3 John 9-10 --- I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with malicious words; and not satisfied with this, he himself does not receive the brothers either, and he forbids those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.
Today we traveled through some rough terrain in the Word. We've come to a church leader who is putting himself before Gospel of Jesus Christ and how this is confronted.
We spent the past week and a half seeing the good example of Gaius. Now, we move into the uncomfortable territory of confronting Diotrephes who is setting a bad example. We find John, calling this guy out by name and giving his offense as well. So, before we jump to judgement against John let's look at what Jesus said:
Matthew 18:15-17 --- “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
So, now we have the proper way to handle this situation straight from Jesus. We know John has written to him already and it was rejected. We also know that many of the traveling Christian teachers were giving their testimony of their time in the area to John as well. So, the issues being faced of unlovingly turning away fellow Christian's and even throwing people out of the church who did help, has been witnessed and confronted. However, the confrontation was rejected and not only that, terrible things were then said about John and others. Truly heartbreaking when the focus isn't on Jesus and the Truth and Love, how quickly people turn on one another in the most vicious of ways.
Now what we find in 3 John this letter is to Gaius who is a church leader in the same area, who HAS been putting the Good News of Jesus first. This letter has many purposes but here we find a warning to Gaius about the situation. Just like Paul warned Timothy of Alexander the Coppersmith in 2 Timothy 14-15. This isn't unloving or judgmental. It's common sense to mark out and warn others of dangers ahead on the road. However, beyond common sense let's see what the Word has to say about it in Romans.
Romans 16:17-18 --- Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles contrary to the teaching that you learned. Avoid them, because such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites. They deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting with smooth talk and flattering words.
So, we find there is a biblical way of handling conflict in the church and if that doesn't work to watch out and avoid. The challenge is that most don't follow or don't know the biblical way. It usually turns into gossip as it's much easier to just tell Brother Bob all about Brother John's sin, than it is to get prayed up, get immersed in the Word, search yourself for planks in your own eye, then go that person and lovingly confront them. We're so afraid of offending people today or upsetting our own comfortable experience, that we allow a brother or sister to continue in sin. Worse yet, we usually tell others, so we not only let this person continue down a hazardous path, but we also start down our own.
Okay, that's it for today. Just some things to think about this Tuesday morning. I pray you never find yourself in a place to have to confront things like John is here, but if you do, make sure you're armed with the Word, Truth, and Love, and from abiding in Jesus, you will be able to approach it genuinely and lovingly when necessary.
Be the Berean and jump into your Bible. See what God has for you in the Word today!
تعليقات