The Danger of Diotrephes

What type of Church Member do you desire to be?  Perhaps you have never even given this much thought. Well, whether you have thought about it or not, I want to warn us all today about the Danger of Diotrephes.  In 3 John 9, the Apostle John tells us that “I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say.” 

We do not have time in this blog to dissect exactly what Diotrephes’ role was in the church but needless to say, he was a church leader.  Notice the first problem in his ministry:  he “loves to be first among them.”  Diotrephes sought to be first!  How many of us want to be first in our church?  We approach church with the attitude that it’s all about me; it’s all about feeding me; it’s all about my rights; it’s all about my comforts; it’s my way or the highway.

It’s so sad that many of us approach church and ministry with this selfish, prideful and arrogant mindset.  But does that fit with Paul’s description of Christ in Philippians 2?  Paul said that Jesus, “being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”  Obviously there is a glaring difference. 

Or what about John’s detailing of the Last Supper where Jesus “knowing that the Father had given all things into His Hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself.”  

Jesus, who alone is worthy of being first, always desired to serve others!  The danger for us is that we want church and ministry to be about us rather than about taking up the humble service and ministry of the towel.

As Diotrephes sought to be first we read that he accused John with wicked words (v. 10) and that he would not receive missionaries and Christian brothers that John sent to the church, and he even cast out those who disagreed with him.  This sounds crazy!  Who would not welcome the Apostle John or those sent by him?  Unfortunately, if you look closely enough at our modern churches, you will find a Diotrephes in many of our congregations.  Maybe it’s the pastor, or a deacon, or a Sunday School teacher.  Maybe it’s an officer in the church or maybe it’s a church member who has been there for decades, or perhaps it is a faithful tither. 

Honestly, a Diotrephes can be lurking anywhere in the congregation.  Even within your own heart!  So let us be careful.  Let us avoid the Danger of Diotrephes.  Let us humble ourselves and imitate Christ.  John says in verse 11 that we are not to “imitate what is evil, but what is good.”  Therefore imitate Christ.  Humble yourself and serve within your congregation. If you want to see your congregation grow, then begin serving more.  As we like to say at Macedonia:  “God comes first, people matter more than things, and needs matter more than rights!”