This caught my eye
and caused me a bit of confusion. This
is why the full context is important.
2 John 1:10-11(NKJV)
10If anyone comes to you and does not bring
this doctrine, do not
receive him into your house nor greet him;
11for he who greets him shares in
his evil deeds.
When I read this
part I thought wait a minute, doesn't this contradict what Jesus said and
did? Remember Jesus was criticized for
eating and associating with sinners and Jesus simply said hey I go where those
who really need me are at. (The Reames
Paraphrase :)
Verse 10 from 2 John tells us not to even greet them, let alone associate with them. As a side note I'll also point out that this contradicts "thou shall not judge" because to decide if someone is "in the doctrine" requires a judgment does it not?
Verse 10 from 2 John tells us not to even greet them, let alone associate with them. As a side note I'll also point out that this contradicts "thou shall not judge" because to decide if someone is "in the doctrine" requires a judgment does it not?
Here is the
problem. I don't know about you but not
all of my daily Bible reading is productive.
Sometimes my eyes are scanning the words but my mind is a million miles
away. Let's look at what I missed.
2 John 1:7-11(NKJV)
7For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess
Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
8Look to yourselves, that £we do not lose those things we worked for,
but that £we may receive a full reward.
9Whoever £transgresses and does not abide
in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the
doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.
10If anyone comes to you and does not bring
this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him;
11for he who greets him shares in his evil
deeds.
Ah, that makes more
sense. John is talking about people who
have already made a decision against Christ.
John is talking about those who have openly declared themselves enemies
of God. John is talking about those who
are actively trying to destroy others faith in Jesus.
But what about the
whole love your enemies thing. I don't
have a problem with that at all. I don't
believe for a second that love your enemies means invite them into your home so
that can kill you and take everything you have (or in this case steal the faith
of you and others). I think love your
enemies means being will to take mercy on them and forgiving them if they
change their ways.
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