I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 3 John 1:9
I like to explore and dig into the little details in the Bible. Here the Apostle John is writing to most likely a Roman convert to the faith by the name of Gaius (a very common Roman name) in 3 John. In verse 9 John mentions Diotrephes who most likely is a pastor, bishop, or elder in the church. Imagine that — a supposed spiritual leader in the first century doesn’t acknowledge the authority of John — one of Jesus’ inner circle of three?!!
Even in the first century church there were already issues in the Church. Corinth had REAL big sexual immorality issues. So they were MUCH like us today in many ways. Overbearing prideful spiritual leaders who thought more of themselves than they ought to think. If Diotrephes was the pastor of that church I understand why John didn’t send the letter to him, as he most likely would have suppressed and destroyed the letter.
Today we have so many spiritual leaders who have forgotten the ‘fear of God’ and pushed aside the ‘still small Voice’ of the Holy Spirit within them. These leaders even now still belittle the authority of the apostles by dismissing their writing or changing the inherent meaning of the writing to fit the narrative they want. But because most of the people sitting in those buildings today don’t do any research or questioning of the Holy Spirit for learning themselves — they don’t know when their “pastor” is off the path of the Holy Spirit. Plus most of the institutional churches have cast aside the other ‘gifts’ Jesus has given their Church (Ephesians 4:11). Because those ‘gifts’ aren’t in their place in your ‘fellowship’ the Body remains lacking in so many things that are needed for life and maturity in Him.
You DO have a purpose and something to contribute to your spiritual group. You ARE a member that is NEEDED. Unfortunately the institutional Church makes the “Sunday morning worship service” the most important part of the gathering of the community and has it planned down to the minute. Where is the flexibility for the Holy Spirit to do His work? Is that liturgy so important to God? Or is our hearts more important? So many churches see the ritual as the most important part, as the highest form of worship. Yet .. if the heart isn’t in it .. what is it worth? What about real connection and relationship? What about listening to EVERY member? What does Paul write about this?
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 1 Corinthians 12:21-26
Do you see this happening in your group when you come together? Is it obvious to everyone that they honored and loved? Is it obvious that everyone has something to contribute when you come together? If your meetings aren’t doing this — then I suggest forming your own group that honors EVERYONE and wants everyone to be listening and sharing what the Holy Spirit is doing in and through them. Everyone in the Body of Christ needs a place to fellowship in real relationship knowing they are loved and valued. Some people have real bright and shiny gifts and they are immediately put on stage / the platform. But what about the ‘quiet’ ones? From my experience they have ‘Gold’ that is hidden in them – that the entire group could benefit from! “But the Sunday morning worship service is NOT the time for the ‘quiet ones’ it is the time for the bright gifts to shine!!” Really? At least that’s the attitude and format I’ve seen in most “Church” services for the last 60 years. If you’re really outwardly talented you are pushed onto stage whether you are spiritually mature and ready for it or not. I’ve seen so many placed onto that stage or position who are NOT ready to have that ‘place’ of prominence in that community, and I think of Diotrephes. Your spiritual leaders should know the value of EVERYONE in the group and SHOW IT by example. Don’t let a Diotrephes be a spiritual leader in your group, they’re not ready. A seminary degree does not ensure that they are ready to assume spiritual leadership of anything.
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. 3 John 1:10
People like Diotrephes of course are valuable (although their actions may be despicable) — but they must learn their value in the Body is no greater than any other member. Humility is a virtue that needs to be real in the core of the individual. Not the false humility we see so much of today.
Do you have a group (however small) that models the true Body of Christ? Find one. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you who to ask. Or if the Lord Jesus tells you to — start one. Look for those ‘gifts’ / individuals needed for a group to grow into spiritual maturity. Take your time. Don’t be quick. Inspect the fruit.