Guard Your Pulpits, Pastors!

John is discussing how to deal with false teachers with a local church that he affectionately calls "the elect lady."   When false teachers leave their assembly, don't be ashamed and don't be quiet. False teachers include those who add to the Scriptures.  Now he comes to a third dimension.

2 John 10–11 (NIV),

¹⁰ If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. ¹¹ Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.

Because this appears to be a "house" church, I understand that what John is referring to is the welcoming of someone who is by definition a false teacher into your local assembly -- ostensibly to hear what they have to say.   Don't do that!  You become a partner in their wickedness."This is not a prohibition about showing the hospitality to sinners for which Jesus himself was well known (and criticized; see Matt. 9:10–13; 11:19)." [1]  "These circuit-riding preachers depended upon the people of God in each town along their route for food and sustenance; they could not survive without the help and support of Christians." [2]

"The false teachers must not be shown hospitality, as if they were brothers in the faith. Because they are deceivers, it would be a mockery of the Father and a sin against Christ to give those who deny the Son and hate the brethren a place of respect within the community of faith. To do so would be to become a partaker in their unbelief and hatred of the truth." [3]

This should shock us because John is the "so-called" Apostle of love.  But as he set the tone in this letter, a walk of love is never at odds with a walk of truth.  One is not the other, without the other.  

This is tantamount to churches needing to guard their pulpits.  Greeting, in the sense of welcome, fellowship, mutual ministry, etc. to false teachers is nothing less than partnering with them in their atrocities. "While rudeness is not advocated, sternness and determination are clearly dictated as a pattern of behavior for believers. The prohibition includes exclusion from fellowship as well as the refusal to ask God’s blessing upon such a heretic. The phrase “greet him” is a translation of chairein (Gk.) and may be rendered “joy to him” or “health to him.” [4]

Father, Paul through the Holy Spirit called elders to watch for the flock of God.  Wolves would appear from within and without.  Godly church elders need to have the courage not to welcome false teachers into the church.  We need to be discerning.  Sometimes that is hard, Father.  Sometimes what is false is cloaked as an angel of light.  Grant discernment to Your Church, today, Father.  Your love and mercies for the Church are beyond description.  Your Son, our Savior, gave His life and purchased the Church for You.  Fill elders and pastors with the Holy Spirit today and grant us the spiritual gifts to discern falsehood and exalt what is holy and good.  For the glory of our Lord, we pray, Amen. 

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1. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2441). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

2. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (2643). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

3.  Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:2 John/Exposition of 2 John/II. A Formal Word of Instruction (4-11)/B. A Warning (7-11), Book Version: 4.0.2

4. Believer’s Study Bible. 1991 (W. A. Criswell, P. Patterson, E. R. Clendenen, D. L. Akin, M. Chamberlin, D. K. Patterson & J. Pogue, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (2 Jn 10). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

It Seems A Light Matter to Mix Gospel With ________________ !

Galatians 1:6–7 (NIV),

⁶ I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—⁷ which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.

Luther would want us to discern the tone of the Apostle's concern.  There's a parental concern rather than a mean, vindictive lashing.   "He might have handled the Galatians more uncourteously, and have inveighed against them more roughly after this manner: Out upon this backsliding, I am ashamed of you, your unthankfulness grieveth me, I am angry with you." [1]  

Paul is taken back by how soon these assaults on the Gospel have come and how soon the Churches were falling prey to the false doctrine. "Since that Paul therefore by his own experience may teach us, that congregations which are won by great labour, are easily and soon overthrown, we ought with singular care to watch against the devil ranging everywhere, lest he come while we sleep, and sow tares among the wheat." [1]

The first and most important concern is that these believes are "moving away," "deserting."  The Greek is μετατίθημι [met·at·ith·ay·mee/] which generally infers a change from one place to another place. But Paul's explanation doesn't go to a place, but a Person.  To withdraw from the Gospel is to withdraw from Christ. "Alas how lightly do you suffer yourselves to be withdrawn and removed from Christ, which hath called you, not as Moses did, to the law, works, sin, wrath and damnation, but altogether to grace!" [1]

This is in fact another Gospel, which is no gospel. These people were perverting the Gospel.  Luther writes, "Mark here diligently, that every teacher of works and of the righteousness of the law, is a troubler of the Church and of the consciences of men . . . Now, the cause why he setteth himself so sharply against them, calling them the troublers of the churches, is for that besides faith in Christ, they taught that circumcision and keeping of the law was necessary to salvation." [1]

Here's the point: "It seemeth to be a light matter to mingle the law and the Gospel, faith and works, together; but it doth more mischief than a man’s reason can conceive, for it doth not only blemish and darken the knowledge of grace, but also it taketh away Christ with all his benefits, and it utterly overthroweth the Gospel, as Paul saith in this place." [1]

What a dire warning to us today.  We do not add sacraments as some would.  We do not add works and obedience as some would.  We do not add second works of grace or fanatical experiences as some would.  It is solus Christus.

Father we see that any adding to the Gospel of Your free grace, the Gospel of Jesus Christ moves us from the true Gospel and from the true faith; but it also removes us from the true and genuine Christ.  Now I see why Paul marveled about this.  Now I see Paul's concern.  We cannot tweek, we cannot amend, we cannot re-frame the true Gospel.  It stands sufficient and complete even as our Lord is perfect.  This is His Gospel. What God has joined let no one tear apart. Father today I set my feet on faith alone in Christ alone and yet even as I pray this way I realize that I cannot establish that any more than I can save myself.  So I pray, Father, establish my heart firmly in the truth of the Gospel, the truth of Christ alone. For His glory and fame. 

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1.  Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 1:6). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.