Don’t Give up on The Assembly

5 Beloved, you do a faithful work in whatever you accomplish for those who are brothers and strangers…9 I wrote to the assembly, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, doesn’t accept what we say. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words. Not content with this, he doesn’t receive the brothers himself, and those who would, he forbids and throws out of the assembly.

John ends the letter in the same way he ended his second letter.  Reader, what can we learn from this little book? He is praising some and rebuking others, like Diotrephes. First, we should remember that there has always been dysfunction in the church. Some is caused by unbelievers who find their way among us. Others are believers who perhaps are still not walking in the spirit, but rather spend most of their time “in the flesh”, responding with flesh patterns they learned before they were saved. We should be wary of someone who wants to control everything. We should be wary of the teacher who thinks he’s way better than the others. The Church is described in scripture as a body having many parts. There are many things we can do in our own fellowships. Likewise, we should avoid those who cause division in the body and those who are needlessly offensive to others. (Romans 16:17-20)

Secondly, if you’re doing good, keep doing good even when you’re discouraged. Don’t be sidetracked by some unfounded criticism. Just know your calling and continue in it. In writing the church in Galatia, Paul exhorts, 9 Let’s not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season if we don’t give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let’s do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith. (Galatians 6:9-10 WEB) 

Thirdly, don’t be discouraged by dysfunction in the church. We all still have our problems, but this is the Body of Christ. We attend church not because it feels good because we can't always have it our own way. We come together because the Bible tells us to come together (Hebrews 10:25). Church attendance is not optional for a healthy believer. I am not speaking to those of you who are infirm and unable to attend services. I am talking to those who find church attendance optional if you don’t have anything else going on. The 19th century theologian Dwight L. Moody once described church attendance as a practice “as vital to a disciple as a transfusion of rich, healthy blood to a sick man.” But an increasing percentage of Christians are seemingly conflicted about the need for church, believing they can stay faithful to God on their own or just by watching a preacher online.

Reader, if you are not in one, look for a church that will focus on “preaching and teaching text-driven life application of God’s Word.” You and I are hungry for biblical teaching, and that is the only thing that will bring you the nourishment you need. Realize that every assembly has its problems. We will inevitably step on eachother’s toes, and we may even offend one another. But that does not give us the right to ever withdraw from the church. We come together as broken people, flawed and with problems. We are the body of Christ, and this is who God has formed us to be. We are a group of flawed people who come together to love and be kind to one another. Sometimes we’ll get hurt, but we never run. We are all works in progress. We were made perfect in Christ, but we don’t always walk in the truth of that identity. Reader, if this is you, commit yourself to forgiving others and moving forward. Make not only the disciple John proud of you, but you’ll please your Father in heaven.