12.7.9 "Not in the Church!?"

"Not in the Church!?"

Hosea 6:1-9:17
3 John 1:1-15
Psalm 126:1-6
Proverbs 29:12-14

Why do you think so much of the New Testament spends so much time talking about loving one another & our relationships with one another? Shouldn't it be that because we all know God we walk in harmony & peace?

Oh if it were only that easy. In John's 3rd letter, he's commending his friend Gaius for his life of integrity, and also for the way he takes care of the traveling teachers & missionaries. He has some words for another fellow, however.

"I sent a brief letter to the church about this, but proud Diotrephes, who loves to push himself forward as the leader of the Christians there, does not admit my authority over him and refuses to listen to me. When I come I will tell you some of the things he is doing and what wicked things he is saying about me and what insulting language he is using. He not only refuses to welcome the missionary travelers himself, but tells others not to, and when they do he tries to put them out of the church. Dear friend, don't let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do what is right prove that they are God's children; and those who continue in evil prove that they are far from God."

This doesn't sound like a very good scripture to take a devotional from does it? Think about how John was someone who had SEEN JESUS! Most of the people in the early church had not. John's authority was clearly established, and yet there was this lack of unity.

What causes this? It's when opinions become out of control. Now, I don't know Diotrephes. I only know what was said about him here. All I can tell is this: He had an agenda, and he didn't want anyone to mess with it, and didn't want others to mess with it.

This couldn't happen in the church could it?? It can if we are not careful to keep opinions in check, and in line with God appointed authority. This can be harder than it seems. God has placed so many different personalities in the Body of Christ, that we are bound to want to do things different. Two Sunday School teachers teaching the same lesson can want to approach it from different angles, and it can potentially be a really divisive issue. Why? Because we think that our idea is the only way.

This is why the principle of Relationships Devoted to Unity is Submission. We must "submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." My opinion is not greater than yours, yours is not greater than mine. When there are disagreements, they must fall under the authority structure God has put in place. This is very hard to do in a "vote them off the island" culture.

This is extremely hard to do. My friend said to me, "If the Church can't get it's act together internally, how can we shine outside properly?" the heart of "preferring one another" at all times is crucial. Honoring our leaders is essential.

We should guard our hearts from the power of uncontrolled opinion. We should guard one another from opinions getting out of control. This is how we live a righteous life devoted to unity.




Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

P Greg


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Relationships Devoted to Unity
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