9 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. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works. ~ 2 John 9-11
I saw a man speaking into his megaphone across the street from a concert by a popular Gospel singer he didn’t agree with. Into the megaphone, he condemned the Gospel singer for not condemning the award show he attended in his thank you speech. The Gospel singer proceeded to walk over and then say they could sit down and discuss it at the end of his show. The man agreed to speak with him but refused to shake his hand because of these verses.
I’m neither a fan or supporter of either man, so I had no dog in this fight, nevertheless I found myself feeling annoyed with the man who refused to shake the other’s hand. We want judgment and condemnation so bad that we push away those whom we could correct and help return to the sheepfold.
Paul didn’t say don’t shake someone’s hand if they go to an award show and don’t condemn the entire audience; Paul said if they teach a different Christ than we taught you, don’t invite them into your home (meaning don’t have them speaking into your life, don’t have them speaking in your churches, don’t have them in your inner circle, don’t have them in your life) and then don’t give them any greeting. This word greeting is the Greek word chairō (χαίρω), which means rejoice; be glad. In other words, Paul is saying don’t encourage them in their lies. Don’t rejoice with them in their accomplishments through lies, not refuse to shake their hand because you don’t agree with them accepting an award.
Even if his problem was that the man previously said something blasphemous in a video or has been caught cursing multiple times or went to the award show in the first place, you could see his frustration, but not for his acceptance speech. When Jesus corrected people, it wasn’t until they brought it up. It wasn’t until they initiated that conversation. Jesus didn’t go throughout the streets shouting that all of those people who were in sin were gonna burn in Hell. No. Jesus taught those who followed Him. When it came to the Pharisees, He told His disciples to leave them alone because they were blind guides leading the blind, and both would fall into the pit.
The Church today is one of extremes, lacking balance between true love and correction. Either we condemn and hate, or we fake love and justify sin. There’s very few that can find the true balance of true love and correction. We’re to be the salt of the world but not the condemners of the world. We’re not to make others feel less than us, as if a handshake will somehow pollute us.
The love of God didn’t go out into the world screaming they’re all going to burn in Hell. The love of God showed its good works, the world saw it, and ran to the Light.
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Find Balance.
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