Separating from Evil Influences

How much information do you have access to? In today’s world alot. I can pull up everything from theories to scores, to philosophies to entertainment in just a matter of seconds. With all this information, what do you allow to influence your life? Are there people who try to give you advice that shouldn’t?

Last weeked we talked about how because there are false teachers, we need to focus on keeping the commandments of God. John now addresses what to do with the evil influences of the false teachers. Those who were saying that there is no God, or Jesus is not the Messiah. John says that those who do not preach right doctrine, do not allow them into your house, they had church services in houses. He says to separate from them, do not fellowship with them. There are many people today who do not believe Jesus is the Lord, but they might seem moral, or intelligent. If you are at school, you might have a science teacher who promotes evolution, you cannot fully separate but you can limit how much they influence you. You might have friends who are getting you to sin. There might be entertainment from people who might do that as well. Maybe there is a famous “Christian” who is leading people to be more accepting of certain religion. Those who are not leading you closer to the Lord, or leading away from the Lord, you must cut off their influence. It does not have to be just a close friend. It could be some famous influencer, or youtube star or even a famous teacher. You must separate from false teachers who are trying to lead you astray.

What happens when you don’t separate from false teachers?

Do damage to the Work of Christ

John says that they need to take heed so they do not lose a full reward.

If one starts to fellowship or promote with these false teachers, then they will be lead by them, and they will hurt many people.

Rewards are earned by our service, laboring according to what God has called you to do.

John is stating that either he or the apostles or even the church, is not wanting to lose rewards because of this church going to not believing the truth.

One thing that I hate is when I get the yard cleaned up, and then another storm come and mess it up. That is what is happening here. When one allows the wrong influence in their life, it is messing up what was worked hard to achieve.

You might be growing in the Lord, but one wrong teacher can knock down what was built.

Share in their evil deeds

When you do not separate from false influences, you share in their evil deeds

receive him not into your house- it was common practice for churches to meet in houses, also it would be seen as supporting him

This is not say you cannot be kind to them, but you should not support them

It had to do more with partnering with them in ministry, however the application is the same with those

If I were to promote a certain false teacher, and one of you starts listening to them, and you were taken farther than I was and really started going away from the Bible, I would be partially responsbile for that.

Are you willing to cut off false teachers so you do not damage the work of Christ, and share in their evil deeds?