Through the New Testament 06
Church Politics 101
3 John
Dr. Roger W. Thomas, Preaching Minister
First Christian Church, Vandalia, MO
3 John is a reality check for the church. It is about church politics, problem people, and the problems they cause.
A lot of us would like to think that church politics is an oxymoron—a contradiction in terms. We prefer to believe that church life is above the stuff that politics is famous for. But anyone who has been around church for long know better. Church politics exist. It always has. It always will—as long as there are people around.
Our word “politics” comes from the Greek word for city. Our concept for politics comes from the rivalry that developed between different cities. People from one city would work for the interests of their city. Folk from different cities became competitors rather than fellow citizens who shared concerns bigger than individual locales. At its worst, politicians/city representatives would undermine the interests of other cities. The misplaced idea—if I can make them look bad, I will look better. It is only a short leap from that ancient concept of ancient city interests to the partisan political shenanigans of our day.
Politics goes to church when individuals or groups show more concern for individual interests and opinions than kingdom matters. Politics takes over when church people or leaders see themselves as competitors and rivals instead of family.
Does it happen? Of course, it does. People are people. As much as we would like to think that church folk left the ways of the world at the steps to the baptistery, that doesn’t always happen. Not all church folk, even church leaders, are necessarily born again and transformed. And even some who are don’t automatically unlearn all of their old ways immediately. Sometimes that happens gradually. Sometimes it takes a lifetime.
The evidence of church politics is everywhere in the New Testament. Most of 1 Corinthians is addressed to a church divided by rivalries and worldly behavior. The very beginning days of the church were marrid by ethnic rivalries (Acts 6). Paul warned the Ephesians elders of wolves in sheep’s clothing that would arise from within their own ranks (Acts 20:29-30). Paul reminds the Philippians of those who preach the gospel out of envy and rivalry (Phil 1:15). He commends Timothy as one of the few who is concerned about something other than his own interests (Phil 2:20-21). On and on, the list could go of the human side of church life.
3 John is the tale of three men. More than that, it’s a look inside at the heart of three different kind of people found in almost every church—then and now. John, the aged apostle and elder statesman of the church, writes with advice for a church leader and his church caught in the throes of a political skirmish with another less than honorable leader. In his advice, John commends Gaius with the faithful heart. He condemns Diotrophes and his selfish, stubborn heart. And he pays passing tribute to Demetrius and his quiet respected heart. As we review, John’s analysis of the “political” problems of this First Century church, we would do well to look at ourselves rather than looking around. The big question is not “who is the Diotrophes” in our midst; but “do I have any Dioptrophes in me?”
John speaks first of Gaius the friend to whom he addresses the note. We know little about Gaius. The name was common in Bible times. It is mentioned five times in the New Testament (Acts 19:29; 20:4; Ro 16:23; 1 Co 1:14; 3 Jn 1). The name belonged to at least three different men, maybe more. Some think the Gaius of 3 John could be the same referred to in Romans 16:23. This Christian leaders had displayed gracious hospitality to Paul and many others, the same key attribute of the recipient of this letter. John highlights three characteristics of Gaius:
1. He abounded in spiritual health
Perhaps poor physical health
Both matter; our turned around priorities
What would good soul health look like:
Appetite for the right things—desire for the things of God;
True believer—truth/gospel
Ability to fight of infections; evil—resistance to temptation and sin
Strength—Ability to do for self and others (consumers and producers)
2. He practiced what he preached
Walked in truth (contra Gnostic ideas of mental faith/ideas)
Mt 5:13-17-salt and light
Titus 2:10—adorn the doctrine of God our savior/non-malign the faith
James 2-faith without works
"I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day; I’d rather one would walk with me than merely show the way. The eye’s a better pupil and more willing than the ear; Fine counsel is confusing but example’s always clear. And the best of all the preachers are the ones who live their creeds, For to see good put in action is what everybody needs. I soon can learn to do it if you let me see it done. I can watch your hands in action but your tongue too fast may run. And the sermon you deliver may be very wise and true, But I’d rather get my lesson by observing what you do, For I might misunderstand you and the high advice you give, But there’s no misunderstanding how you act and how you live."
3. He used his time and resources in Christian service
Hospitality/ elders given to hospitality (1 Tim 3)
Hospitality and friendliness not just what happens in church building on Sunday; cf Natural Church Development definition of “loving relationships” shared time together outside of church services.
Literal term applies to strangers/ not just friends from whom you can expect hospitality in return. Here it was generous help and hospitality given to traveling missionaries
That’s Gaius, the man with the faithful, generous leaders. Next, John turns his attention to Diotrophes, the leader with the stubborn, selfish heart. Here where the evidence of church politics at its worst shows its ugly head.
Don’t know much about:
Must have been a leader
Well known
Influential
John’s complaint against Diotrephes includes three issues:
1. He was proud and self-willed—want to be first
What mean?
Wanted attention
Wanted his way
Wanted to be boss over others
No respect for what others were doing
1 Tim 3—danger of novice/trap of the devil
Philippians 2:1-5, "If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:"
He was unteachable—pay no attention to John and correction
2. He had a mean mouth
James 3:1-12—power of the tongue; the respectable evil of church folk
Eph 4:25-32—edifying talk; the positive alternative
Many sins of the tongue:
Profanity and vulgarism (window to the heart)
Deceit/lying (test of character)
Slander—spreading malicious lies about someone; you know not true
Gossip—spreading bad information you think is true
Several residents were unappreciative of her activities, but feared her enough to maintain their silence. She made a mistake, however, when she accused George, a new member, of being an alcoholic after she saw his pickup truck parked all afternoon in front of the town’s only bar. She commented to George and others that everyone seeing it there would know that he was an alcoholic. George, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment and then just walked away. He said nothing. Later that evening, George quietly parked his pickup in front of Harriet’s house and left it there all night... (Pulpit Helps, April 2003)
The alternative to gossip:
1. Talk to the person instead of about the person
2. Publicly rather than privately (not whispering/backbiting—descriptive KJV term)
a. No respect for anonymous critics or people unwilling to their words
3. Pray for rather than speaking against
We never pray for folks we gossip about, and we never gossip about the folk for whom we pray! —Evangelist Leonard Ravenhill (1907–1994) "Leonard Ravenhill Index," Daily Christian Quote (February 2004); submitted by Jerry De Luca, Montreal West, Quebec, Canada
The cardinal rule of gossip: Anyone who will gossip to you will gossip about you!
3. He opposed the missionaries.
The context: traveling preaching an hospitality; promoted his views; insisted on his way
A real test of your faith—
Do you want the gospel spread (room for other people)
Good reasons to oppose—messy; problems; costly
To other places (not just my church grow) (other kinds of people)
(charity begins at home excuse)
Do you personally support missions?
Are you willing to inconvenience yourself for missions? (hospitality)
Are you an encourager of missions?
3 John speaks of Gaius, the generous, faithful heart and Diotrophes, the stubborn, selfish heart. Finally, he pays passing tribute to Demetrius, the quiet respected heart.
Not know much about Demetrius. He may have been the bearer of John’s letter. Note three qualities of his life:
1. Good reputation---elders deacons/reputation/good report
2. Real deal—the truth speaks well of him/genuine reputation/not just appearance
3. Respected by other leaders
John commends him
Reminder of all the behind the scenes workers; unheralded but not unnoticed
Conclusion: We should read 3 John without being driven to self-examination. The question is not: who is the Diotrophes among us? But, am I ever guilty of acting selfishly or stubborn clinging to my interests and my ways above the interests of others? I’ll wager we can all find a little Diotrophes in our own hearts.
The key verse in John’s note is verse 11. We all need the reminder.
“Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God”.
***Dr. Roger W. Thomas is the preaching minister at First Christian Church, 205 W. Park St., Vandalia, MO 63382 and an adjunct professor of Bible and Preaching at Central Christian College of the Bible, 911 E. Urbandale, Moberly, MO. He is a graduate of Lincoln Christian College (BA) and Lincoln Christian Seminary (MA, MDiv), and Northern Baptist Theological Seminary (DMin).
