Faithful to Do Good in Support of True Gospel Missionaries
The world will never support the advance of the unstoppable Gospel of Jesus Christ. True Christian missionaries bring the truth of the Gospel to others in diverse locations. (Rom 10:15). They are ambassadors for Christ, who walk in love with a heart for lost souls, and who walk in the truth as it is in Jesus (2 Cor 5:20; Eph 4:21; 3 John 1:3). They go out from their local churches for the sake of Jesus’ name (3 Jn 7).
For a true Gospel minister to go and to serve where he or she is divinely called to go, requires the support of a local church or many churches. There are both sending churches and receiving churches, who collectively bear the burdens of the missionaries. Simply put, mission work is a partnership between the senders and the sent one.
In the early church, from Ephesus, the Apostle and Elder named John, who was the youngest of Jesus’ disciples, was working to help the churches in the region. Apostolic authority was sometimes challenged in the churches. Like Paul, John had his troubles with schismatic “leaders” who lusted for money and power within local churches.
In the case of the dispute between John and Diotrephes, recorded in 3 John, we learn of the practice of itinerant missionaries and their reception or non-reception by the churches.
In view, we have a dichotomy. True church elders and true Gospel missionaries are set in contrast with secessionists and their false teachers, who also traveled from place to place. For the Christian, it is imperative to discern between true and false teachers, in the same way it is essential to attend a local church with a plurality of elders who work together in the unity of the Spirit of truth.
3 John reveals a scenario where a man named Demetrius seems to have been set by the Apostle John to deliver the epistle of 3 John to a church elder by the name of Gaius. Diotrephes, the opponent, is named and exposed in John’s letter (3 John 9–11). His wicked words and evil deeds needed to be addressed. John did this in his letter; but it was also his intention to meet up with Gaius and the church there, in the near future…in person (3 Jn 14).
The three epistles of the Apostle John all carry the themes of love and truth. They also serve warning regarding the opposing camp of secessionists and their missionary network. The churches in the region were being tested to act like Bereans (Acts 17:11). They must know the truth by examining the Scriptures; and they must also walk by the Spirit of truth so to unmask the opponents of the truth, who were not particularly loving, especially to the true missionaries.
Many deceivers, children of the devil, operated in local churches (Jn 8:44; 1 Jn 3:10). Even the smallest of congregations can be mired in the strife caused by those who are greedy for gain. Money and power are the motives of the opponents to the Gospel of God. This is in contrast with those whose motive is love, especially love for the truth.
Christians who love well do good. They imitate what is good (3 Jn 11); and good works are vividly displayed when hospitality is extended to Christians who are traveling from other communities. Reputations are formed by acts of generosity and kindness shown to servants of God. There is a mutual responsibility for acceptable behavior by both missionaries and churches.
The missionary, motivated by love for God, must speak the truth in love to the people of God, in every place the Holy Spirit sends him to minster the Gospel of grace. The churches, motivated by love for God, must discern the mission of the missionary for its legitimacy. Once the missionary’s character and the missionary’s work is validated, support should be issued by both individual Christians and by corporate bodies of believers.
Missionaries are people of faith and truth. They trust the Lord as their provider. The missionary is an example and an inspiration to Christians in local churches. Young people, who later become missionaries themselves, are often inspired by the visit of the missionary and encouraged by the love shown to the missionary by the church family who supports the traveler from afar.
Opponents of the truth are to be exposed for their lack of love and lack of hospitality. They must be identified by name when they hold positions of ecclesiastical authority. Their travel comrades must also be exposed and denied hospitality because they are not true stewards of the Gospel truth.
It is the work of the Holy Spirit and the Bible to help the churches in these matters demanding discernment. With a gracious and generous reception granted to those who seek fellowship and support, we must pray to know God’s will regarding our relationship to those who come to us as missionary slaves of Christ (Eph 6:6).
If God has sent someone to us, it behooves us to receive that one in a manner worthy of God. If the devil has sent someone to us, we must deny them and warn other churches of that “missionary” whose lack of truth and love expose them. May God bless you and your local church with a plethora of true missionaries to support and an abundance of resources for every good work (2 Cor 9:8), to further true proclamation of the advancing kingdom of Christ in the world.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
December 22, 2023
3 John
