November 15
“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds,” 2 John 10-11.
How should we deal with the religious deceivers and liars? John answers this question with the words, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him.” When we are approached by false teachers who come knocking at our door, we should not be rude and discourteous. Remember that the false teachers are also sinners for whom Christ died. We should not give the impression that we are glad that they are on the way to hell.
Before we say anything, we have to know if they are indeed false teachers. How is that determined? It only requires asking a few questions. Whom do you worship and to whom do you pray? Who is Jesus and what did He do? How many ways are there to get to heaven? Do you accept the Bible as the Word of God? The answer to any one of these questions will soon identify a false teacher.
Think of how often the Lord Jesus came into contact with false teachers and confronted them. He did not always abruptly cut them off. At the same time, He did not always tell them only what they wanted to hear. For example, the evangelist Mark reports: “As He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him. And they said to Him, ‘By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?’ But Jesus answered and said to them, ‘I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: The baptism of John – was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me.’ And they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘If we say, “From heaven,” He will say, “Why then did you not believe him?” But if we say, “From men”’ – they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed. So they answered and said to Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things,’” Mark 11:27-33.
Jesus gives us an example to follow. When John writes that you should not receive the false teacher into your house nor greet him, he means that you should do the same as Jesus did. When dealing with false teachers, do not give the impression in any way that you accept or approve of their false teachings. Do not give the impression that it really does not make any difference what you each or believe in matters of religion – that one religion is as good as another, or that the important thing is that you go to a church, some church, any church – this is the false impression that is so prevalent throughout the world today. Furthermore, you should not wish false teachers well in their efforts to circulate lies. If you greet false teachers and wish them well, you are as guilty as they are – you are one of them!
Remember, there is only one true God; there is only one way to heaven; there is only one Savior. Believe and trust in Him. In spirit, kneel at Calvary’s cross and behold how He loved you. He loved you so much that He suffered and died to redeem you and all people, and then rose from the grave to conquer sin, death, and the devil.
“Awake, my soul, to joyful lays,
And sing thy great Redeemer’s praise.
He justly claims a song from me –
His loving kindness, oh, how free!
He saw me ruined in the Fall,
Yet loved me notwithstanding all.
He saved me from my lost estate –
His loving kindness, oh, how great!” Amen.