John speaking on immigration?

There are a lot of points in the New Testament where we are called to separate ourselves from the world. We can serve and love other people, but they are ultimately responsible for their own thoughts, deeds, and faith. You also have to consider, that back in that time, inviting someone non-Christian into your home was a dangerous proposition. Bible studies were done in secret. But, I think it also goes along with not being unequally yoked or casting your pearls before swine.

It is about Christians that had begun teaching other doctrine, not the true doctrine.

''In the previous verses John speaks of “deceivers” and of “whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ” (verses 7 and 9). It is evident that the subject being dealt with in this letter is that some no longer walked in the truth. Some had embraced a false doctrine and were actually preaching that Christ was not coming in the flesh; that is, that Christ was not living in the lives of His disciples (verse 7). After several decades in the first generation of the Church of God, false teachers and false teachings were spreading and threatening to deceive some. John also stated in 1 John 4:1-6, that some taught that Christ never came in the flesh.''
Can you explain the Scripture in 2 John 1:10-11 and similar comments in the Bible which speak of people who hold to false teachings? How should we act when we meet someone who has left the Church of God or who is not in our fellowship? | Church of the Eternal God
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The command in 2 John 10, and similar commands, refers mainly to those who come to us for the purpose of sowing discord and creating division. It is not to be understood as a command to have no social relationship with anyone who is not in our fellowship. Christ did not refuse to accept invitations from Pharisees (!) to eat in their houses. He would have lodged with the Samaritans, if they had offered Him a place to stay. Sinners and tax collectors approached Him, and He did not reject them, when He saw their willingness to be taught by Him. We are to go after the lost sheep — how can we do so, if we refuse to speak or eat with everyone who does not belong to, or has left, our fellowship? We must understand, too, that the Church of God, the body of Christ, is a spiritual organism, and not a corporation. This means that there are people of God in other human organizations outside our particular fellowship. How can we reject those and refuse to have any social contact with them, when God has accepted them (compare Romans 14:4)?

We must be careful not to be influenced by wrong teachings and practices. At the same time, we must be careful not to develop an “exclusive” approach toward others in our minds and actions.''

589 said:

I understand this is sensitive, but i can't get any answers anywhere.

2 John 1:1-10

9Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

It seems to me John is making it clear not to receive any non-Christians whatsoever? Like i said i understand it is sensitive but i'm really wondering if i'm the only one who interpets it like this?

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Don't receive Christians whose doctrine is not sound (ie those who stubbornly hold to views which have proven to be heretical) into your house.

Seems straightforward enough. Nothing to do with immigration. Nothing to do with non Christians.

Saucy said:

There are a lot of points in the New Testament where we are called to separate ourselves from the world. We can serve and love other people, but they are ultimately responsible for their own thoughts, deeds, and faith. You also have to consider, that back in that time, inviting someone non-Christian into your home was a dangerous proposition. Bible studies were done in secret. But, I think it also goes along with not being unequally yoked or casting your pearls before swine.

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Look again. It is not about non Christians; it is about Christians with dangerous beliefs.

I wouldn't think that from reading it. If it was a fellow Christian, we would be called to invite them in, to reconcile them to the faith. All these churches that were doing wrong, Paul still wrote to them. They scattered all over the known world, preaching and teaching. Why he would also say not to let these people into your home, when that was their whole ministry, I don't understand. But, again, there's a pattern in the New Testament about not abiding sin, not casting your pearls before swine, not being unequally yoked, not being lukewarm, etc, etc, etc.

dfhs

589 said:

I understand this is sensitive, but i can't get any answers anywhere.

2 John 1:1-10

9Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

It seems to me John is making it clear not to receive any non-Christians whatsoever? Like i said i understand it is sensitive but i'm really wondering if i'm the only one who interpets it like this?

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The Early Church was constantly challenged by Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, Gnostics, Zoroastrians, Neo-Platonists, etc. Chances are that since church was still held in houses, this was a warning not to let heretics enter and disrupt the teachings set forth by Jesus.

Saucy said:

I wouldn't think that from reading it. If it was a fellow Christian, we would be called to invite them in, to reconcile them to the faith.

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Take that one up with Paul. That is what he says.

Hal A Peno said:

I would have to say this IS speaking about NON Christians or agnostics.

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The words are clear enough. It is addressing heresy.

zdryh

Hal A Peno said:

Heresy isn't as easily defined as we would like it to be because there are two classes of it.

I will explain that clarity.

That's not what John is saying. He's saying don't let people from the outside world IN who deny Jesus was the Christ.

The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.

He warns here about infiltrators in the world of damnable heresy, not undamnable heresy.
V.7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

Deceivers that entered the WORLD is who Paul is warning the elder lady about... full anti-Christ doctrines infiltrating her church. NOTHING TO DO WITH CHRISTIANS.

False teachers were easily identified when they were IN the church, especially those that were pushing anti-Christ doctrines. If they were pushing non-damnable stuff, they weren't immediately thrown out but actually given a second chance. The congregation was told to avoid them in the meantime to see if they repented.

V. 9-10 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

What doctrine is that?
Verse 7, those who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

They were likely Jewish. I'm always so surprised at how Christians like to blame even anti-Christ verses to themselves,.i.e. the Church of Jesus Christ. Why is that???

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I repeat, the words are clear.

If you don't like it, take it up with the author.

aeryt