¹²I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.  ¹³The children of your chosen sister send their greetings. 2 John 12-13

There are some things that are best communicated not with letters. It seems something is missing when paper and pen become the medium of interacting. Sometimes even telephones do not cut it. The personal touch is always the best way of communicating. Looking at a person eye to eye and letting them understand one’s thought and feelings is the best way of communicating if possible. 

One of the advantages of communicating face to face is the ability to observe the body language and therefore rephrase statements so that issues could be clarified. The other advantage to what John was talking about was the ability for the other party to respond immediately by asking questions to void any misunderstanding of what was being communicated.

John the apostle, was dealing with a sensitive issue regarding heresies that were dividing the community of faith and in some cases families were being torn apart. He had sent letters to exhort the believers and to address the problem. But he also realized that there was a need to visit this Christian community so that some thorny issues could be clarified. 

John believed that when that happened the joy of the brethren would be complete. Tension in the body of Christ has a way of draining the energies of Christians. Joy is restored when the body begins to function in unity. It is significant when John says: “our Joy may be complete”. The author was saying that he was sharing in the pain of the community and could not wait for the joy of the Lord to return.

John concluded the letter with greetings from people that the recipients were familiar with. What is taking your Joy in the Lord away? It may be time to take steps for the joy to be restored.

Stay blessed

Brother Seth

¹² I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink.2 John 12

There are some things that we find in scripture that reflect the times in which those passages were written. This passage is one of them.  The apostle referred to his writing materials. To be specific, he talked about pen and ink. There a few young people who may not be familiar with pen and ink in our day. At least we know that we still have pens with us even if we do not have ink. 

The author was communicating the fact that this epistle could have been much longer than what we presently have. But the truth is that there are some things that have to be communicated by other means.

What did John mean by saying that “he had much to write to his audience”. It seemed the situation with the heretic views that were being taught in the area required more attention than what he had given in these epistles. Anything involving people in the Church requires delicate handling and attention. If one was not careful several people could be alienated from the community of faith.

It is for that reason that some things should not be hastily put on e-mails or on paper and ink without much thought.

A lot of mistrust and confusion have resulted because things have been communicated without prayer and much reflection. It is always helpful to take some time out to pray. Sometimes a different approach other than the quick and easiest one may be necessary.

Stop and pray about what you are about to do today and the Lord will give you the wisdom to do the right thing.

Be blessed

Brother Seth

¹¹Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work. 2 John 11

What happens when Christian hospitality is being abused? Here we have a scenario where these traveling heretic preachers would go into a town and solicit hospitality from a well-known Christian. They would then be going from house to house to bring teaching that was contrary to the teaching of Jesus Christ. In the meantime the fact that they stay in the home of a well-known Christian would seem to bring some credence to their teaching.

Some people, including Christians were being deceived by what seemed to be a situation that the teachings of these false preachers were being authenticated because of their association with the Christians. The apostle’s verdict was that, anyone who welcomed a false teacher, shared in the wicked work of this teacher. John was not saying that the Christians should not greet these heretic teachers or talk to them. He was concerned about the Christians providing a platform for the spreading of heretic views.

The apostle lays down a principle in which aiding and abetting becomes the same as sharing in the sins of the culprit. This was something very new for this community of faith who believed that hospitality was a Christian virtue that they coveted.

In other words there may be situations that seem harmless but there may be a need to reevaluate because of the conditions on the ground.

Be blessed

Brother Seth

¹⁰If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, 2John 10a

So what is the  “teaching” that the apostle John was using as the standard for his community? In the second letter “this teaching” had been referred to a few times. In verse seven, it is the acknowledgement that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. The incarnation of Christ or the “Word made flesh” is bedrock of the Christian faith. Whenever we recite the Apostles Creed and say we believe in Jesus Christ who was born of the Virgin Mary, we are affirming that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh.

Why is this statement so important to the Christian faith so as to make it part of our creedal statement. It is true that the creeds were developed to respond to the heresies that were threatening the early church. In developing this creed Christianity was forced to look closely at what they believed and to come up with a concise statement that reflected basic Christian belief.

It is also true that the coming of God into our world in the person of Jesus Christ was a significant event that made Christianity unique. It incorporated the expectation of the coming Messiah in this Jewish child born in Bethlehem.

The Christian faith was making a statement that God has loved humans to a degree that God had decided to come down and participate in the human predicament for the sole purpose of revelation. Now it was possible to understand what it meant for God to be love, God to be holy and God to be just. The nature of God has been revealed to us in the coming, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

One is not surprised that the apostle would categorically say that: “Anyone who does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God” (verse 9).

The teaching of Christ was the gateway to salvation for all people. Jews and Gentiles alike. People of all nations and all classes could find a home in the teaching of Christ. The universal availability of salvation in Jesus Christ was good news for all people.

It was imperative for those who have received this teaching of Christ to make sure that it was not adulterated. 

Stay blessed.

Brother Seth

¹⁰If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. 2 John 10

John decided to be assertive at this juncture. He was convinced that the threat of false teachers was becoming a problem for his community. One has to understand that there were many itinerant preachers at this time. These were people going from town to town proclaiming the message of God. Sometimes these individuals will come to the Christian community with letters of introduction from the elders in Jerusalem or from a known teacher.  There were others who were free-lance and went about teaching any community that would give them audience.

These traveling teachers often needed accommodation and people in the churches took them into their homes and provided all that they needed. Now, John was warning his Christian community not to listen to the false teachings that denied the basic Christian teaching. John was advocating that the community should not offer these heretic teachers Christian hospitality. That showed how serious the apostle considered what was happening to these young Christian churches. 

It had become apparent to the apostle John that these traveling teachers were taking advantage of the hospitality of their host and converting them to their false teachings. The strategy of the false teachers seemed to be working. So John had to come down with a heavy hand. He suggested that Christians should not accommodate false teachers. There comes a time when we should all be wise as serpents in our dealings with those who are out to destroy the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Be on the look out! And remember Jesus is Lord!

Be blessed

Brother Seth