The Endless list of Diotrephes!

 

Diotrephes was a self-assuming, monopolizing leader who acted as though he was preeminent over others in the church. The New Testament describes him as an abusive leader “who likes to put himself first,” and he is strongly condemned in 3 John 1:9-10. The Christianity Leader magazine and many other Christian magazines in the recent past have pointed out the fall of many renowned Christian leaders and preachers like Mike Bickel, Steve Lawson, Tullian Frank Viola, Bill Gothard, Ravi Zacharias, Michael Brown, Paul Pressler, Robert Morris, and so on … Every country might have such list of names.

Lately, it seems that God is increasingly exposing abuse and corruption among “churches” and “ministries” that embody unbiblical notions of the Body of Christ and leadership. As I was reading some of the news in social media, I noticed each of these fallen “leaders” share two recognizable dimensions: 1. Their “ministry” revolved around them and their own “gifts” and “vision” as they assumed the rights of pinnacle “leadership” over everyone else; and 2. They had no true integration or submission to a Biblically functional local congregation in their own lives and hometowns, where there is diverse ministry and mutual accountability to one another, along with multi-gifted, balanced leadership. 

Apostle Paul cites examples of people who disobeyed in some form and perished, “these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our instruction on whom the ends of the ages have come.” (1 Corinthians 10:8-11). God is compassionate and long-suffering but at the same time one cannot get away with it if he/she continues in the debauchery and scandal. The Church in today’s context is framed under a banner of institution that a Pastor can deliberate and execute immense power to remain in that position. Most of the time the Pastor/Bishop and a leader is a celebrity. He can get what he wants. People never question the intention. Unfortunately, it is the common believer who elevates the leader to a pedestal that the leader comes crashing down. 

Today, for a believer the place, facility (Church building) is of paramount importance. The pastor’s credibility is irrelevant. Weirdly, the believer may be more qualified in the knowledge of the Bible than the Pastor or a leader but because of the position, a Pastor/bishop/Leader is looked upon as a saint and God. Diane Langberg advise is worth considering, “know Christ so well you can discern what is unlike Him no matter the seductive or religious garb it wears. God is building His kingdom in the hearts of men and women, not in the externals we have come to love to protect and praise.”.

Just because the Church/Ministry leader is renowned and powerful, it does not give him the leverage to institute what he feels is right. We forget that anything done in the name of God that does not bear resemblance to His character, is not of Him at all. We become more loyal to human words than to God’s commands. 

Paul while referring to the Corinthians talks about Satan disguising himself as an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14 in verse 15 he cites, “so it is not great surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will be according to their works.” The Corinthians Church was swayed by the “Super-apostles” eloquent, charismatic, and self-aggrandizing leaders who were preaching a different gospel and demanded payment for their services. These men boasted of their spiritual authority and worldly success. Watch out and be careful. Give all glory to God. Let your Church be the institute that nurtures you and equips you to be the carrier of the gospel. 

 

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Divine Moments for gospel conversation!

 

When do you think is the appropriate time to have a gospel conversation with someone who hasn’t heard the gospel yet?  It’s a common assumption that its Christmas or Easter or Pentecost celebrations are the best time. But we are blissfully unaware that its all-time, everywhere. Another grave assumption we make is that it’s the duty of missionaries and evangelists. Mostly these people operate living in a small town or remote village more than a thousand miles away. The fact that every believer is a witness and a missionary according to the Bible is an unknown fact. 

Jesus was a full-time evangelist who was constantly sharing the good news to all forms of groups, with no exceptions. It is Churches and Christians who have compartmentalized sacred and secular. It is funny that those who emphasize and encourage people to consider sharing the gospel and be a witness in the workspace have successfully compartmentalized even that too to an exclusive zone. Being a witness and sharing the gospel to one group of people and in a particular space is not a great example of being witness. I like the way R Stanley puts it by saying, “every person without Christ is a mission field”. It can be your neighbor, your colleagues, your relatives, your friends for that matter. 

Jesus stated this, “You will be brought before governors and kings because of me, to bear witness to them and to the gentiles. But when they hand you over, don’t worry about or what you are to speak. For you will be given what to say to that hour.” (Matthew 10:18-19).Every situation, even in the toughest time, while being persecuted, need to be a witness and present Christ (Matthew 10:23). We notice this happened in Acts 8 when Paul was posing threat to Christians by causing havoc and putting them to prison. People fled and were scattered everywhere. Verse 4 says, “Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.”. This is a phenomenon hard to find these days.

Jesus knew that the time for Him is short and used every opportunity to go from town to town, villages and cities to share the good news. The gospel of John records that Jesus had a midnight conversation with Nicodemus (John 3:2). No time, people or places were exempted for Him. I had a similar encounter with an Uber cab driver while returning home after admitting my daughter in the hospital, at midnight. It is always a habit of mine to strike a conversation with cab drivers and make sure by the time I alight the cab, they have heard about Jesus. This is one of those moments, but this was my first gospel sharing at the midnight hour. The conversation slowly picked momentum, and the spirit of the Lord was at work. Well into the conversation the cab driver stopped the cab by the side of the road and was receptive to the gospel which went around for one hour. He was willing to pray with me and expressed his interest to know more about Jesus. Although it was a trying and tiring moment for me with my daughter being in the hospital, it was a joy to know that God used that midnight hour to bring glory by touching one lost soul to hear the gospel. This is what I mean by sharing the gospel anywhere, anytime.

When there is true transformation of life you will be compelled to share the gospel with anyone and everyone. It is just irrepressible.  When someone is hesitant, unsure of how to share, or too timid, ashamed and aware of different gospel sharing tools yet not bold enough, then the person needs to analyze his/her relationship with Christ. You cannot stop expressing the love for others if you love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. The more you start sharing the gospel, the more you will want to keep sharing. True courage is when you start sharing with non-Christians than with Christians. Pastors and Church leaders, I urge you to make it a habit of sharing the gospel and be a model your Church to follow.

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