Standing for Truth in a World of Shadows

In our culture today, truth has become something of an endangered species. We live in a world that seems to believe there are as many truths as there are opinions. But the message of 2 John reminds us that truth is not negotiable, not interchangeable, and not individual. Truth is truth.

What Shadows Are Threatening the Church Today?

Several concerning trends are casting shadows over the light of the gospel message:

• Entertainment over worship – While excellence in our church services is important, we must never let the pursuit of excellence replace genuine worship.
• Religion over relationship – Our faith involves both belief and action, but we can easily confuse doing religious activities with actually honoring the Lord.
• Self-identity over created identity – Our culture increasingly values how we perceive ourselves over how God created us to be.
• Digital over actual – Technology offers wonderful opportunities, but digital connections should never replace physical fellowship.
• Social media over Scripture – The constant stream of online content can easily distract us from the timeless truth found in God’s Word.
• Scrolling over meditating – Our habit of quickly consuming short-form content has affected how we approach Scripture, leading us to skim rather than deeply meditate.
• Tradition over truth – In our hyper-tolerant culture, we can find ourselves valuing tradition or tolerance over standing for biblical truth.

What Does 2 John Teach Us About Truth?

In this short letter, John emphasizes several key words: “walk” (3 times), “command” (4 times), “love” (4 times), and “truth” (5 times). His message is clear: truth matters.

Why Does Truth Matter?

John gives us three important reasons:

1. Truth is the basis of our fellowship – “The Elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth, not only I, but also all who know the truth” (v.1). Our shared commitment to truth creates fellowship among believers across cultures and languages.
2. Truth is the basis of our hope – “Because of the truth which remains in us and will be with us forever” (v.2). Our hope in eternal life is founded on the truth of Christ’s promises.
3. Truth is the basis of our message – “I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in truth” (v.4). Our faith is built on a message of truth that must be lived out.

How Should Love and Truth Work Together?

Love and truth are inseparable in authentic Christian living:

• Love without truth is compromise – Saying “because I love you, you can do whatever you want” isn’t real love.
• Truth without love is callous – Hammering people with biblical facts without compassion misses the heart of the gospel.

Either without the other is incomplete. We love the truth by living it, and we live the truth by loving others.

Why Must We Guard the Truth?

John’s imperative in verse 8 is clear: “Watch yourselves.” We must guard the truth for four reasons:

• Because many do not hold to the truth – “Many deceivers have gone out into the world” (v.7). False teachers who deny fundamental truths about Christ are operating with “the spirit of the Antichrist.”
• So we don’t lose what we have gained – “Watch yourselves that you do not lose what we have accomplished” (v.8). While salvation cannot be lost, spiritual rewards can be forfeited through unfaithfulness.
• Because many have gone too far – “Anyone who goes too far and does not remain in the teaching of Christ does not have God” (v.9). When we add to or subtract from biblical truth, we open the door to heresy.
• Because deceivers are actively working – “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house” (v.10). False teachers are actively trying to manipulate believers into accepting untruths.

How Do We Recognize When Someone Has “Gone Too Far”?

Some common examples of going “too far” with truth include:

• “God loves me, so He must accept everything I do”
• “I’m free in Christ, therefore I can live however I want”
• Using “judge not” as an excuse to never call anything wrong
• “God wants me to have nice things” as justification for selfish pursuits
• “God wants me to be happy” as rationalization for sinful choices

When we tinker with truth, we rob it of its truthfulness.

Life Application

The message of 2 John challenges us to stand firmly for truth while walking in love. This week, consider these questions:

1. In what areas of my life have I allowed cultural shadows to obscure biblical truth?
2. Am I maintaining a proper balance between truth and love, or do I tend to emphasize one at the expense of the other?
3. What false teachings have I allowed to influence my thinking, perhaps without even realizing it?
4. How can I better guard my home, my family, and my own mind against deceptive teachings?

Standing for truth doesn’t mean being harsh or unloving. Rather, if we truly believe we have the truth, then tolerating falsehood is actually unloving. While shadows may be encroaching on our generation, we can stand confidently on the truth that the light of Jesus Christ dispels all darkness.