S) "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."
2 John 10-11 (NASB)
O) John was warning about false teachers, antichrist people who deny that Jesus came in the flesh. More broadly, he says in the previous verse that these are those who go too far and do not abide in the teaching of Jesus. Then he immediately followed with a warning not to allow these false teachers to enter your home and not even to greet them, or else we would participate in their evil deeds. These are strong words, but it's hard to misunderstand them because they are fairly plain. There does seem to be something almost spiritual, about having people into the home. When Jesus sent out the seventy disciples, He said to bless and heal the households that received them. However, he said to proclaim against the cities where no one would receive them, that they would even wipe off the dust of the city; but that the kingdom of God is close. Jesus said it will be better for Sodom, than for a city that rejects His disciples. So we see a very strong difference of instruction, based on who allowed the disciples into their homes. Similarly, John is telling us to be very discerning about what kinds of teaching we allow into our homes.
A) There is a part of me that almost laments this warning, because I'm probably too fond of conflict. When Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses come to my door, I want to have them come inside so I can debate them. It doesn't usually last long, and everywhere I've lived, they only come once and never return. So, I can't even say that my discussions with them have been particularly fruitful. Also, those were pretty much before any of my kids were old enough to understand any teaching, let alone Godly things. I don't worry too much about my kids overhearing false teaching (or my wife for that matter), if it's something I can discuss with them and we can keep everything straight according to what the Bible actually says. Then again, there's no reason to let seeds be planted that must be dug out again. Furthermore, I simply am not privy to all of their unspoken doubts or misconceptions. Beyond those kinds of risks, I think John is simply saying, that by allowing false teaching, or a false teacher, into my home, I am endorsing his teaching. That is certainly something I must avoid. So, a new determination I make, that if anyone comes to my door, preaching a different Jesus than the Bible teaches, I must politely but firmly send them on their way.
P) Father, thank You for giving me the truth. Thank You for opening my eyes and ears, to know Your words even as well as I do, but I pray that I continue to learn them better. Help me to be bold and firm, against false teachers. Please protect my family, my wife, my children and their children, against false teaching and deceptive false-gospels. Let Your will be done, in who we invite into our home. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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