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Q2. (2 John 10-11) Why does the Apostle John tell his readers to refuse hospitality to the false teachers? What would refusing hospitality mean for a congregation (as opposed to an individual)? What is the border between tolerance and stupidity, when it comes to false teachers? Do the divisions of denominationalism find justification in this verse? Why or why not?
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Q2. Hospitality and Heresy
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#2
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Posted 17 November 2009 - 12:50 AM
Christians are to be in the world but not of the world. And the church is to be set apart from any false teaching of the world that denies the deity of Jesus Christ. I think the Raymond Brown quote was excellent, saying that this instruction to refuse hospitality is part of the warfare between Christ and antichrist. How can two walk together unless they are in agreement? (Amos 3:3) Those who are enemies of Christ are enemies of His Church and there is no place for toleration of those who pervert or refute the truth of who He is. I think it well may be true that many congregations have people in their midst who deny that eternal life is found in Jesus the Christ and they need to be hearing the true gospel. But such people who might promote such doctrines could never be given a platform for teaching or preaching. That would simply be irresponsible.
Christian denominations whose core and basic beliefs are based on the true gospel may disagree on practices, but not essential fundamentals. But that is not the same thing John seems to be warning about. His concern is those who would spread false teachings about Christ come to earth in flesh. There is no justification here for discord or divisions within the Christian Body of Christ.
Christian denominations whose core and basic beliefs are based on the true gospel may disagree on practices, but not essential fundamentals. But that is not the same thing John seems to be warning about. His concern is those who would spread false teachings about Christ come to earth in flesh. There is no justification here for discord or divisions within the Christian Body of Christ.
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Posted 17 November 2009 - 06:01 AM
Q2. (2 John 10-11) Why does the Apostle John tell his readers to refuse hospitality to the false teachers?
I understand that John is telling his readers not to invite false teachers into their churches, but this verse helped me immensely as a naive new baby Christian. I was home alone when 2 women from a cult which goes door to door came to call, I invited them in, wanting to tell them about Jesus, and what He was doing in my life. After about 10 min. I knew I was in over my head, as they "double teamed" me, not wanting to hear what I had to say, but rather to show me where I was wrong according to their Bible translation (which only they use). I sent up an arrow prayer for help, and a few minutes later an older Christian mentor and her two daughters knocked on my door. They were driving down the freeway and "felt an urgent need to come to see me".....the two cult members were then outnumbered, we lovingly shared our testimonies and I was rescued. Later when I read this verse in 2 John, I decided to literally keep false teachers on the porch! But the issue is the same....hospitality encourages them and gives them a platform for their false teaching. V.11 says to wish them success is to be a partaker in his evil doings.
What would refusing hospitality mean for a congregation (as opposed to an individual)?
For the congregation, it would mean not allowing them into the church. Martin Luther said "You can't stop birds from flying over your head, but you can stop them from building a nest in your hair".....you can't keep false teachers from spreading their lies, but you can prevent them from contaminating the congregation.
What is the border between tolerance and stupidity, when it comes to false teachers?
Not much difference...they're both dangerous, and would allow the ravening wolves into the sheepfold.
As new Christians in an Anglican church, the Reverend asked us if we'd be willing to host a young seminarian for dinner on Sunday afternoons to show him hospitality so that he didn't have to drive back and forth to San Francisco to the Seminary twice in one day. We happily agreed. After the second Sunday he stopped pretending to have good manners and controlled the conversation, which consisted of trying to convince us that Mary and Joseph were married and that Jesus was their natural child, and that the virgin birth was a misunderstanding of scripture as well as other nonsense. We tolerated him for a few more Sundays.....then decided it would be stupidity to continue to listen to his false teaching and rescinded our hospitality. We left that denomination shortly afterward.
Do the divisions of denominationalism find justification in this verse? Why or why not?
I'm not sure I understand the question....I'll look forward to other's answers on this. Perhaps the denominations use this verse to justify any difference in belief for worshipping separately, such as immersion or sprinkling for Baptism, or wine and bread versus wafers and grape juice...that type of thing, while John is speaking of separating from heretical, anti Christ teaching, not differences in walking out the Word in minor issues.
I understand that John is telling his readers not to invite false teachers into their churches, but this verse helped me immensely as a naive new baby Christian. I was home alone when 2 women from a cult which goes door to door came to call, I invited them in, wanting to tell them about Jesus, and what He was doing in my life. After about 10 min. I knew I was in over my head, as they "double teamed" me, not wanting to hear what I had to say, but rather to show me where I was wrong according to their Bible translation (which only they use). I sent up an arrow prayer for help, and a few minutes later an older Christian mentor and her two daughters knocked on my door. They were driving down the freeway and "felt an urgent need to come to see me".....the two cult members were then outnumbered, we lovingly shared our testimonies and I was rescued. Later when I read this verse in 2 John, I decided to literally keep false teachers on the porch! But the issue is the same....hospitality encourages them and gives them a platform for their false teaching. V.11 says to wish them success is to be a partaker in his evil doings.
What would refusing hospitality mean for a congregation (as opposed to an individual)?
For the congregation, it would mean not allowing them into the church. Martin Luther said "You can't stop birds from flying over your head, but you can stop them from building a nest in your hair".....you can't keep false teachers from spreading their lies, but you can prevent them from contaminating the congregation.
What is the border between tolerance and stupidity, when it comes to false teachers?
Not much difference...they're both dangerous, and would allow the ravening wolves into the sheepfold.
As new Christians in an Anglican church, the Reverend asked us if we'd be willing to host a young seminarian for dinner on Sunday afternoons to show him hospitality so that he didn't have to drive back and forth to San Francisco to the Seminary twice in one day. We happily agreed. After the second Sunday he stopped pretending to have good manners and controlled the conversation, which consisted of trying to convince us that Mary and Joseph were married and that Jesus was their natural child, and that the virgin birth was a misunderstanding of scripture as well as other nonsense. We tolerated him for a few more Sundays.....then decided it would be stupidity to continue to listen to his false teaching and rescinded our hospitality. We left that denomination shortly afterward.
Do the divisions of denominationalism find justification in this verse? Why or why not?
I'm not sure I understand the question....I'll look forward to other's answers on this. Perhaps the denominations use this verse to justify any difference in belief for worshipping separately, such as immersion or sprinkling for Baptism, or wine and bread versus wafers and grape juice...that type of thing, while John is speaking of separating from heretical, anti Christ teaching, not differences in walking out the Word in minor issues.
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