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Title: Should Christians Be Hospitable to Cult Members?
Source:
Grace to You
URL Source: http://www.gty.org/resources/bible- ... ble-to-cult-members?Term=cults
Published: Mar 11, 2015
Author: John MacArthur
Post Date: 2015-03-11 16:41:49 by redleghunter
Keywords: None
Views: 40552
Comments: 144
In verse 10 John sets out one practical application of how to defend the truth: If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house. Hospitality for traveling teachers was common in the culture (cf. Luke 9:1-6; 10:1-12). The prohibition here is not to turn away the ignorant; it does not mean that believers may not invite unbelievers—even those who belong to a cult or false religion—into their midst. That would make giving the truth to them difficult, if not impossible. The point is that believers are not to welcome and provide care for traveling false teachers, who seek to stay in their homes, thereby giving the appearance of affirming what they teach and lending them credibility John’s use of the conjunction ei (if) with an indicative verb indicates a condition that is likely true. Apparently, the lady to whom he wrote had for whatever reason, in the name of Christian fellowship, already welcomed false teachers into her home. It was just such compassionate, well-meaning people that the false teachers sought out (cf. 2 Tim. 3:6); since churches were supposed to be protected by elders who were skilled teachers of the Word (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:9), they should have been less susceptible to the lies propagated by the deceivers. Having established themselves in homes, the false teachers hoped eventually to worm their way into the churches. It is much the same today, as false teaching insidiously invades Christian homes through television, radio, the Internet, and literature. So threatening are these emissaries of Satan that Jo[h]n went on to forbid even giving them a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds. Irenaeus relates that the church father Polycarp, when asked by the notorious heretic Marcion, “Do you know me?” replied, “I do know you—the firstborn of Satan” (Against Heresies, 3.3.4). John himself once encountered Cerinthus (another notorious heretic) in a public bathhouse in Ephesus. Instead of greeting him, however, John turned and fled, exclaiming to those with him, “Let us fly, lest even the bath-house fall down, because Cerinthus, the enemy of the truth, is within” (Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 3.3.4).
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 68.
#44. To: redleghunter (#0)
You'll have to agree that this is a pretty catchy slogan.
Osteen is a false prosperity gospel preacher.
Like the the Bakkers and Jimmy Swaggart who all ran around PRAISING THE LORD. Oh, but your Church doesn't apply to Matthew 6. I hope that you are thoughtful enough to understand how this all looks to those who are outside the PRAISE THE LORD tradition. A slick haired preacher, a big mega-church... CHA CHING... RING UP THE BUCKS...
I kinda like the high-white sparkling, polished teeth and the sexy wives, myself. Wasn't Tammy Bakker a real looker?
What do you mean by that? Oh, I see, you mean the ones with teeth "like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them."
I like buckeroo. I recall a memorable thread at 4um where the two of us valiantly defended the poor Israeli bulldozer that was so viciously attacked by that invader, Rachel Corrie.
#72. To: TooConservative (#68)
I forget why I got banned there... maybe for defending Goldi-Lox... but who knows? That water went over the dam long, long ago... But if you ever come across Jethro Tull, send him my regards... we didn't always see eye-to-eye (nobody ever does) but Jethro was always good for a civil, intelligent discussion.
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#46. To: cranko (#44)
#49. To: redleghunter (#46)
(Edited)
Osteen is a false prosperity gospel preacher.
#50. To: cranko (#49)
A slick haired preacher, a big mega-church... CHA CHING... RING UP THE BUCKS...
#54. To: buckeroo, Willie Green (#50)
I kinda like the high-white sparkling, polished teeth...
#61. To: TooConservative, Gatlin (#54)
Yep, and every time I break wind from the
beans the sound it makes is: "Buckeroo."
#68. To: Willie Green, buckeroo (#61)
Yep, and every time I break wind from the beans the sound it makes is: "Buckeroo."
Replies to Comment # 68. I recall a memorable thread at 4um where the two of us valiantly defended the poor Israeli bulldozer that was so viciously attacked by that invader, Rachel Corrie.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 68.
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