In all my years of preaching, I have seen and dealt with many issues that creep up in the church. Some were easy to deal with, and others, not so much. The most difficult time I ever had was with a man that is now deceased. The congregation that I worked with had a reputation of changing preachers every couple of years. They did not have elders either. So one man took it upon himself to “govern” the congregation. Any visitors were quickly met with a list of “by-laws” that included everything from the organization of the church to which translation would be acceptable to use in worship. Needless to say, we butted heads on more than one occasion. Once, in the foyer of the building, he pointed his finger at me and said, “I want you gone.” 

The church has had its fill of men and women like Diotrephes (3 John 9), people that love to be at the top of the congregation making decisions that they alone can make. The problem with this is there is already One who has the preeminence:

“Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:15-23).

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:15-18).

The outcome of Diotrephes wielding the power that he did was his ability to allow or remove people to be a part of the church, “Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church” (3 John 10).  What were his criteria? Probably to fall in line with his dictates and commands. But the church is not made up of people put there by other human beings, we are put there by the mighty power and forgiveness of the Lord (Acts 2:47). If man votes on you as a member to be a part of the group, man can vote you out. 

Here is the application for us today. Don’t be a Diotrephes. Give the Christ the proper place in your lives. Be added to the church by God!

By: Justin Odom