Judgement Call

II John Chapter 1 

Scripture: 

I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.  (2 John 1:7-11) 

Observation: 

This is the only book in the bible that was written to a woman.  From what I gather, she had a home church (likely in Ephesus) and some men had come to her with a teaching different than what had originally been taught.  She had a doctrinal question, which she sent to John in a letter and this book is his response.   

Specifically, he was answering her question, but there are things he has to say to her that we can use as guidelines for our general purposes when it comes to dealing with teachers who "go beyond" as John says in this letter and preach or teach anything that isn't already established through Christ. 

His advice?  "Do not loose what you have worked for"  John nudges her to "remember what you were taught".  This particular letter doesn't go into the doctrinal teaching itself, but references it.  He encourages her to test the things they are saying against what she already knows to be true.  If they teach anything besides Christ as coming to us in the flesh she isn't to welcome them at all, or she'll be guilty by association. 

Application: 

So how does this relate to you and me?  Have you ever heard someone preaching something that just doesn't sit well with you?  Have you ever had doctrinal questions and just weren't sure what to do about it?  John says to compare it to truth, compare it to what you have been taught already concerning Christ and Him coming in the flesh and going to the cross.  The bible is written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and should be the thing you test all preaching against.  If what you are hearing doesn't measure up to what it says then you should do a hard thing;  something that the current culture is trying to politically correct you out of embracing... 

… you have to make a judgment call. 

Yes, you heard me right.  Judgment.  Not tolerance.  Don't welcome unsound teaching into your thoughts or  into your home. 

Some might challenge me on this and say "Aren't we supposed to just love each other?  Aren't we supposed to be tolerant and not judgmental?"   Tolerance isn't a virtue.  It just means you don't stand up for things any more.  Truth, as found in scripture, is an area that we MUST stand firm on! 

I urge you, brothers and sisters, to know the truth.  Read the word to know the difference between God's truth and the world's lies.  The enemy's job is to confuse you and cloud the truth so that you can't tell the difference any more between Christ's teaching and the deceiver's. 

Prayer: 

Lord, I pray you give us clarity of thought, that your truths would stand out in scripture like they were painted in neon!  Help us use Godly wisdom and discernment when reading it - and then give us the courage to follow you. Taking a stand and being bold are radical things to do in the world we live in today and we desperately need your help to walk a straight path.