Strange Fellows

There is a lot of strangeness around us. As believers, especially with the boom of social media, we are bombarded at every turn with different teachings, with different points of attraction and emphasis.

How do we navigate this maze of seeming information overload, whilst ensuring we retain the substance and jettison the chaff?

Or perhaps more pointedly, how do we discern and decide that which is true and consistent with the truth?

The Apostle John in his day grappled with a similar matter, and he put forward by the spirit of God certain crucial considerations. He went beyond that which can be heard to consider the implications and impact.

[9] Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

[10] If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

[11] For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

2 John 1:9-11 (KJV)

One of the considerations that the Apsotle put forward was the matter of abiding in the doctrine of Christ. He was very clear and passionate about this—infact he says that anyone who presents himself as a minister of Christ and yet does not present and put forward the doctrine is a ‘doer of evil’.

In other words, to present anything other than the doctrine of Christ is to do an evil deed.

At another time, we will consider closely the Doctrine of Christ. However, now, we will occupy ourselves with considering what it means to abide in the doctrine of Christ and why it is important.

2 John 1:9 (AMP): Anyone who runs on ahead [of God] and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ [who is not content with what He taught] does not have God; but he who continues to live in the doctrine (teaching) of Christ [does have God], he has both the Father and the Son.

2 John 1:9 (MSB): Anyone who gets so progressive in his thinking that he walks out on the teaching of Christ, walks out on God. But whoever stays with the teaching, stays faithful to both the Father and the Son.

2 John 1:9 (NLT): For if you wander beyond the teaching of Christ, you will not have fellowship with God. But if you continue in the teaching of Christ, you will have fellowship with both the Father and the Son.

To abide with the doctrine of Christ is to stay with, continue living according to, and continue walking according to teachings of Christ.

There is a tendency we have; a craving for newness, a craving for strangeness and for the bourgeois, such that we are readily attracted to glittering junk and high-sounding noise. It is this inordinate desire for more that lures men away from the borders of the teachings of Christ.

In the media space and even on pulpits today, men are no longer content to preach Christ, no longer content to teach Scripture. It seems beneath them to do so. They have seemingly run ahead of God and are so progressive in their thinking that the matters of Christ have lost weight. In their pursuit of weightier matters, they have walked out on God.

Why is this dangerous?

For a whole lot of reasons. However, the Apostle calls our attention to a very important one and it is this: the doctrine of Christ is a vehicle of fellowship with the Father and the Son. The doctrine of Christ is the means of bringing us into fellowship with the Father and the Son.

This means that anything or anyone that jettisons the doctrine of Christ and/or offers us alternatives is severing us from fellowship with the GodHead, and invariably bringing us into fellowship with a strange spirit. This is evil.

This certainly accounts in no small part to the strangeness we are seeing in certain church circles. The doctrine of Christ has been jettisoned and a new, evil curriculum has been presented. Little wonder, we are increasing looking more like the world; it is because we are being brought into fellowship with the spirit of the world.

Perhaps this might account for the emptiness you feel, for the strangeness you find trying to gain expression in your life.

The doctrine of Christ is a vehicle of fellowship. It brings us into fellowship with the Father and the Son. We must rediscover it and remain faithful to it. The alternatives are poor and wicked imitations.

Check your life today: which strange teaching are you listening to? Which minister of strange things are you listening to? What has the doctrine of Christ being exchanged for or mixed with in your space? Do well to reject all such, do not be a partaker of such evil.

Let’s contend for the utmost. Let’s contend for our all.