The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

3 John 1:9-11, “I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say.

10 For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, neither does he himself receive the brethren, and he forbids those who desire to do so, and puts them out of the church.

11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.”

I was going through some things today and ran across a small New Testament that I carried when in Australia. A friend there had it recovered for me in kangaroo leather. It’s very nice, but also very old. Hidden on a back leaf in that Testament were these words of the inimitable Vance Havner, “We are not only to comfort the affilcted, but to afflict the comforted.”

The Apostle John was a product of the First Century; Vance Havner just barely made it into the 20TH Centruy. But, somehow, John acquired the same perky, fearless attitude as Havner! John’s letter to the church was rubbished by a man called Diotrephes, whose very name means “cherished by Zeus.” But John wouldn’t let it all lie there. He says it is all but certain that he will arrive in person at the church, at which time he will publicly address the injustice perpetrated by this follower of Zeus!

Diotrephes had unjustly accused John of some things and used some seemy words in the process. He also controlled who would be received into the church and wielded some strong exits for those who opposed his position on almost anything.

“Afflict the comforted” is on its way!

Churches today often need Havner’s “affliction,” too. Satan still has his lieutenants inside the church. Groups often delve into activities and attitudes that evolve from the world. Of course, there are always excuses for doing certain things and engaging in certain worldly activities that, puportedly, will have a saving grace conclusion –except that they don’t! Church discipline was

on John’s mind, even as it ought to be on ours! I’m reminded of Chaucer’s words in his Prologue to the Canterbury Tales: “If gold rusts, what will iron do?” If the Church for which Christ died becomes worldly, what can we expect of our world?

We need to pray for our churches! We need to set the example for those who are surrendering their lives to Christ! And some-times, we need to verbally “afflict the comforted!” –but always, of course, in love as directed by the Holy Spirit.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”