House Guests

June 1

Read: 2 John - Remember, it is short. :)

House Guests

“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive them into your house or give them any greeting, for whoever greets them takes part in their wicked works.” (v.10,11)

That doesn’t sound very “Christian-y”… does it? “Do not receive them into your house or give them any greeting”? Seems harsh. John’s comments beg the question: With whom are you sharing a house? Who have you invited in to “live alongside you”? Whether we realize it or not, we are participants along with the people and ideas we give shelter to: “for whoever greets the takes part in their wicked works.”

This is not a commentary on “being nice to others”. There is a specific context for this teaching. This “elect lady” and her household had welcomed in a person who was teaching these false ideas about Christ and denying Jesus’ having come “in the flesh”. (v.7) We have seen this before, in 1 John, the idea that there are “many deceivers who have gone out into the world.” (cf. 1 John 4:1-) At first blush, it may seem “nice” and hospitable for this woman to welcome this person into her home, but in the end it is enabling the furthering of this “false prophets” deception. As God’s people, we cannot remain in relationships that enable and further deception and the denying of Jesus. In the same way that there is greater intimacy available in friendship between brothers and sisters in Christ. There is also a greater possibility for danger and corruption. This is the “flip side” of that coin. In this way, we actually have some barriers in relationships with others who “claim” Christ that are not there between us and people who don’t claim Christ at all.

There is a certain intimacy that comes with living alongside someone or something. When we live alongside an idea or a person we give it life and strength. When they are good ideas and biblical truths in people embracing Christ… this is a GOOD THING. But it becomes a bad thing when it propagates and enforces the rejection of Christ and ideas that are destructive. In short, sometimes “hospitality” ISN'T the answer.

We enable and take part in the acts and ideas of those things we allow to “stay at our house”. What or who are you inviting in? What “allowances” have you made that might actually be destructive. Are you aiding and abetting those things that are “anti-Christ”? It is a foreign idea to think that sometimes the right move is to “ NOT receive them into your house or give them any greeting, for whoever greets them takes part in their wicked works.” (v.11) In an effort to “be nice” we may actually be helping the cause of the deceiver. This doesn’t mean we are harsh or cruel to these people - it just means they have no place in our home and there is no room for “greetings”. You see, conversations have already taken place. It is not that a greeting was NEVER given, it is that once it becomes clear that someone is a deceiver even though they claim Christ, you cannot just “stay surface” and give them a greeting and move on. If we do that, we are losing ground in the Kingdom. Look at what John says: “Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.” (v.8) Who or what do you need to “kick out” today? Who do you actually need to STOP greeting… stop enabling… stop giving a platform to deceive you and others? This is an idea that we don’t hear quite as often! Food for thought. Love you guys. - JDP