IMITATE GOOD, NOT EVIL
3 John 1:9-15
You have probably heard the phrase "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"; this means that when someone copies another person, it shows they admire that person's actions or qualities enough to want to replicate them.
I would never compare myself to John MacArthur, R.C Sproul, Adrian Rogers, or Robert Smith Jr., but those men have had an undeniable influence on my approach to preaching and ministry. There are many other Christians who possess certain attributes that I admire; so much so that I hope to replicate them. Furthermore, I hope to live in such a way that others may look at me the same way.
While I would never advocate trying to be exactly like someone else, there is great value in imitating certain characteristics that are seen in others. In fact, Christian discipleship is a process that involves observing, learning from, and intentionally emulating other Christians in an effort to become more like Christ.
Writing to the Thessalonians Paul said, “You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord” (1 Thessalonian 1:5–6). Later in that letter he would say, “For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us…;” he went on to say that he offered himself to them “as an example to imitate” (1 Thessalonians 3:7-9).
When speaking to the Corinthians, Paul said: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Paul was able to say this because he was “in Christ” and his life reflected the work of Christ in his heart. This kind of living is not just possible; it is expected of God’s people. Our Lord said, “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).
Our selected text contains vital information concerning the right and wrong kind of “imitation.” John says, “Beloved do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God” (v11). Along with this warning, John provides a stark contrast between two men, one named Diotrephes and another named Demetrius. I would like to examine this contrast and consider the command to “Imitate Good, Not Evil.”
This Epistle is John’s personal correspondence with his beloved friend, Gaius. After commending him for his compassion, hospitality, and support of his Christian brethren, John informs Gaius of a troublemaker in the church named Diotrephes. After describing his detestable attitude and actions, John exhorts Gaius to refrain from imitating those who are evil and to instead imitate what is good.
- Let’s examine the command to:
REFRAIN FROM IMITATING WHAT IS EVIL
John says, “do not imitate what is evil.” The Greek word for “imitate” is “mimeomai.” The English word “mimic” is derived from this word and it means “to follow” or “imitate.” The idea here is a deliberate conscious imitation of a pattern that is judged worthy of reproduction.
We often have to remind our children that not all patterns are worthy of reproduction and not all people are worthy of imitating. Tragically, schools, Television, and social media are not the only places where people pick up bad traits. Furthermore, it is not only children who replicate bad actions and imitate the wrong people. Some of the most detestable acts I have witnessed and some of the most despicable people I have ever met were inside of a local church.
This is not a modern problem; way back in the first century Diotrephes illustrated the danger of imitating what is evil. This man selfishly took advantage of his position of leadership in the church and attacked other Christian workers.
In verse 9 John says, “I have written something to the church”. This is a reference to a previous letter that the Apostle had penned to the Saints. The exact content of this specific letter is unknown. It is possible that no one other than Diotrephes had seen it; perhaps he read the letter and discarded it because he did not “acknowledge” John’s apostolic “authority.”
The great problem with Diotrephes is that he desired preeminence, that is, he liked “to put himself first.” MacArthur says the word preeminence “conveys the idea of someone who is selfish, self-centered, and self-seeking. The language suggests a self-promoting demagogue, who served no one, but wanted all to serve only him. Diotrephes’ actions directly contradict Jesus’ and the NT’s teaching on servant-leadership in the church. (Nelson, Thomas. NKJV, MacArthur Study Bible, 2nd Edition)
Diotrephes desired the spotlight and he wanted to wield authority over the local congregation. On top of this, he refused to accept or acknowledge one of the Lord’s own Apostles. John makes it clear that if the Lord allowed him to visit this church, he would “bring up what he is doing.” He would confront Diotrephes for “prating against” him; this means that he was speaking nonsense and bringing false charges against John. On top of this, his words against the Apostle were “wicked.” It is a dangerous thing proclaim evil lies against one of the Lord’s chosen ambassadors!
Diotrephes actions were not just directed against John, he also “refused to welcome the brothers, and also stopped those who wanted to and put them out of the church.” Diotrephes didn’t just refuse to welcome others; he stopped those who would be willing to do so. He may have seen traveling evangelists and itinerant ministers who came into the region as a threat to his position of influence among the brethren. In response, he spitefully turned them away and if anyone resisted his authority He would excommunicate them, literally “putting them out of the church.”
John condemned Diotrephes’ desire for control over the church. He called out his refusal to welcome those who taught the truth and went out for the sake of the name. John also denounced Diotrephes’ slander of spiritual leaders and condemned his practice of excommunicating those who opposed his leadership.
John went on to warn Gaius, (and all who would read this letter) to avoid “imitating evil,” and to instead imitate what is “good.” In a bold and clear statement, the Apostle declares that “Whoever does good is from God” and “whoever does evil has not seen God.” Here we have another contrast, it seems to be implied that Diotrephes is one who “has not seen God.” Though holding a position within the church, he is an unconverted sinner doomed for eternal damnation. On the other hand, there is a dear brother named Demetrius who “does good,” signifying that he “is from God.” Diotrephes’ life was a cautionary tale but Demetrius was a tremendous example of a faithful Christian.
There are several important takeaways for us in verses 9-11. Diotrephes exhibited pride, jealousy, anger, and slander. Tragically, each of these attitudes are still present and often prevalent in the church today. There are certain people in the church, often holding positions of power, leadership, and influence, who do not belong there. Their behaviors should be avoided, their actions should not be imitated, and their rebellion must be confronted.
It seems that for every person who is trying to build the church up, there is another who is actively seeing to tear it down. Modern day Diotrephes must be dealt with promptly and in a Biblical manner to preserve the health of the church. If toxic people are allowed to continue in their rebellion it can cause irreparable and eternal harm.
Anyone who has been involved in the church for an extended period of time knows someone like Diotrephes. Ironically, no one is ever willing to admit that they are that person. When a pastor delivers a sermon that addresses the subject of those who desire (and often demand) preeminence in the church, these people usually shout “amen” the loudest; this is because they are convinced the preacher is talking about someone else!
What does a modern-day Diotrephes look like? Often, he is one who demands a certain position within the church, and/or demands to choose who has certain other positions in the church. If he already has a position, a modern-day Diotrephes will not tolerate any perceived threat to that position. He is one who possesses an intense desire for preeminence and he demands recognition and praise. When things don’t go his way, or decisions are made that he doesn’t like, a modern-day Diotrephes will wield his perceived (and sometimes legitimate) authority in an effort to get his way. When a true spiritual leader stands up to him, he refuses to acknowledge or accept their authority.
Such a person rarely accepts correction, even if it is Biblical. Instead, he will “prate against” others, slander them, and “talk wicked nonsense” about them. Most of the time, such people are not content to cause trouble on their own. Therefore, they actively recruit other malcontents to join them in their efforts to slander others, disrupt unity, and get their way even if it destroys the church.
As heartbreaking as it is, this is not an uncommon phenomenon in the modern church. People with the spirit of Diotrephes are destructive, wicked, and in danger of facing the judgment of God. It is vitally important for each of us to assess our lives and ensure that we do not possess a desire for preeminence. If we see anything in our lives that resembles the actions and attitudes of Diotrephes, we must repent immediately! Please hear me when I say, “don’t be a Diotrephes!” Heed the words of John: “do not imitate what is evil;” instead, “imitate what is good.”
The Apostle provides a great example of “what is good” in his testimony concerning a man named Demetrius. This was a man who lived in a manner that was worthy of imitation. Let’s look to verse twelve and see that we should:
SEEK TO IMITATE WHAT IS GOOD
v12 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.
Demetrius was likely the courier who took this letter to the church. John describes him as one who “has received a good testimony from everyone.” He was seen by the brethren as a faithful Christian. His actions aligned with “the truth itself;” that is, he was a servant of the God who lived according to the truths found in God’s Word. John goes on to add his own personal endorsement of Demetrius saying, “We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.
If in fact Demetrius was the one who transported this letter to the church, it was necessary to add such a commendation in an effort to ensure that the letter had not been suppressed or misused by someone like Diotrephes. It is not out of the realm of possibility that John wrote this letter and then personally gave it to Demetrius with explicit instructions to go directly to Gaius, a man whom John knew would gladly welcome him into his home and provide him with generous hospitality.
Demetrious is the kind of person that we should observe, learn from, and seek to imitate. Thankfully, as Christians there are many men and women that we have the privilege of learning from; some are right here in this building today. Again, I would never advocate trying to be exactly like someone else, but there is great value in imitating certain characteristics that are seen in others. In fact, this is an intrinsic part of the discipleship process.
As we worship and serve together, there are many people in this church that have attributes that I have observed and hope to emulate. I admire the humility certain people and it makes me want to follow their example. There are others who prompt a desire for me to be more compassionate, evangelistic, and devoted. There are various others within this assembly whose wisdom, knowledge, and discernment are admirable traits. There are some people in our faith family who make me want to be more devoted to prayer and personal communion with God. I could name a numerous men and women who are part of this assembly and point out certain characteristics that I seek to “imitate” in some way.
Like Demetrius, many of you have “received a good testimony from everyone.” You are servants of God who live according to the truths found in His Word. This kind of living is admirable, commendable, and expected of all Christians.
- We must refrain from imitating evil; we should seek to “imitate what is good,” and finally we should:
ASPIRE TO BE SOMEONE WORTHY OF IMITATING
If I am honest, I am not at a place in my spiritual journey where I could echo the words of Paul and boldly say “imitate me as I imitate Christ.” But I certainly have the desire to reach that point. Each of us should aspire to be someone worthy of imitation; not because it brings us glory, but because it honors and pleases our Lord.
Whether he realized it or not, Gaius was a man who possessed many attributes that impressed his fellow Christians. So much so that word had reached John concerning his generosity, hospitality, compassion, and constant support of others who engaged in the Lord’s work. Truly, he was a Saint worthy of imitating.
In the closing words of this letter John says that even though he “had much to write” to Gaius, he hoped that he would be able to “see him soon” and “talk face to face” (v14). If the Apostle were given the opportunity to visit this specific church, there was much more that he hoped to communicate to them.
In verse 15 John says, “Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name.” Though he was not present with them, John was invested in the lives of the people in this church. He considered them his “friends” as did those who were with him. The Apostle desired that his friends experience “peace.” He said, “peace be unto you” meaning that he hoped that they would experience the blessing, protection, and provision of God in all its fullness.
John extends greetings from the “friends” who were with him, and he also called on Gaius to “greet the friends each by name.” Here John is fostering connections and encouraging love between Christians in different areas and various churches. The command to greet the friends “each by name” illustrates the intimacy that John feels for the brethren. They are not just a collective group of Christians, each of them are his individual brothers and sisters in Christ.
Among these various “friends” (literally Saints), there were various people who possessed godly, Christian attributes that we were worthy of replication. Though they were separated by time and distance, they were all part of Christ’s Church. The Lord expects His people to be disciples who make disciples, who in turn make more disciples. Therefore, it is important for us to follow the example of those who faithfully follow Christ. When we do this, we will then become one worthy of imitating, thus creating a chain of discipleship that extends from Christ to His followers.
The detestable actions of Diotrephes show us the danger of desiring preeminence. For two thousand years his pride, jealousy, and slanderous words have served as a cautionary tale. He is a prime example of someone who is not worthy of imitation. On the other hand, Demetrious shows us that there are various Saints within the church who walk in the truth and have a great testimony among the brethren. Such people are indeed worthy of imitation.
Likewise, Gaius, the recipient of this beautiful letter from the Apostle John was one who exhibited attributes that were worthy of imitating. His compassion, hospitality, and support of his Christian brothers and sisters has served as an example to emulate for two thousand years.
The question that we must ask ourselves today is simple; are we living in a manner that is worthy of reproducing? Can our brothers and sisters in Christ point to us and say, he/she is “one who walks in truth”? Do others see you as one who is worthy of imitating? Do you possess the desire to live as one who is worthy of imitation?
There is a sobering warning that must not be overlooked in this passage. John says, “Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.” Many times those in the church whose actions resemble Diotrephes are not uninformed or immature Christians, they lost-Hell bound sinners. The reason they desire and demand preeminence, and the reason they possess “evil” actions is because “they have not seen God” .
It is my prayer that you have been born again. If not, I encourage you to surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ. He will save you and begin a process of sanctification in your life where He can transform you into one who is worthy of imitation!
If you know beyond any shadow of a doubt that you belong to the Lord: refrain from imitating what is evil, seek to imitate what is good, and aspire to be one who is worthy of imitating.
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