Indirect Support Is Still Support

2 John 1:11
Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.

New Living Translation
Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work.

Contemporary English Version
Greeting them is the same as taking part in their evil deeds.

Good News Translation
For anyone who wishes them peace becomes their partner in the evil things they do.

Apostle John writes to warn the church against people who seek to derail it. People with false teachings. They have false teachings but they have no guts to convert new people from outside the church, instead they target people from within the church.

Many of these false teachers and their “superior message” are fighting the parent organization either out of the bitterness of some unresolved issues or perceived injustice. Others have leadership challenges and since they can’t be leaders they turn against the church and its leaders. Others have unique mental challenges and just find satisfaction in opposing the norm and being different. Others are naive and are easily convinced by lies. Others are too proud to return to the church after discovering what they were chasing is falsehood. Whichever way they are engaged in the falsehood that targets to destroy the parent church.

John writes to the church asking them to be careful on how they handle such people. John suggests that these people are dangerous and should not even be shown hospitality. Hospitality may create an impression that they together with their message are tolerated. They can use that tolerance as a credibility ticket elsewhere. They will tell unsuspecting victims that they even sleep and eat at so and so’s place. Because so and so is well known they will gain access to more people to mislead them.

If hosting them gives them credibility, then hosting them is supporting their struggle against the church. Therefore do not host them. Anything done directly or indirectly to support them should be prohibited. Indirect support is still support!

We should love those who hate us. We should be hospitable to our enemies. But in a situation where the confusion may cause eternal loss, we will not be hospitable. We can help them when they are in need but in a manner that we would not be misunderstood. Indirect support is still support!

Let us examine ourselves, what are we supporting at a distance? If you tolerate criminals, you will be arrested as an accomplice. Many youths are sticking to bad gangs and thinking it is just friendship and it won’t harm them. It will harm them. Are you tolerating people who seem to have a unique message, a vitriol attack on leaders and consistent low tone hate for the church? If what you do may be perceived as allegiance and support, you should avoid it at all costs. Indirect support is still support!

If you listen to a type of music you will be understood to be recommending it. If you watch certain movies you will be understood to be in agreement with them. If you escort someone to a place of worship, you will be understood as subscribing to that worship. If you read and keep quoting a certain book, article, or source, you may indirectly be promoting that material. When you praise vices in your testimony, even though it is your past life, you are making it attractive. Be careful that you do not indirectly offer support to that which is opposed to faith in God. Indirect support is still support!

May God save us from offering indirect support to that and those opposed to the progress of gospel work. May we be as keen on what we give indirect support as we are keen on what we give direct support. May it be so in Jesus’ name, Amen!