1. Fellowship practices
If we are to be in fellowship with God, we must be sure that we are not in fellowship with any person or thing, that God would refuse to fellowship.

2. God is not in fellowship with darkness
Sin in any form is darkness & this includes: immorality; materialism; false teaching; covetousness, etc.
Anything that is against God is contrary to His law (will) and is contrary to the light (1 John 1:5; 3:4).
All that is according to the word of God is of the light (Psa. 119:105, 130; 2 Cor. 4:3-4).
When we walk according the word of God, we are walking in the light (1 John 1:7; 3 John 4).

3. The Faithful in Christ are of the light
“4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness” (1 Thess. 5:4-5).
Those to whom Paul said this were in: “the church…which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ…” (1 Thess. 1:1; cf. 2:14).
They had received the truth (1 Thess. 2:13).
Those who do the truth are those who come to the light (John 3:19-21; 1 Tim. 2:4; John 8:31-32).

4. We Must be in the light to have fellowship with God
“6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:5-6).
These were of the truth & knew the truth, but those who refuse to hear the apostles of Christ, are not of God: “4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error” (1 John 4:4-6).

5. Those in fellowship with error
Are those who do not teach error, but yet, bid God speed to those who do, in error themselves?
According to the apostle John, yes: “9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds” (2 John 9-11).

6. Some deny this!
They claim that we may fellowship those who are bidding God speed to the false teacher, & still not be a part of error.
This is to claim that one can participate with one in error, and not be a partaker of his evil deeds.
This is to deny apostolic teaching & to affirm that one can uphold those who longer have God, and be right with God themselves (2 John 9-11).
This is false doctrine & is to claim that we can be in fellowship with God & darkness at the same time (1 John 1:6; 2 John 9).
Are those who are bidding God speed to one who has departed from the doctrine of Christ, and thus, are partakers of his evil deeds, still abiding in the doctrine of Christ? No way!

7. They are disregarding what God says!
Those who disregard God’s teaching, the doctrine of Christ, have also departed from the doctrine of Christ themselves!
This includes the doctrine of Christ on the matter of fellowship.
Those who refuse to fellowship a marked false teacher, but at the same time, willfully fellowship those who uphold, support, defend and fellowship, the false teacher, are themselves in fellowship with error!
They are willfully violating God’s law on fellowship!
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Eph. 5:11).

8. Mac deaver & dave miller
Let us use two men who are well-known for their error, as an example in applying God’s law on fellowship.
We have studied the errors of Dave Miller on the re- evaluation & reaffirmation of elders in Bible class, as well as his marriage intent doctrine. (cf. Heb. 13:17; Mt. 19:6).
We have also recently studied the errors of Mac Deaver on the Holy Spirit. (cf. Eph. 6:17; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).
Both men have taught error and refuse to repent of it.

9. Those who refuse to apply 2 John 9-11
There are some who oppose the Deaver doctrine on the Holy Spirit, and rightly so.
Yet, they disregard or ignore God’s law on fellowship, because they are in fellowship with those who uphold or defend Mac Deaver.
2 faculty members at the WVSOP uphold Deaver & his teaching. They are Terry Varner and Charles Pugh.
Yet, there are those who uphold West Virginia School of Preaching. Are they in keeping with 2 John 9-11?

10. Further Examples of violating 2 John 9-11
Dave Miller, guilty of teaching error himself, recom- mends Mac Deaver (See The Proclaimer, ). Thus, he not only has taught error, but also has fellowship errors for which he needs to repent.
Are those who knowingly continue to uphold Dave Miller, not guilty of fellowshipping error?
Rather than reproving him of his error, they are defending him.
Is this God’s way? 2 John 9-11; Eph. 5:11.

11. Those who in the past opposed the errors of miller & Deaver
Before Dave Miller became the Director of Apologetics Press in Montgomery, AL, some brethren opposed his errors on marriage intent and the re-evaluation and reaffirmation of elders, but now longer do so.
This is true of Curtis Cates & Garland Elkins of the Memphis School of Preaching. Robert Taylor, at least at one time opposed his teachings, but he, along with Curtis Cates signed the AP support letter along with several others. This is an endorsement of Miller.
How can men, who have opposed Miller’s errors, now give their stamp of approval of him? (2 John 9-11).

12. Should we uphold brethren who so do?
Should we uphold and defend brethren who are, by their practice, upholding and defending men whom they know to be in error?
According to the apostle John, these brethren have become partakers in their evil deeds (of Miller, & of Deaver (2 John 9-11).
How can we uphold, defend, fellowship and support those who do this?
We cannot do this & abide by the teaching of Christ (2 John 9-11).

13. Giving & Receiving support
FELLOWSHIP, koinonia, noun— “communion, fellowship, sharing in common" (Vine). “ ‘Fellowship’ (koinonia) is partnership, joint sharing” (Guy N. Woods, Commentary of 1 John 1:3).
The verb form is: koinoneo NT:2841, "to have fellowship," is so translated in Phil 4:15 (Vine).
Paul wrote to the church at Philippi: “14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. 15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. 16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity” (Phil. 4:14-16).

14. Should we give support to, or receive sup-port from, those in violation of 2 john 9-11?
If congregations or individuals are violating God’s law on fellowship, are they abiding in the doctrine of Christ? No.
If they are not abiding in the doctrine of Christ, by advertising, upholding, promoting, and supporting, those in error, such as AP & Dave Miller, Mac Deaver, MSOP, WVSOP, & others, should we be working in fellowship with them?
No, because they are in violation of 2 John 9-11; 1 Tim. 6:3-5; Eph. 5:11; 1 John 1:5-7; & other Scriptures.

15. Why not come to Christ today?
Those who need to repent an come back to Christ (Acts 8:22-24; 1 John 1:9; James 5:16).
Those who need to obey the gospel (Acts 18:8; 2:38; 8:32-39; 22:16; Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:3-4).