Title: HOSPITALITY—PARTNERSHIP IN TRUTH
Focus: Christians advance the gospel of truth by practicing hospitality.
Function: To encourage the people to see the practice of hospitality as a ministry that belongs duly to every member of Christ’s body, the church.
Text: III John 1-14
When I was a child, I loved spending time with my grandfather and my mother’s sister. Grandpa lived on a farm in the country, and my aunt took care of my grandpa. She was not married and had no children of her own. I always enjoyed being in their presence, because they welcomed me with open arms.
That does not mean that I could get away with all kinds of (naughty) stuff. Oh, no. My aunt and my grandfather were strict disciplinarians. Yet, they had a knack to open their home, not only for family, but also for neighbors and towns people in the area. The secret of their hospitality, I think, goes back not just to opening the doors of their home, but the door to their hearts. They genuinely cared about the neighbors, and they conveyed love and acceptance of me and the rest of the family.
Hospitality is a gift, so says the Scripture; in fact, says the apostle Paul: (Rom. 13:13) “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” The same teaching confronts us in the text for this afternoon. We learn from the apostle John’s pastoral letter (III John 1-13) that Christians are to advance the gospel of truth by practicing hospitality. This afternoon, then, I want to encourage us to see the practice of hospitality as a Christian ministry that belongs duly to every member of Christ’s body, the church.
I would not be surprised if you would admit that you are not very familiar with this pastoral letter titled “III John.” It’s kind of hidden in the back of the New Testament; it’s small (only 14 verses). And I am sure that you have not heard that many sermons preached from this letter. I must admit to you that this is perhaps my second or third sermon preached from III John in 25 years of preaching ministry.
Yet, this pastoral letter contains some precious gems of teaching. We begin by taking note of the writer and the recipient of this letter. The writer introduces himself the same way as he did in II John: namely, the “elder.” Last week, we observed that the “elder” in all likelihood is the apostle John himself. Ancient commentators have asserted this observation, and internal evidence, such as the style of writing, the kind of grammar, and the turn of phrases and terms all point convincingly to the apostle John as the writer.
The recipient is Gaius. In Roman times, the name “Gaius” was very common. We find this name also mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament, but we have no way of knowing whether the Gaius mentioned in Romans 16:23 is the same person mentioned in Acts 19:29, for example, or if this Gaius is someone else altogether. We simply don’t’ know.
But this we do know: Gaius and John were on very friendly or close terms. Four times, the apostle John refers to Gaius as “dear friend.” And John wishes him good health saying, “I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” Physical as well as spiritual health and well-being are on John’s menu of prayers for Gaius.
It appears that John’s relationship with Gaius is forged in the fires of the gospel of truth. Just as John is committed to Jesus Christ and the truth Jesus stands for, so Gaius is committed to the truth. In fact, Gaius cares for and walks in the truth. Listen: (vs.3) “It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” Clearly, John sees Gaius as a brother in the Lord and as a partner in spreading and modeling the truth of God’s Word as it comes to us in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
A few weeks ago, we observed what the apostle John means when he uses the phrase “to walk in the truth.” For example, to walk in the truth means that we are found in Christ Jesus. (I John 5:20) Christians are “…in (God) who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God….” Also, to walk in the truth means that we abide by or be in step with the Spirit of truth (I John 4:13).
Likewise, to walk in the truth means to be in fellowship with God and with one another. “If we claim to have fellowship with (God) yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another….” (I John 1:8). And elsewhere in his pastoral letter, John makes clear that walking in the truth also means to know our place before God and to have eternal life. In I John 1:8 John calls all Christians to live with a repentant spirit, confessing our sins before God, and in I John 5:11 John says: “…God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life…(vs.20) And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.”
All of this has bearing on John’s relationship with Gaius. They are partners in the gospel of truth; and they walk their talk; they walk in the truth.
How do we know that Gaius walks in the truth of the gospel? John tells us by commending Gaius for his practice of hospitality, especially to those who are traveling missionaries or evangelists. Listen (vs. 5) ‘Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you.” Praising Gaius for his inviting, open heart to strangers who promote the gospel, the apostle John lays before us and the rest of the Christian church the motivation to practice hospitality likewise: (vs. 7) “It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth.” In other words, showing hospitality to other Christians is our duty in support of the ministry of the gospel of truth. You can’t expect unbelievers to support Christian missionaries and teachers, for example. But certainly, church members who belong to Jesus Christ and walk in the truth, may be expected to practice hospitality.
It’s in this light of Christians advancing the gospel of truth by the practice of hospitality that we begin to understand John’s deep disappointment and even disgust with Diotrephes.
We don’t know much about Diotrephes. It appears that he was an influential person in the community and in the church as well. He may well have been a wealthy aristocrat, converted to the Christian faith, but still very keen on holding on to a position of influence and prestige. He seems to have the power to dismiss or marginalize people in one of the household churches in town. We don’t know for sure.
But this we do know. For John tells us: Diotrephes disrespects the authority of John as an apostle. He dismisses the counsel or advice of John; in fact, Diotrephes ignores John’s correspondence, breaks the bond of Christian fellowship and violates the biblical command to practice hospitality, especially for the sake of the gospel of truth. Listen: (vs. 10) “…I will call attention to what Diotrephes is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.”
Diotrephes, then, is a bully in the church. Although he may be a convert to the Christian faith, he has a long way to go. Diotrephes’ love of self is far greater than his love for God and love for neighbor. Diotrephes, says John, “…loves to be first.” Diotrephes, then, is the opposite of Gaius. And Diotrephes’ destructive behavior undermines the gospel of truth and brings discredit to the name of Christ and the church.
So, John continues and holds before us the call to do good. And John points to another person by the name of Demetrius as a model to follow. Listen: (vs. 11,12) “Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him and you know that our testimony is true.”
All throughout this short letter, then, congregation, I see this message rising from its surface: Let Christians advance the gospel of truth by practicing hospitality.
How can we, today, live out this call? I suggest two things:
In the past Calvary Church has responded well and faithfully in supporting our missionaries in Nigeria (Larry and Rose Van Zee); you also respond financially to the ministry needs of Laura Groen and now also of Amy Thompson.
Calvary participates in offerings for world missions and home missions. And we do not only support those who announce good news in far away places, we also support those who practice the gospel of truth with their skills and abilities. For whenever Christian Reformed World Relief Committee appeals for financial support, you give royally and freely. That’s commendable; that practice makes us partners with all these missionaries in the gospel of truth. Surely, we need to continue this practice as a church.
Our partnership with them in the gospel of truth, however, is not only monetary or financial. Our practice of hospitality should be laced with prayer support. For the resources we have and give for the practice of hospitality and supporting the ministry of the truth—these all aim at converting people to become followers of the truth.
Let financial and prayer support, then, continue as part of our practice of hospitality and in partnership with all our missionaries and Christian workers.
It is not uncommon to hear people in the Discipleship Journey toward becoming members at Calvary commenting about your kindness or willingness to help newcomers to feel at home in our church. But I think we can do even better when each and every member thinks of him/herself as host or hostess. You and I, as members, make up the community called “Calvary Church.” As such we are the ones who welcome guests and visitors; we are the ones who must help make the connections so vital for community. We are the ones who must create environments that allow for inquiry, fellowship and spiritual formation.
That’s why we must be careful not to exclude people from our conversations by talking “shop” that only can be understood by insiders. Most people “out there” do not know Calvin College or Dordt. Many have no clue when we refer to CRWRC or when we joke about our own CRC changing traditions and cherished ways of doing things.
Here’s what we can do:
After every worship service, look for and connect with someone you don’t know. Introduce yourself, make that person feel welcome and accepted. Then, be sure to introduce that person to someone else you know, so that you expand the circle of fellowship and acquaintances.
The next week, look for that person again and re-connect with him or her. Consider inviting such persons to your home, or to some church function such as Coffee Break or a small group Bible Study. Think “connection.” Make showing hospitality a practice, and discover the power and joy of spreading the fragrance and love of Christ. Clearly, by practicing hospitality, we promote the gospel of truth. Indeed, we communicate the love of Jesus, who is the truth!
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen!