Cultists Come A’ Knockin’! (Part II)

Scripture: II John 1:10-11 (NKJV) - If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house NOR greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

Indeed, saints, my response to that deceived soul who visited me (in part I) was terse, and my countenance reflected impatience and a firm bit of annoyance.  However, lest I beat myself up too much by what I withheld from her concerning the reason for my hope in Christ Jesus, it’s insightful to revisit what the Word says about our interacting with peddlers of false doctrine.   We’re not to receive them into our home, says our topic verse.  The latter commands that we should not even greet them:  “..for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.”

To engage cultists “aids the spread of their heresy,” says one eminent Bible commentator, and can promote the idea that we’re bestowing some degree of legitimacy to them by engaging them; and yet cultists are nothing new.  Even in the very first family—that of Adam and Eve—one of their sons (i.e., Cain) decided to approach God on his own terms, instead of honoring and obeying God’s revelation to them about what was an acceptable offering. (Gen. 4:4, 5 & Heb. 11:4)    

The cultic beliefs of those who come a ‘knockin’ on our doors is a serious matter with our Lord:  “…there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce DESTRUCTIVE heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves….the way of truth will be maligned.”  (2 Pet. 2:1, 2) First Timothy 4:1 warns us that some in these last days will “fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.”  In Hosea 4:17 God commanded His prophet in the face of Israel’s abandonment of the true God and pursuit of false gods: “Ephraim is joined to idols; Let him alone.”  So, given these passages from God’s Word, what should be the posture of Christ’s disciples to cultists?  I get the strong impression that we should avoid as much as possible lengthy interaction with those who’ve embraced deception and spread their heretical teachings like a spiritual virus--one with irreversible eternal consequences!

Prayer:  Dear Abba, remind us of the wisdom of practicing discernment and of being “wise as serpents and harmless as doves” when confronted by followers of false prophets who at the oddest times come a-knockin’ at our door.  Thank You in Jesus’ name—Amen!

(by Denise Diggs)