2 John

1Chapter
1-2My dear congregation, I, your pastor, love you in very truth. And I’m not alone—everyone who knows the Truth that has taken up permanent residence in us loves you.
3Let grace, mercy, and peace be with us in truth and love from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, Son of the Father!
4-6I can’t tell you how happy I am to learn that many members of your congregation are diligent in living out the Truth, exactly as commanded by the Father. But permit me a reminder, friends, and this is not a new commandment but simply a repetition of our original and basic charter: that we love each other. Love means following his commandments, and his unifying commandment is that you conduct your lives in love. This is the first thing you heard, and nothing has changed.

Don’t Walk Out on God

7There are a lot of smooth-talking con artists loose in the world who refuse to believe that Jesus Christ was truly human, a flesh-and-blood human being. Give them their true title: Deceiver! Antichrist!
8-9And be very careful around them so you don’t lose out on what we’ve worked so diligently in together; I want you to get every reward you have coming to you. Anyone who gets so progressive in his thinking that he walks out on the teaching of Christ, walks out on God. But whoever stays with the teaching, stays faithful to both the Father and the Son.
10-11If anyone shows up who doesn’t hold to this teaching, don’t invite him in and give him the run of the place. That would just give him a platform to perpetuate his evil ways, making you his partner.
12-13I have a lot more things to tell you, but I’d rather not use paper and ink. I hope to be there soon in person and have a heart-to-heart talk. That will be far more satisfying to both you and me. Everyone here in your sister congregation sends greetings.
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TWISTED SCRIPTURE

2 John 10

Some Christians believe this verse means we should not invite Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormon missionaries into our homes. Others say we must not even open the door to anyone who believes wrong teachings. Examination of the immediate and broader context shows that this is not John’s meaning. Recall that in 1 Peter 3:15-16 we are told to kindly give “a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” Since this requires having relationships with non-Christians, and since the Bible cannot contradict itself, we can be sure that John is not commanding us to be unkind to nonbelievers. We must also note that in the first century there were no church buildings, so Christians met in their homes. Second John 10 warns first-century readers that they should not let a false teacher, posing as a Christian, teach heretical doctrines at their official house-church gatherings. In our day, we must prevent false teachers from occupying a church pulpit, but the Bible does not allow us to refuse to be hospitable toward people of other religions.