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 11)

Imitation

The apostle John was conflicted as he wrote to his beloved brother in Christ, Gaius. The church was filled with love and concern for others. Gaius was a man of integrity, honor, and a benevolent heart. These are the kinds of people that show the love of God in their hearts as servants of the Most High God. However, there was another man in the local church that John had no words of commendation to give. Diotrephes was a man who loved to be in charge, taking on a preeminent spirit of lording over the brethren. When John, an apostle of Jesus Christ, wrote to the church, Diotrephes refused to acknowledge the apostle. Jesus had given the apostles authority to guide the church in its infancy. Men like Diotrephes began to lord over the church with their own authority.

John would not allow Diotrephes to be a narcissistic leader of God’s people. Diotrephes had made evil accusations against John and others. His charges were unfounded and ungodly. He boasted a haughty spirit against those who came to minister to the church. His boldness was so great, he put people out of the church at his discretion. John assured Gaius when the aged apostle came, he would deal with Diotrephes. He exhorts Gaius and the brethren not to follow the prideful attitude of men like Diotrephes.

Lording over the church is evil and against the pattern of the New Testament church. No man has the authority to rule the church in their own way demanding the brethren cower to his authority. John says the example of these men should not be followed. In the church was a man called Demetrius, who had a good testimony from the brethren and was known for his stand for truth. This is the kind of man the brethren should imitate. John does not want the brethren to imitate the evil character of those who seek preeminence. The apostle exhorts the church to find men like Gaius and Demetrius to imitate. Imitation means to copy the behavior of an individual and replicate their example as a model of life. Men like Diotrephes should not be imitated.

The apostle Paul challenged the brethren at Corinth to imitate his life as he sought to imitate the life of Christ. Imitation comes with a cost of accountability when seeking to imitate Christ. John wants the brethren to imitate what is good and reject the bad example of men who seek to rule over the church. Demetrius had a good testimony and should be imitated. Diotrephes was an example of those who should not be imitated. It is important to find the right kind of people to emulate. The ultimate example is Jesus Christ, but there are many brethren who, not being perfect, seek perfection in their lives and are worthy of imitating. There are also some brethren whose lives should not be imitated or followed. They do not seek the welfare of the kingdom of God but their own agendas. These men should be rejected. Imitation is important. Do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. Those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.