Between Sisters Blog | The Pride of the “Star” Player
Next John moves into something that has already been discussed with the church in a letter we do not have. It was in regard to a church leader named Diotrephes who acted in opposition to Gaius. John characterizes Diotrephes as philoproteuon (literally a combination of “love” and “be first”). We all know people who are egocentric and manipulative when things do not go their way. John’s heart must have been aching as he remembered how his mother had come before Jesus and asked if her sons could sit beside Jesus in heaven. Jesus responded, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:25–27).
Diotrephes exhibited deliberate actions of rejection of the traveling teachers’ authority. He was speaking wicked nonsense (literally “gossiping evil words”) about John and the teachers. He refused to provide necessary hospitality to them. He was even hindering those in the church who wanted to help. Diotrephes was also driving (same word used for when Jesus drove demons out of the demon-oppressed) them out of the church as if the hospitable were being disobedient. These actions were both sickening and maddening to John who stood for the truth. Diotrephes was driven by a “if-you’re-not-with-me-you’re-against-me” mentality. Not in a way that held the gospel of Jesus up, but in a way that maligned the gospel. It promoted his authority over the servant-leadership he had been called to. “John doesn’t mince words in his condemnation of Diotrephes’ unchristian actions. In fact, he is so miffed about it that he hopes to come and confront Diotrephes personally to rectify the situation. Public exposure is John’s plan when he arrives…This old ‘Son of Thunder’ (Mark 3:17) can still live up to his nickname!”
Yet Jesus had frequently warned of how authority had the ability to corrupt even those who were supposed to be in charge of shepherding the flock and representing Christ when the glory and authority are all Jesus’ (Matthew 19:28–30; 20:16; 23:1–11; Mark 10:31; Luke 13:30). Even Peter reminds his readers spread throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia in 1 Peter 5:1–4 that the leaders must shepherd God’s flock (not their own!), “nor as yet lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.” As David Allen says, “A pastor is a shepherd, not a swaggering dictator.”
Then John leaves the first and only command in the letter, “Do not imitate evil but imitate good.” He begs Gaius not to follow Diotrephes’ example of evil actions. He was to remember, as we’ve learned in 1 John, that whoever does evil has not seen God or has not come to know God. Diotrephes’ true character shows through his habitual mistreatment of others, instead of love and humble servant-leadership, abuse of power. His character was proving to be untouched by the changes the Holy Spirit makes in a believer He indwells. Diotrephes is turning out to be like the hypocritical person who says that he has fellowship with God, but is still walking in darkness (1 John 1:6). One cannot walk in habitual pride and claim to walk in the light! What the gospels proclaim again and again is that one of the main characteristics of a citizen of the kingdom of heaven is humility (Matthew 5:3).