Some Christians worry that 2 John 10–11 forbids them from inviting LDS missionaries into their homes. At first glance, it’s easy to see why. But when we look at the context, we find this passage is not about everyday conversations with those who are lost—it’s about supporting false teachers as if they were fellow workers for the gospel. Here’s why that distinction matters.

“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.”

2 John 10–11

This passage is sometimes misunderstood to mean we should never welcome LDS missionaries into our homes. But that’s not the intent. To understand it rightly, we need to consider the historical and biblical context.

In John’s day, traveling preachers often relied on hospitality for support. Welcoming them into your home wasn’t just about being friendly—it meant giving them food, shelter, and resources to continue their ministry. Jesus referred to this kind of arrangement when he sent the twelve out and said:

“Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave.”

Matthew 10:11

This is also what John is addressing in 2 John. He’s warning against giving material or ministerial support to false teachers. We see the same idea positively expressed in 3 John, where John commends Gaius for supporting faithful teachers of the truth:

“Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.”

3 John 5–8

John’s concern was about partnership, not conversation. A parallel today might be giving money to a false teacher’s ministry or publicly endorsing their message as if it were biblical. That’s very different from inviting lost people into your home to share the gospel with them in love.

As Lutheran theologian Francis Pieper wisely explained:

“We are not forbidden to hold friendly, civil intercourse with [false teachers]. What is forbidden is to greet such a one, and deal with him, as a brother in the faith.”
(Christian Dogmatics, Vol. 1, p. 569)

Letting LDS missionaries into your home to share the truth about Jesus isn’t compromising with false teaching. It’s compassionately reaching out to people who desperately need the gospel.