2 John 10-11 - Handling false teachers
Scripture:
2 John 10-11
10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not
receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting;
11 for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.
NASU
Thoughts:
John commands a zero-tolerance policy towards false teachers. Clearly
this principle applies today, as it did then. We should not be
accommodating of
heresy. One reason is the legitimacy we might appear to give to the
deceiver. In that way, we are participating in their leading people
astray by our presumed approval.
In John's culture, not receiving the person
into your home was a sign of disapproval. Today, we will more likely
need to speak concerning the issue. The right approach
may not always be to
confront the deceiver, but may instead be to later instruct the
hearer. In any case, we must avoid the temptation to sit silently by
as people around us are being led into darkness.
This takes us out of our comfort zone, doesn't it? It is much easier
to stay silent than it is to correct false views when we hear them.
But we cannot allow our love of peace to be at the cost of truth. We
must risk giving offense when souls are at stake.
Prayer:
Lord, give me boldness and wisdom when such occurrences come my way. I
need Your discernment. Give me the words to speak that I might protect
those who would become victims and perhaps even help the one in error,
themselves.
Amen
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