I got the idea for this post from THIS ARTICLE. Because I am a preacher I can talk about them with some knowledge of what I’m saying. My fear in writing this is that I may be talking about myself. But here it goes anyway… Some preachers are so proud they strut like a Tom Turkey! (Thus the picture)
Most of the pastors I know are humble… gracious… compassionate… loving and caring. Their heart is big. They weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. In short, they are men of God! These guys are cut from the cloth of Gaius and Demetrius as found in 3 John 1, 3-6, 11…
The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. 3 I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 5 Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, 6 who testified to your love before the church. 11 Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.
Conversely… some in my profession are so proud they can strut sitting down! They come across as having all the answers… knowing everything… and can’t stand not being #1 (In everything). They are control freaks x 10. I call these guys Diotrephes preachers and they are described by the Apostle John in 3 John 9-11…
I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10 So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church. 11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good.
Talk about a stinging indictment from an Apostle about a preacher! Wow. “Puts himself first,” talks “wicked nonsense?” “Doesn’t recognize authority?” Wow. Pride had caused Diotrephes to be described as wicked because he lacked humility… because he HAD to be #1. And if/when anyone challenged him, he slapped them down (“Put them out of the church”).
Why write this post? Because pride scares me. Because I need to guard against wanting to always be #1. Because I must abhor evil and imitate good. Because I’m sure Diotrephes had no clue about who he really was. THAT scares me. I need reminders. I need warnings. This was written as a “Note to self: Work to be more like Gaius and Demetrius!”
Thank you Pastor Ron, this will be a GREAT tool for this young minister
Richard… Young?!
Naw… NOT Richard!
Very young in the ministry, not as young in the flesh!!