Read with Me
3 John 9-14 (HCSB)
I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have first place among them, does not receive us. This is why, if I come, I will remind him of the works he is doing, slandering us with malicious words. And he is not satisfied with that! He not only refuses to welcome the brothers himself, but he even stops those who want to do so and expels them from the church.
Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God. Demetrius has a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. And we also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true.
I have many things to write you, but I don’t want to write to you with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.
Peace be with you. The friends send you greetings. Greet the friends by name.
Listen with Me
John has just finished praising Gaius for the hospitality he is shown to the traveling evangelists, encouraging him to continue in that spirit of active love. But now he focuses on a man named Diotrephes, a man who has gained a position of leadership in the Church, but who is demonstrating the complete opposite in temperament and actions.
Diotrephes sees himself as a judge of what is good and true, and thus has made himself a gatekeeper. For example, John has written to the Church in Gaius’ city, but Diotrephes has prevented his messages from being read to the Church. Instead, he has talked down John. He has also prevented the traveling evangelists, those who are bringing the truth to the city, from being received and provided for by the Church, because they threaten his monopoly on control of how things are done and what can be taught. He even threatens anyone who does welcome them (including Gaius) with expulsion from the Church!
John’s letter is to encourage Gaius to stand firm and not cave to the pressure. Gaius is doing what is good, right, and holy, and must not give in to Diotrephes and those of his tribe who are doing what is evil.
And John pulls no punches here. He tells Gaius very clearly that the way in which someone treats those working for the Lord is the very fruit that Jesus told his followers, to check in order to see what is in a person’s heart (Matthew 7:15-20). If a person’s attitudes and actions toward their brothers and sisters who are working in the harvest are good, it is a clear sign that they are from God. But if someone’s actions and attitudes are evil, it is a clear sign that they do not know God at all.
Demetrius, the bearer of this letter to Gaius, is one of those whose actions and attitudes show that he is a true kingdom worker sent by God, the polar opposite of Diotrephes. He is thus worthy of Gaius’ support and encouragement.
As in his letter to “the elect lady” (2 John), John has much more that he wants to communicate to Gaius than he can write down in this brief letter. So, he encourages Gaius that they will have a good conversation when he arrives in the near future to help correct the damage Diotrephes is causing in the church. For now, John blesses Gaius with God’s peace, and with greetings from the brothers and sisters who are with John.
Pray with Me
Father, the amount of damage that one autocratic person can do in a church is impressive. They work hard to get into a position of authority, and then try to maintain that position by exerting force against those who disagree with them. How very different from the way Jesus instructed His followers to lead (John 13:12-17). I appreciate that the damage that these people can cause is so great that John is willing to point them out clearly as people whose actions and attitude show that they do not even know You, thus removing their claim to divine authority. Lord, help us to never excuse the abusive actions and autocratic attitudes of those who usurp authority in our congregations, and who thus damage the cause of Christ and the people of Christ. Instead, help us to act in Your power and authority to confront where needed (Matthew 18:15-18) in order to have the best chance restoring these people who have gone astray to right relationship with You, and to prevent them from doing further damage to Your Church. Amen.