Eternity Daily Bible Study No. 166 - An Evil Example Eternity Daily Bible Study - http://www.aibi.ph/eternity/ Asian Internet Bible Institute: http://www.aibi.ph Meet the Edmistons: Due to some fairly unusual circumstances we (John & Minda Edmiston) will be in West Coast USA (from Seattle to LA) from the 3rd to th 24th May. If you would like to catch up for coffee or invite us to speak to your church or bible study group email us on: (By the way I had no idea that we would be on deputation when I took up this series, earlier on this week!) (3 John 1:9-11 NKJV) I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. {10} Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church. {11} Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. Diotrephes was a "control freak", loving pre-eminence and protecting his turf at all costs. Malicious, inhospitable, prating, rejecting the workers of the Lord. John the apostle, in his inimitable style says "Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.". In other words Diotrephes has 'not seen God' and knows nothing of true spirituality. The apostle points out that Diotrephes is an evil example, and not to be imitated. Diotrephes means "Jove nourished" and may perhaps indicate he was nourished on power and delusions of being a "tin god". For him power was the absolute good. When power is the absolute good then evil is not far away. Observe the following conversation between Jewish power-brokers in the final days of Jesus' ministry: (John 11:47-50 NKJV) Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. {48} "If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation." {49} And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all, {50} "nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish." The ruthless protection of place and power that leads to the extinguishment of the good and the miraculous, and the rejection of the innocent, is unfortunately fairly common in the church. Diotrephes is evil-in-miniature, a cruel tyrant in a small kingdom. When I was in ministry to cults those coming out spoke of "spiritual abuse" at the hands of tyrannical pastors and church leaders, and of being expelled from the church for doing good - "he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church." Some of you, who are reading this, may have survived some form of spiritual abuse and need to talk about it. By all means feel free to write to me and tell me your story. There are also excellent books by Mike Enroth and other fine sensitive Christian authors that deal with this problem and a section on cults on the AIBI - http://www.aibi.ph/cults/ Back to Diotrephes. John says 'do not imitate what is evil". Why on earth would anyone want to imitate such a nasty piece of work? Its strange but power legitimizes things and hypnotizes people into acquiescence - which is why many bullies have followers. You would find people imitating Saddam Hussein or Hitler or Stalin. You will find young men buying swastikas and SS badges, and others wanting to be some evil wizard of power. Evil attracts the weak, who want to feel strong. Diotrephes seems tougher than the good folk. He seems to be the winner and its safer to do what he says. Rather we are to imitate what is good - Jesus, the apostles, the missionaries, the travelling brethren and those going out for "the sake of his name". Imitate the holy, the good, the loving, the kind, the hospitable, the patient and the gracious. I am fascinated by gracious people and I truly want to be like them. See the virtues you want in others - and imitate them, practice them, and make them your own. Diotrephes had two main weapons - abusive language and control/rejection. He ranted against the apostle, refused to receive the travelling missionaries and expelled those who were hospitable and kind to them. He created a mini reign-of-terror whereby anyone who contradicted him, or introduced new players in the equation, received a torrent of abuse or was expelled. The church was his lair and Diotrephes was the resident dragon. Well the dragon was about to meet the saint. The apostle was about to pay a visit and fix up this toxic situation. "Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words." Apostolic authority was awesome and John's was spectacular if the accounts of church history are to be believed (including his causing the physical demolition of the temple of Diana in Ephesus by casting the demon out of it). Even the gospels call him a "Son of Thunder". He may have walked quietly but John carried a very large stick! Titus was another (though lesser) apostolic problem solver and Paul gives this account: (2 Corinthians 7:15 NKJV) ... And his (Titus') affections are greater for you as he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him. Control freaks eventually meet their comeuppance. They meet a power greater than themselves - the US Army in Baghdad, the Russians in Berlin or the face of Almighty God. The Pharisees did eventually lose their place and their nation. The Anti-Christ will be slain by a word from the returning Christ, in glory. What can we do then? Firstly do not imitate their censorious, critical, abusive ways. Not even a little bit. It can seep in, become church culture, become almost normal. Love Christians, all of them, even from other churches. Let people into your world, welcome strangers, be open not closed. Walk away from them. Leave if necessary, be strong, respect yourself enough to not be controlled by evil but by the Scriptures and the Spirit. Then imitate what is good. Consciously start doing loving things, gracious things, wild exciting gospel things. There is liberty in holiness and a natural freedom in being Christ-like. If you have been rejected, manipulated, dominated, hurt - then do not give into bitterness. Let the pain pass and move on. Bring the situation to God, find some new pastures that are green and good and non-manipulative and be restored by the grace of God. Let God deal with Diotrephes - for He does know what's going on! Blessings in Him, John Edmiston Asian Internet Bible Institute http://www.aibi.ph/ Free Online Bible And Ministry Training Dozens of free Christian ebooks: http://www.aibi.ph/ebooks/ Donate: http://www.aibi.ph/articles/donate.htm This devotional may be freely forwarded to others and used for non-profit ministry purposes as long as the following copyright notice is included. © Copyright John Edmiston 2003