In Romans 16:17-18, Paul warned, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and
offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord
Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive
the hearts of the simple.” Peter
warned that there would be false teachers in every group. Ultimately their goal is to use the church to
meet their own desires rather than to please God. The pastor of the church where Gaius attended
was such a man.
III John 3:9-10 says, “I
wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among
them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his
deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content
therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them
that would, and casteth them out of the church.” Diotrephes wanted to control the church,
so he tried to prevent the people from hearing from or visiting with the former
pastor and men who had started the church, accusing them of false teaching or
immoral behavior and forcing those who stood up for them out of the church.
Such an attitude is
fairly common today, with new pastors trying to erase any memory of the
previous pastor. Such pastors frequently
point to Hebrews 13:17 to justify their position. “Obey them that have the rule over you, and
submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give
account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is
unprofitable for you.” They ignore
the instructions in I Peter 5:3 about not lording it over the church. “Neither
as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” Jesus made a similar statement in Matthew
20:25-26. “But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of
the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise
authority upon them. But it shall not be
so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; Even
as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give
his life a ransom for many.” The
pastor is not to be the boss, but a servant who leads the way.
While we have an obligation to follow when the leaders are
following what God has said, we ought not follow when they begin to go against
his word. III John 1:11 commands, “Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but
that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath
not seen God.” In I Corinthians
11:1, Paul said, “Be ye followers of me,
even as I also am of Christ.” Hebrews
13:7 says, “Remember them which have the
rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow,
considering the end of their conversation.”
In I Timothy 4:12, commanded Timothy, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers,
in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” The leaders are to set the example for
the church in every area, but they are not our God. When they do not set the proper example,
whether morally or doctrinally, we are not to follow them. We are accountable to God, no to them.
The standards God set for pastors and leaders in I Timothy
3:1-12 and Titus 1:5-9 are not extreme, simply requiring that the man
demonstrate his ability to fulfill the role of the pastor or leader before he
is given the job. Because Diotrephes was misusing his position,
it would be necessary for the church to replace him, and according to III John 1:12,
a better qualified man was available. “Demetrius hath good report of all men, and
of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record
is true.”
If it were necessary, John himself would come to help the
church take away Diotrephes’ authority and correct his false teachings and
practices. “I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto
thee: But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face.
Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.” (III
John 1:13-14)
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