Belief in moral absolutes
In a recent survey conducted by the Barna Research Group among Americans regarding their view on the basis of morality and truth, there is a decline in the belief that God is the source of absolute truth. Majority of adults, 58%, believe that moral truth is up to the individual to decide. In 2008, there were 64% of adults that believe God is the source of moral absolutes. No wonder false teachings are popular even among those who claim they are Christians. John from the text states a fact that false teachers will come to you. These false teachers deny the instruction of Christ and comes with the primary purpose of leading believers astray. So when they come, John’s instruction is to not “invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement.” This sounds harsh and inhospitable, but when you come to think about it for a moment, you can see the reason why you should not invite them into your home. If you do so, when the false teacher knocks on your neighbor’s door down the street, he can use your name to pressure your neighbor and say, “Well, your neighbor, just a few doors down, let me in, and we had a wonderful talk!” Not taking the instructions provided in these passages could lead to someone else’s spiritual destruction. Notice that John does not consider this an innocent and insignificant act. John had seen the result of what happened to those who entertained false teachers. There was an account in the history of the early church that false teachers became prominent among Christian homes promoting the idea that Christ is not God in the flesh. We are to be alert for there are many deceivers in this world. “There were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered…But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed” (2 Peter 2:1-3).
Blessings,
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