Leadership Lessons from the Lesser Known
Most of the time in the Leadership Lessons from the Lesser Known we plumb the depths of the Scripture to find a positive role model. A leader with traits we admire and want to emulate.
However, this is not the case with Diotrephes. Diotrephes’ story covers only two verses in 3 John, but they detail the story of a man whose character is lacking, and it reflects in his leadership.
The Backstory
John, the disciple of Jesus, made a practice of sending traveling preachers as his emissaries to meet with leaders in local home churches. The purpose of these traveling preachers was to encourage local church leaders and ensure the Gospel message was maintained.
We don’t know exactly when, but apparently John learned of problems with a local church leader named Diotrephes and wrote a letter to the church to address the issues.
Now, John writes to Gaius, his friend, and Christian Brother, to warn him about Diotrephes.
“I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us. So if I come, I will call attention to what he 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” (3 John 1:9-10).
Five Serious Character Flaws
In these two short verses, John unveils five serious character flaws when describing Diotrephes.
Prideful
John says Diotrephes “loves to be first.” Some translations describe Diotrephes as “loving to have preeminence among them.” Diotrephes saw himself as the ‘top dog,’ the person above everyone else.
His pride was indeed apparent in the way that he regarded John.
Rejecting Authority
Diotrephes’s prideful view of himself caused him to reject even John’s authority. Imagine, he is a local church leader, and he has the temerity to reject the authority of John, the elder disciple of Jesus.
Spreading Lies
John says Diotrephes gossiped maliciously about them. Although it’s bad enough that Diotrephes gossiped about John and other leaders in the church, but the gossip included malicious lies. To use today’s vernacular, Diotrephes was spreading fake news.
Inhospitable
Not only did Diotrephes reject John’s authority and spread lies about him, but he also refused to welcome the emissaries John sent. Refusing to welcome fellow believers was the height of arrogance and a significant insult to them and to John.
Dictatorial
Perhaps the most egregious of Diotrephes’ wrongs is he kicked people out of the church that did want to welcome John’s emissaries.
Where there is Pride
Proverbs 13:10 tells us where there is strife, there is pride, and this certainly is the case with Diotrephes.
In fact, each of the character flaws which he exhibits flows from his momentous ego. He is so prideful he considers himself above John’s authority, he spreads lies about John and his emissaries, he refuses to welcome Christian brothers, and even kicks people out of the local church who don’t agree with him.
We don’t know what eventually happened to Diotrephes, but we do know that John planned to have a serious chat with him, and Proverbs 16:5 tells us, “The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.”
Lessons for Leaders
John is dealing with a rebellious leader in the church, and there are plenty of Diotrephes in many of our organizations today. Wherever there is power, there will be prideful men and women who seek that power. They will reject authority, gossip and tell lies, and they will reject anyone who does not support their position.
Therefore, be on the lookout for such people as they are poison to a company’s culture. They will even threaten the health of the organization itself. One of the first warning signs is the prideful nature of someone who seeks preeminence. Other signs of the poisonous employee include someone who rejects authority, gossips and tells lies and someone whose approach is “my way or the highway.”
This behavior should never be the case for Christian leaders. Writing to the leaders in the Philippian church, Paul said, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).
If we are humble leaders who value others, and who work not out of selfish ambition, but for bettering our people and our organizations God promises to lift us up (James 4:10).
Join the Conversation
As always, questions and comments are welcome. Have you ever encountered a leader like Diotrephes in your organization? If so, what effect did they have others, and on the health of the organization?
I’d love your help. This blog is read primarily because people like you share it with friends. Would you be kind enough to share it by pressing the share button?
Category: Personal Development | Character
