It’s hard to know where to begin with two of the shortest pieces in all Scripture. To my knowledge, I’ve never heard a sermon on II or III John, and again to my knowledge, I’ve never preached one. So a few months ago I committed to that task, planning to do II John this coming Sunday and III John the week after, on Mother’s Day. As I began to unpack that preaching task this week, I found myself somewhat dismayed and in sympathy with all those preachers who never tackle these small books.
After some reflection, I’ve decided to switch the order, starting with III John this Sunday. One reason is that the reverse order leaves the “elect lady and her children” in II John for Mother’s Day, which is a connection and preaching hook to which I will humbly stoop.
So here I am now with the “beloved Gaius” and his hospitality (III John 2-8), which stands in stark contrast to the inhospitable and unfriendly ways of one Diotrephes (verses 9-10).
As can be seen on the national stage, lack of hospitality seems connected to pride and arrogance. “Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.” John contrasts not only Diotrephes and Gaius in this respect, but adds another good example, Demetrius in verse 12, in contrast to the prideful, inhospitable and evil leadership of Diotrephes.
I was put in mind of a Harvard Business Review article my wife Beth passed on to me recently, “If Humble People Make the Best Leaders, Why Do We Fall for Charismatic Narcissists?” One answer the article offers is “High levels of anxiety make us hungry for charisma.” In other words, uncertainty and fear in regard to the future make us willing to put assertive and grandiose people in charge, hoping they can address the causes of our fears and wanting to believe they can save us. One easy scapegoat for such leadership is people who are different from our own selves. And one easy strategy is denying hospitality to those who are different.
The Scriptures regularly call us away from trust in such over-reaching and inhumane leadership and toward leadership that is humble and other-regarding. Jesus Christ is the supreme example of such leadership. The very people to whom Gaius showed hospitality are said in verse 7 to have begun “their journey for the sake of Christ [literally ‘the Name’].” Thus their purpose was not their own benefit or glory but instead the glory of Jesus.
Following narcissistic examples like Diotrephes will indeed make us inhospitable. We will be focused our own concerns and well-being rather than on others. If we think about Jesus it will be in terms of how He benefits us rather than in regard to how we can follow His example of concern for those who are in need.
So the heart of III John is verse 11, “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil but imitate what is good.” As simple as it sounds, the surrounding context about conflicting examples in early church leadership shows us that there is much to consider about our choice of examples and leaders.