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This passage is a reminder of aspects of Christianity we will all face at some time - we would do well to read it intently and beg the Holy Spirit to speak to us clearly.

'Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.

Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.' (3 John 1:5-12)

A faithful thing

From reading John's words it's clear that this local church was involved in supporting strangers who were going out into the unreached 'mission field'. John's words are fascinating, and they betray many hidden truths. It seems that these workers refused to accept gifts from those they were reaching ('the Gentiles') but would rather have their mission funded by those who were already involved in the local church. But the most important words in this passage I think come right at the end of the first paragraph - John says that this local church become 'fellow workers' when they support people like these. Do you see what this means? The gifts given by the local church give them an equal claim to be workers in this unreached mission field than those who are physically there.

Let's apply this to modern-day reality. My local church financially supports a church in Mumbai's ministry to the poor. This means that even though I've never personally visited India, the money I give to my local church means that biblically I have ministered to the poor in Mumbai, as if I had physically handed a meal to a hungry family in the slums! This should inspire us, and challenge us. It's very easy for us to give less to overseas missions and local church planting and social action because it all seems a bit detached and abstract, but in truth we become part of that ministry when we part with our money. In short, let's get our cheque books out, and get seriously generous in giving our money.

Acknowledge my authority!

John's second paragraph seems a little self-seeking, and doesn't fit very well within our idea of what an inspirational spiritual leader should be like! He says that Diotrephes doesn't acknowledge his authority, so when he visits the church he's going to tell everyone how horrible he is. That sounds proud, arrogant, and bitter...doesn't it? The thing is that Satan has taken biblical good ideas of authority, and twisted them into pride and overbearance. I know that 'submission' is a dirty word nowadays, but if we're truly Christians we should be willing and joyful to submit to spiritual, godly, God-initiated authority. There's almost nothing better than willingly and joyfully submitting to those appointed as elders and other leaders in the local church, and we shouldn't take ideas thrown at us by the world at face value. It's true that everyone has equal worth - we're all equally unworthy! The Bible's clear that God has given the church anointed leaders as gifts, so let's start treating them like that, shall we?

Imitating good

And here comes John's repeated idea again. Good is of God. Evil is not of God. Therefore, if you're doing evil, quite simply, you're not of God. Can we agree that we all want to be of God? Being a Christian means being of God - Christ-like ones. But I'm sure you can join with me in saying that I'm not always good. Sometimes I am simply evil, and that proves to me that I'm not wholly of God. In fact, perhaps that ought to say that I'm wholly not of God. Come on, church! Let's be challenged by John's extreme words, and take that kick to just start being good, all the time. The more good works you and I perform, the more interested non-Christians will become in this person we know called Jesus. That's a good end game.

"Point of Reference" from Fred Price

A Broken Spirit And Contrite Heart