Letter to the Congregations: 14th December 2024

Our Dear Brethren,

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (3 John 1:2-4).

Besides the account of the life of Jesus Christ and the book of Revelation, we also have three short letters that the apostle John authored. In the last of these letters John wrote to one of his fellow elders, Gaius. In it John expressed the well-known fact that this man was very loved by his brethren who had seen with their own eyes the way that Gaius cared for and served other people. This sort of behavior is worthy of honor by both God and men.

The point of this letter is not only to give Gaius some credit where it is due, but also to help him as he cares for and counsels the brethren. In this same letter John mentions two other individuals who may or may not be elders themselves, but who the brethren have also noticed serving in their congregation. However, these other men are not both serving with the same love for the brethren.

One man, who the brethren may have been told lies about, John has this to say of: “Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true” (3 John 1:12). The other man, Diotrephes, is described as “prating against” John and other honorable leaders “with malicious words” (see 3 John 1:10). It seems that at a certain point this man had let pride enter into his head or heart. Instead of being a servant of others he refused correction from John and pushed out of the congregation anyone who disagreed with him.

This guidance (and a warning) given to Gaius is very applicable to us in the modern era of the Church of God. While this letter is short, and there were many things that John didn’t say, the apostle does leave us with some very good guidance as we examine our own behavior and attitude, asking ourselves if we are more like Diotrephes or more like Demetrius and Gaius: “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God” (3 John 1:11).

This corrective guidance pairs well with some of the main points in the other letters from John: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9); “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son” (2 John 1:9). In his short letters John does well in describing the expectations God has for His children, including our willingness to follow Him and our willingness to humbly serve and love one another.

Our love is with you,

Lewis VanAusdle

Pastor, United Church of God

NYC, NJ, CT, Malawi, Zimbabwe