(Text Only)
Title: A Cautious Tale
1. WHO is the letter addressed to?
- We are now at an application crossroads:
- Option One: If the letter is to the “Elect Lady” AND her entire church, this becomes a universal teaching for all of us, it is a pastor’s instruction to his flock.
- Option Two: If the letter is to the “Elect Lady” and her household (who she is responsible for) it is a letter of specific recommendation on how she can protect her children from false teaching.
Continued…
- I think we can also assume this lady is either a widow (because John sees her as the head of the household), or she is running a Christian boarding house (not uncommon for 1st century women) where Christian travelers would lodge while on long journeys.
II. To receive someone into your home…
- Jonathan Edwards:
- “Here is the reason for such direction, forbidding the support and patronage of the deceiver: For he that biddeth him Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds. (v. 11) Favor and affection partake of the sin. We may be sharers in the iniquities of others. How judicious and how cautious should Christians be!” (Continued)
My POINT:
- We MUST be EXTREMELY cautious in what we “sign off” on as believers.
-So, then, how do we Biblically deal with what we perceive to be false teaching/teachers?
- Talk to them directly to flesh out the teaching
- If found to be unbiblical, take another witness (If this person is already in authority, take an authority from the Church)
- Give them a chance to explain themselves publically
- Don’t gossip in the meantime (instead pray)
- If the teaching is found to be false, and they are unwilling to change, part ways (if your group is the authority, remove them from the church, if their group is in authority, remove yourselves)