Think about it… what would be the reason for a commitment to Christ if He wasn’t the risen Lord? And if He isn’t the risen Messiah, then what is all this about? These people were trying to pull the foundation out from under the Kingdom. John knew even associating with these liars would imply endorsement, so he demanded Believers withdraw from any contact with them. Loving people of God must not be associated with false doctrine.
DAILY BATTLE ORDER
Be a true disciple. Take one thing you doubt (at all), track down its origin, and “hold it up to the light” of God’s Word. Pray for clarity on that issue. Consult a trusted brother about the truth in that matter of faith. Let nothing stand between you and a right relationship with Jesus. Rinse and repeat. Every day.
Solid!