November 15, 2024
Today’s reading: 2 John 1:4-9
As Christians we are called to be “walking in the truth just as we were commanded by the Father.” (v.4). Jesus is the Truth and Satan is the father of lies. But the truth of the gospel is now under attack by liberals/progressives in the world and modernists in the Church. Good has become bad and bad has become good. Faith and the word of God are being overturned. We must know that “anyone who is so ‘progressive’ as not to remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God” (v.9a).
Let us take the most important virtue which is love. We have been told “from the beginning: let us love one another.” (v.5). But what is love? “For this is love, that we walk according to his commandments” (v.6). But love today is being focused on persons and not on God. Oftentimes love is proclaimed in the context of grave sin. For example:
Two homosexuals say they love each other. Modernists claim that cohabitations with fidelity are real marriage and have the grace of real marriage. The Church then affirms this by blessing same-sex couples.
Rabid pro-aborts proclaim love for others all the time. They fail to see the irony that killing babies in the womb is the opposite of love.
Modernists hierarchs shame those who refuse to be COVID-vaxxed as failing in love of neighbor because they can infect others with the virus. This is in the glaring light of science that says both vaxxed and unvaxxed can be carriers of the virus.
Social justice liberals profess love for the poor when trying to help alleviate their poverty while at the same time imposing contraception, abortion and LGBT on them.
So we see that “many deceivers have gone out into the world” (v.7a). They have even infiltrated the Church, at the highest levels. Their focus is no longer on the righteousness of God but on the well-being of man. They in effect are “those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh” (v.7b). They do the work of “the deceitful one and the antichrist.” (v.7c).
How do we protect ourselves from them?
“Look to yourselves that you do not lose what we worked for” (v.8). We have been formed and transformed, and we ought to know what is right and wrong. Stand fast on that!
“Remain in the teaching of the Christ” (v.9b). Look to what Jesus actually taught and not on what human persons teach contrary to Christ. This necessitates knowing the Bible and studying it fervently.
Reject the modernists and their heretical teaching. “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him in your house or even greet him” (v.10). In fact, speak out prophetically and denounce him.
Modernists are weakening the authentic Church and trying to set up a false church. If you stand by and say nothing, or even fraternize with them, then you are part of the problem, “for whoever greets him shares in his evil works.” (v.11).
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