As Christians, especially in this day and age, we are blasted from all sides by influences and media - mostly non-Christian in nature, presenting us with cultural values so superior, to follow, to lead us astray from the path established by Jesus and well worn by our predecessors. But, we are not unique in that regard, from Christianity's earliest moments apostasy has been attempting to lull believers away from The Way, to an accommodating life of being led by lies and man. In fact, there was a point in early Christian history when it was eclipsed by those whom sought other ways to God, than the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus.
And in what is today's Turkey, poor Turkey, Christianity only survived because the Apostle John had taken up residence there! Even at that, every attempt was made to kill him by the Romans - grueling work in the mines of Patmos (a sure death sentence! but we got the Book of Revelation from that one!) to being boiled alive in oil! Well, he kept on surviving. And as he aged, he lost the ability to travel to visit his churches and so had to be carried on a litter by volunteers - no we are not talking about paved roads, think goat trails here and an old frail man in a chair with two poles, being held aloft by perhaps six volunteers for mile after mile after mile! Yeah, he probably talked a lot, so a great chance to learn from the mouth of the last one whom had been there and walked those miles with Jesus, had cared for Jesus mother Mary, etc.
So, in John's Second Letter, we find barely a note. To one of his churches, a church were love was encouraged to abound but did deceivers as well. Deceivers whom are not representing Jesus, nor the Church's best interests, but their own. And so John warns his children not to listen to these men whom are not teaching the Gospel but a message which is foreign. Do not even think of supporting these people, John warns!
Today, we call these men Gnostics, they sought to confuse the church with "hidden" knowledge. Salvation by Jesus' death and resurrection was not enough - you needed to be circumcised, you needed to follow the Law of Moses, you needed something else - the "hidden" knowledge only they could share with you! Not so unlike many church movements even to this day!
In John's third letter, again barely a note, an encouragement for supporting missionaries. But, even in a Church that seems to be getting it right, a man named Diotrephes had risen to power and was on an ego trip. Heck we can see that daily in many churches or on TV - men driven by power, riches, the limelight, whatever - but not God, nor glorifying God. More interestingly, not recognizing that John is the authority over THE Church! And perhaps worse of all: he throws those out of the church whom would support missionaries! Wow, talk about a power trip!
I wonder if your church has problems with Gnosticism? Does it believe that salvation is more than just confession and baptism? Forms of baptism are an issue? Magic words in the confession? Special classes required? Evidence of the Holy Spirit (tongues) been added to the salvation formula? Are there dietary restrictions? Behavioral (not within reason!) expectations? Is there hidden knowledge on what will get you that car or beautiful home? Special baptisms for "levels" within the faith? Is there anyone between you and Jesus that you must go to in order to reach God? If any of this is true - and oh so many more variations - welcome to Gnosticism!
And Gnosticism ultimately destroyed the early church in Turkey.
As I write this, Turkey has again began another extermination of the Armenian believers in Turkey and what used to Armenia. These are Christian believers being killed, their churches flattened, their homes and property seized or destroyed! And yes, there is still snow on the ground - so these people are hard pressed to survive.
Lift up these people in prayer and for the end of Ottoman repression against Christians. Pray for Turkey to find once again its Christian roots. Pray for the end of Gnosticism in Turkey and in the Christian Church and in your own church! I certainly pray constantly against the rise of this my own church! It rears its ugly head all of the time but the faithful are blind and do not see that best of intentions are not what God wants ...
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