Thoughts From 2John - Part 2

 And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.7 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. 8 Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9 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. 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.  2John 5-11

         This is the passage that is traditionally used to discourage Christians from inviting travelling cult evangelists into your house to discuss their faulty views while trying to win them over from the lies of Satan that deny the deity of Christ. But is this what this really means in light of the preceding verses that deal with loving people? I suppose it could mean that because you could certainly talk to them on the porch as I have done, but if we are truly concerned about their souls, we shouldn't do like this possum family.

   I think the main thrust of this passage is don't do anything to help them succeed. When you donate money to a charity, is any of that going to further an anti-Christian agenda? If you own a building, are you renting out space to someone who is working against the gospel of Christ? When you spend money at a business, are the owners supporting ministers of a false religion? You don't want to do anything that would further their agenda. We must be informed givers and with AI search engines, that information is at our fingertips. For example, did you know that Marriot Hotels and Crumbl cookies were started by Mormons? You have to believe that a small portion of what you spend there will go to the LDS church. It makes you think. (But I do love me a Crumbl cookie)