I was
reading 3rd John and was amazed by how toxic a Christian church had
already become just a few years after Jesus was here on earth.
John was a
disciple of Jesus. He walked with him for more than three years, learning and
growing in his presence. Yet, here in this book of the Bible, John was writing
to Gaius, a believer in Jesus, about a toxic church and leader.
First John
commended Gaius for helping the “traveling teachers” who had come from
Jerusalem to encourage the church. Gaius took them into his house and cared for
their needs. But there was a man in the local church who refused to do this. In
fact, he would throw anyone out of the church who helped these teachers. John
said this man, Diotrephes, would not listen to those of the
church in Jerusalem. “I wrote to the church about
this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be the leader, refuses to have anything to
do with us.” 3 John 1:9
Imagine the
rebellion of not listening to the disciples of Jesus at that time. John said
this man had always wanted to be a “leader.” Now he was, and he was committing
great sin and leading others to do the same.
Paul, in his
letters, spoke of the same thing. False teachers leading others astray. I think
some people think the Christian churches are doing something new by being
unlike Christ. No, it isn’t new, it has happened for more than 2,000 years.
Jesus warned us of this. He said, “Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s
clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. By their fruit
you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from
thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but
a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit,
and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not
bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then,
by their fruit you will recognize them.”
Matthew 7:15-20
And this is the
fruit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22,23
If a pastor, leader or church does not
have the fruit of the Spirit, it will become toxic and harmful to everyone it
touches. They bring upon all Christianity a bad name. They slander God and the
gospel.
So be careful about what and whom you
believe. The Bible says, “Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to
speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes
from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.” 1 John 4:1
