Pilgrimage

Diotrephes is a man mentioned in 3rd John as having some issues with leadership. John points out that Diotrephes had four issues which plagued him. (1) He refused to have anything to do with other spiritual leaders, (2) he slandered other leaders, (3) he did not welcome other gospel teachers, and (4) he attempted to excommunicate those who did not follow his leadership (courtesy of the NASB Life Application Study Bible). Diotrephes’ name fittingly means “fed by Zeus.” He was prideful and showcased a dearth of spiritual leadership.

Sadly, in the Christian marketplace there seems to be an incubating epidemic of the diotrephes syndrome. While John points it out so starkly, when we are confronted with it in our own lives or the lives of others, it may be hard to distinguish. How often have we caught ourselves sneering at the television preacher or the pastor in the next town when we hear something that irks our theological nerves. “I can’t believe they said that!,” “I could never associate with them!”

Scripture indicates the pastor office should help to guard the flock from doctrinal error and apostasy. This does not mean that the pastor is the only one we can trust with regards to doctrine. In fact, a pastor worth his (or her) salt diligently trains and equips others to stand with him -not just in the physical labors of ministry, but also in the spiritual leadership as well. A wise professor of mine once shared that when he was pastoring he would always look for people to share from the pulpit who had different giftings from him. This way the congregation would have a better picture of ministry in the body of Christ.

Diotrephes seemed to see others as a threat. Their God-given giftedness was spurned because it was different from his own. The responsibility of faithful men and women of the cross is to appreciate, affirm and advance the giftedness of others. In this we are exemplifying the ministry of Jesus Christ. All evils in the church and society stem from self-pride which seeks to disparage others, their giftings and their place before the Lord.

Christ’s servant message still runs against the grain of world. Let us not cloak the leprosy of prideful ambition in the terminology of the cross. The antidote for diotrephes syndrome is the not-of-this-world aspect of the Christian life that is exemplified through willful, intentional, humble service.