Text: 2 John 7–11

Our family goes through board game phases. We don’t just play casually—WE GET HOOKED. Right now, the game of choice is Skull King. It’s built around suits of cards, each with its own value, but with one twist: black cards always win. No matter what else is played, black trumps everything.

That got me thinking. In life, especially in the Christian life, there are times when we wonder: Which one trumps—which one wins—truth or love?

The Tension We All Feel

A close friend is making destructive choices. Do you love them by staying silent, or tell them the truth and risk the relationship? At church, someone lives openly in sin. Do you welcome them without judgment, or call it what it is and protect the witness of the church? Around the holiday table, a relative says all religions are basically the same. Do you avoid conflict, or speak up for Christ?

This is the tension John addresses in 2 John 7–11. And his answer is surprisingly strong.

John’s Warning

John points to “many deceivers” who deny that Jesus came in the flesh. This wasn’t just a theological quibble. If Jesus didn’t come in a real body, then He didn’t really die for sins or rise again. The gospel collapses.

So John draws a hard line:

Don’t welcome these teachers.

Don’t greet them or wish them blessing.

Don’t help them spread their message.

At first, that sounds unloving. Isn’t hospitality a Christian virtue? Didn’t Jesus eat with sinners? But John isn’t talking about seekers, skeptics, or the spiritually immature. He’s talking about seducers—false teachers who wear the name of Jesus while twisting His truth.

Who We Welcome… and Who We Don’t

There are people we should gladly welcome:

• The saved: brothers and sisters in Christ.
• The seeking: those curious and asking questions (think Zacchaeus).
• The simple: those who just don’t know yet.

But there are two categories that require caution:

• Scorners: openly hostile to Christ.
• Seducers: those who masquerade as Christians but spread lies.

For the first three, our doors should be wide open. For the last two, especially seducers, John says: don’t help them. Don’t platform them. Don’t give them credibility.

Why Truth Must Lead

Most of the time, truth and love work hand in hand. Truth informs our love. Love softens our truth. But when push comes to shove—when we are forced to choose—truth must lead.

Paul modeled this. In Philippians 1, he rejoiced that Christ was preached even when motives were wrong. Why? Because the doctrine was sound. But when someone preached a false gospel? Paul didn’t shrug. He corrected them. Because love without truth isn’t love—it’s sentimentality that can harm instead of help.

Real love rejoices in the truth (1 Corinthians 13:6).

What This Means for Us

No, this doesn’t mean you can’t have your unbelieving neighbor over for dinner. Jesus did.

Yes, it does mean we should:

• Be discerning about who we promote or recommend.
• Avoid giving a platform to those who distort the gospel.
• Refuse to support ministries that reject core Christian truth.
• Helping someone build a ministry on false doctrine isn’t love. It’s joining in their error.

Conclusion

Truth trumps love—when it must. But in Christ, we usually don’t have to choose. He came “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

That’s our model.

So let’s walk like Jesus: Gracious, but grounded.

Loving, but never at the expense of truth.

We don’t have to be combative. But we do have to be clear.

Stand for truth. Speak in love. Do both.