Loving Rebuke

3 John 1:8-12 -  We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth.  I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us.  So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.  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. Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone--and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.

The church that John wrote to is just like ours today.  We can find the ‘Gaius’…the one who welcomes and shows grace and generosity to everyone who walks through the doors.  There is always the true ‘Demetrius’…the one that everyone respects and loves for their great faith and holding to the truth. And Satan is always working to raise up a ‘Diotrephes’ in the mist of God’s true believers….to weaken the church…to trick us into evil…to keep us from doing what God’s truth calls us to do.  John tells us to openly and LOVINGLY….rebuke them and speak the truth back into their wayward soul.

The bible has advice in many books that support John’s advice.  Proverbs 27:5-6 says, “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.” And we are given clear directions in Matthew 18:15-17…which says, “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.  But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 5:1-2,  “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife.  And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?”…and then adds to this seemingly harsh directive to above all forgive in 2 Corinthians 2:7-8  which says, “Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.” 

Both John and Paul knew that sin is contagious…Paul’s loving words from Galatians 6:1 explain the reason for making sure we confront the Diotrephes of our churches in love. He says, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.”   We must strive to be ‘Gaius’ and ‘Demetrius’….we must work to be respected for our faith and teaching of the truth….we must be known to others by our kind and generous treatment of others.

Father…I ask you to build me into a generous…loving….woman that loves your truth.  Give me eyes to recognize the Diotrephes that Satan sends to trick me. Give me a heart that guards against selfishness….a heart that recognizes that humility should always be a part of her heart. Help me to find the courage and love to speak the truth to those I see drifting away from God’s truth…to use your love to rescue them from sure death and the sadness of separation from you forever. Open my heart as wide as it can be opened…so all of your love can abide inside and help me stand strong and firm against the evil that Satan throws at me each day. Amen.