Don’t Entertain False Teachers - 2 John

 2 John 1:7-11 (ESV)

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.

The early church was not established as we see it today.   Many churches were held in the home of a prominent or enriched member who had both the room and the means to host a small group.  That was not the norm for most church members in those early days.   They also did not have pastors who were seminary graduates.   There might have been a local person to fill the role of “pastor, elder, or bishop” but the teaching time was also supplemented by those who traveled from church to church of even those who had a “word of prophecy” (1 Corinthians 14).   As we read the above passage we read one of the dangers about this method.   The early church was taught to be hospitable.   They were to entertain those who came by to teach.  Note the instruction in Hebrews to the Body of Christ:

Hebrews 13:2 (ESV)

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

The norm was to entertain traveling teachers.  But John also wanted to warn church (in 2 John it appears to be a specific church).   He saw the dangers when a traveling speaker came who did not teach Jesus Christ, the resurrected King.   They were not only to stop the person from speaking but they were not even to greet them.  If they greet them they “take part with them” in their false teaching.   

Today we entertain false teaching, but in a different formate. We bring it into our homes via media.  We engage in it via large events.  We read it in the latest book or article.  Or we listen to the latest podcast.    We are less discerning than John is teaching.   John is telling them to wake up and discern what they are being taught.   They are not to even entertain (be hospitable) to those who teach doctrines on the margins and don’t confess that Jesus is the Christ.