The Diotrephes Disease

Many Churches today have a disease in it that has caused a great impeding of the churches growth. This disease Diotrephes Disease is also known a meism. Meism is a disease that affects the spiritual mind of the saint and makes them believe its all about me. Now Im sure everyone of have run into at least one person that had this disease. There are moments when we the are cured and it goes into remission but then all of a sudden it reappears.

One of the biggest dangers of a church contracting Diotrephes disease is that it starts to become inward reaching instead of outward stretching. Instead of being encouraged by new people coming into the church and welcoming them with open arms such a church feels threatened because these new people might bring problems we can’t handle or they may bring gifts that may overshadow existing gifts, They may be better singers, or better musicians, or better teachers, or better organizers. It may even get down to they may make a better cake or pie than we can.

It may show up with a jealous spirit. Someone may say doesn’t it seem that the pastor has been spending more time with the new people recently? Or she or he sure needs a lot of attention!

The challenge presented by this attitude of Diotrephes is to overcome our tendencies to continue to nurse the exclusive club mentality is to stretch out and make people feel welcome - going beyond the simple hello and handshake during service, going beyond the casual wave around town - and onto the dinner invitations - the surprise visits - the invitation to participate in church activities - the offer to drive to church.

We are here to build relationships with one another. Even out mission statement reminds us that we are a kingdom of worshipping believers whose desires is to glorify God in the obedience of the great commission in worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and evangelism.

This word kingdom denotes we are together. We should worship together, fellowship together, disciple together, do ministry together, and evangelize together. TOGETHER! We cant do together if we have Diotresphes Disease Look at this text: 5 Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, 6 who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

9 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10 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. Diotrephes saw some people stretching out to welcome the brothers and 3 John records, "he stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church" Diotrephes and the people that were infected with his disease became so inward reaching that they became angry towards the people who knew the right thing to do and did it.

I have a question for your are you suffering from Diotresphes Disease? Hospitality should be shown to believers whether they are known or unknown to us. Surely we cant afford to be chasing anyone out of the Church!

Its not like Diotresphes did not have good examples. John opens this letter addresses Gaius is getting a great report for his leadership. John said I rejoice greatly when he heard of how Gaius was indeed walking in the truth! Gaius was a leader with character. It was obvious John had sowed int Gaius and he was an example of one walking in the truth! As a matter fact John said it brought him great joy to hear of any of his children in ministry to to walking in truth.

The blessing of leadership is to see growth in those you lead. It is also a great disappointment when you don’t see children walking in the truth. We are suppose to welcome the stranger with all our efforts! When people leave here they should say those are some loving people there at St Luke! The word said we should send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God!

So how do we rid ourselves of this disease?

First we ensure we are a welcoming church!

Welcoming

I already showed you the challenge Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, 6 who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God.

What does welcoming look like? Well its Thanksgiving season. We tend to be more inviting during this time. Just imagine how you treat the guest you invited over. How do you plan to treat them. There will be hospitality. Jesus shows us. when he said “ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” We should welcome people with the love of Christ! We should make sure we make them feel like they are wanted here. I have a news flash this is not a country club that takes pleasure in turning people away. We are the whosoever crowd that get excited when we see new faces. Its never a new verses old. it is a never them verse us. Its we a we welcome you! – "But the crowds learned about it and followed Him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.". – "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. You know how that finishes what you done to the least of them you done unto me!

We have look at our whole manner of operation to see if we are a welcoming church.

Supportive

Its right there Therefore we ought to support people like these! Why so we may be fellow workers for the truth. I believe we forget who we are working for. Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life!

We work for Jesus! When we support one another we build up workers. Paul told the Corinthians “For we are laborers together with God: you are God's husbandry, you are God's building.”

If we use our gifts to really build up the body it will lighten our load individually.

Beware of Opposition

There will always be some that opposes the goal of the church. We forget we have these offices of the Church for the edification of the saints until we come into unity of Christ. Some opposers have the mission to oppose. Look at verse 9 9 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. First sign of them that oppose is they refuse to acknowledge authority. They just wont do! I refuse to fight folks trying to make them do something. I leave it up to God. My job is to heal the one who want help. Opposers will try to get others to do wrong also. This is what John is addressing. He said when he gets there he plans to bring it up. Look at verse number 10 10 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.

Diotrephes is talking about leadership. Described as wicked nonsense or malicious talk. You know folks sure know how to talk about folks. Yet the ones who do the most gossips gets real hurt when someone talk about them. I read a Instagram post that said Unhealed people are constantly walking around looking to be hurt. You have to be a religious psychopath if you pray God send people only to criticize, condemn and hurt them when they get here.

I have some good news for you. God will not likely destroy your opposers. He gonna give them a front row seat to you elevation. God will turn a violent tongue into a silent one! I’m a witness!

Finally to rid yourself of this deadly disease

Choose to do Right

11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.

We have to choose to do good! . 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Every day you have a choice to do good! Look for a good example and do good.

12 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.

We must learn to look to those who are walking in truth! There was one in the congregation Demetrius received a good report. So how would you like to be mentioned amongst the congregation? I would hope you would not want to be like Diotrephes. He had issues. His issues got the best of him.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.