John found that some of her children live in the truth. Notice that he says some, so presumably not all did. Yet John is still happy. The New Testament does not demonstrate any perfect churches. A New Testament church will be highly imperfect. So when you look at your church you can say at least we have got that right!
John goes on to urge them all to live in love, and then stresses that this means obedience to God’s commands. We really do have far too soppy a view of love. Love is tough and down to earth, and obedience to Gods commands is the litmus test of true love. Anything else is a lie.
Next John speaks of those who had gone out and were spreading false teachings, in this case that Jesus was not truly human. Note the similarities in this letter with 1 John, a clear indication of their common authorship.
They were to be on their guard against false teachers. Observe the juxtaposition of love and a firm attitude to the truth and correct teaching. The two are not in conflict.
“Anyone who does not stay with the teaching of Christ…” John now warns of those who go beyond the teaching Christ. We must not take away any of the truth, but neither must we add to it. Jesus is all that we need. If people come who are not keeping to the truth we are not to welcome them. John even goes so far as to say if we do this then we are partnering with the devil! We really need to take this seriously.
How does all this fit with the teaching on love? It means that our approach is to confront errors in the church. We seek to put things right. This will require patience and wisdom, and will involve a cost.
There are times when it is right to leave a church, but we must not be quick to do so.
John had more to say, but wanted to do it in person. Today we have many more methods of communication, and all this is very valuable and useful, and should be used to the full. However, there is no substitute to personal contact. Online broadcasting of churches is good, but it is vital to actually be at a church. Personal communication gives so much more than e-mail, texting or any other means. We were created as people who need to be with each other.
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