“Summer of Love” // 3 John 9-15
The following is a manuscript of the sermon presented by Senior Pastor Dr. Roger Patterson on Sunday, August 28, 2022 at our West U Baptist campus. To view the sermon in full, check out the link below.
I want to give you the tools to deal with Cancel Culture, both inside and outside of the church.
Have you heard the term Cancel Culture lately? It seems that every where we turn, someone is getting “Canceled.”
It is often a celebrity who is the victim of cancel culture.
A number of celebrities have claimed being canceled. For some it has cost them a role or a job.
Here is one in particular. Piers Morgan…
Bestlifeonline.com said…”A year after quitting Good Morning Britain when he was called out for comments he made about Meghan Markle and her interview with Oprah Winfrey, Piers Morgan announced that his new talk show, which will air in Australia, the UK, and the US, will ‘cancel cancel culture.'”
“A year ago today, I was forced to leave a job I loved, at the peak of its success, for having the audacity to express an honestly held opinion,” Morgan said in a statement in early 2022, via The Hill. “This shouldn’t happen in any democracy supposedly built on the principles of free speech and freedom of expression.”
Let me give you a working definition of “Cancel Culture.”
A definition of Cancel Culture
“Cancel culture or call-out culture is a phrase contemporary to the late 2010s and early 2020s used to refer to a form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles – whether it be online, on social media, or in person. Those subject to this ostracism are said to have been “cancelled”. The expression “cancel culture” has mostly negative connotations and is used in debates on free speech and censorship.
The notion of cancel culture is a variant on the term call-out culture. It is often said to take the form of boycotting or shunning an individual (often a celebrity) who is deemed to have acted or spoken in an unacceptable manner.”
One of the main reasons people get canceled today is because of their conservative or biblical views on topics like:
- Marriage
- Sexuality
- Trans-Genderism
- Not fitting a specific political agenda
Just last week a twitter account was suspended because someone questioned how canceling student loan debt was good fiscal policy.
Those who ran Twitter suspended the post for evening questioning the narrative of the government.
But it’s not just the political arena where people are getting canceled. It also happens in the church. And, in all honesty, it’s nothing new.
Today, I want to give you the tools to rise above the Cancel Culture of our day. I’ll do my best to give you four practical ways to overcome it in your life.
As we wrap up John’s letters, let me invite you to see how John instructs us and those close to him who got canceled because of their relationship with him.
3 John 1:9-15
“I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church. Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true. I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name.”
As we have studied John’s letters this summer, let’s remember a few things about him and what he has written:
- He was called himself the “Beloved” disciple in the gospel he wrote about Jesus. He had a very close intimate relationship with Jesus.
- He was also called one of the “Sons of Thunder.”
- He was a fisherman — a blue collar, hard-working man.
- His mom asked Jesus if he and his brother James could sit next to Jesus on both the right and left when he sat on his throne in His kingdom. This caused consternation between the other disciples and he and James.
- Given some of these facts, I am sure he was quite comfortable dealing with conflict.
- But he also writes with key themes that he continually puts before His readers. Themes like love and truth and the fact that Jesus came and took on flesh. Over and over again, he instructs us to love and reiterates the new commandment Jesus gave to love one another.
So, this last section of John’s letter to Gaius is different than anything we have ever seen before from John.
Now, before I give you the 4 Principles to Overcome Cancel Culture, I want us to understand who Diotrephes is.
I. Who is Diotrephes?
- Some would say, “He’s a hater.”
- Others would call him a Bully.
- Others would call him the “Cancel Culture Police.”
But, it also appears he is a pastor of a local church…maybe a church near Gaius. Or he is a very influential member of a church…maybe it meets in his home and he has tremendous influence.
We don’t really know of his position, but we can see very clearly that he exercises church discipline over these who attend here.
3 John 1:10
“So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.”
As a matter of fact In verse 10, John lodges four specific charges against Diotrephes:
- He is gossiping maliciously about us — he is spreading LIES
- He refuses hospitality to the traveling teachers
- He prevents others in the church who want to from doing so
- He attempts to put out of the church those who extend hospitality
Do you see how Diotrephes is canceling John, Gaius, these teachers (traveling missionaries), and those who support them?
The Cancel Culture Police do these same things. They:
- LIE
- Put LIDS on Others
- LABOR to Isolate
- LABEL people into Groups
The Cancel Culture Police…
- Spread LIES
- Put LIDS on Others
- LABORS to Isolate
- LABELS people into Groups
Have you ever played Guess Who: The Mystery Face Game?
- There are several faces up on the board, with you and your opponent each having one.
- You ask yes or no questions eliminating as many people as possible from your choices until you are left to identify their character.
- The best questions allow you to knock down a lot at one time.
People like Diometres have a similar mentality. They want to eliminate as many people from who they see as competitors.
This is why a cancel culture is so popular. They divide people into groups and cancel one of the groups. This continues until only they are left.
Now, why would a pastor, munch less anyone, act this way? Why would this behavior be found inside the church?
I want you to notice 4 Qualities or Characteristics of people like this.
Slide: 4 characteristics of Cancelers:
- They are me centered. (Vs. 9)
- They have authority problems. (Vs. 9)
- They speak maliciously. (Vs. 10)
- They burn bridges instead of building them. (Vs. 10)
Notice how there is a negative progression in how Diotrephes’ character is described. At first he appears to be ambitious, putting himself first. Then he is arrogant, refusing John’s authority. Next, he is making accusations (which have no substance), and finally he is taking action, “refusing to welcome the brothers.”
- Me-Centered — Motivated and lead by pride. Now, many people are motivated by pride.
Are you Me-Centered? It’s so easy to be Me-Centered.
Scotty Smith, writing for The Gospel Coalition, writes about the “tragedy of loving to be first” and outlines some of the ways this can play out in our different relationships.
He suggests that so many of us love to hear our own name called in a positive sense, but we would be horrified if we were named among those such as Diotrephes. Thus, he prays that we would be convicted when we find ourselves putting us first over the needs of others…
“In our families—when our zeal to be right is more notorious than our commitment to be kind.
In our friendships—when we keep things too superficial, and withhold our struggles and brokenness from our friends.
In our vocations—when those we work with feel more used than loved, and sense we are more into self-promotion than serving others.
In the general population—when we navigate through life with little eye contact, too much rush, and too little compassion.
In the community of fellow sinners—when we’re more irritated with other people’s messes and brokenness than we grieve our self-righteousness and lack of Christlikeness.”
- Second, Diometres had a problem with authority. Notice verse 9 again.
3 John 1:9
“I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.
The Apostle John is not just trying to flash his badge and throw his authority around.
Remember, he was personally commissioned by Jesus and Jesus, in his high priestly prayer prayed for those who would believe on the words of the Apostles.
The Apostle was a “Sent One.”
Remember the Great Commission.
Notice the transference of authority.
Matthew 28:18-20
“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
In John’s gospel, we see this same transference of authority.
John 20:21
“Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
John has been given authority by Jesus and this one will not recognize it.
Bullies have authority issues.
- Third, they speak falsehoods. They lie.
Bullies lie to control their narrative and to put people in their place where they want them.
- And lastly, they Burn Bridges — They don’t care about others and the damage they cause other people.
But these people ruin other people’s lives. They have for centuries and still do today.
So, here is the question. How do we handles these haters? How do we handle the bully…the cancel culture police?
I. 4 Principles to Overcome Cancel Culture
Let me now give you the 4 Principles to Overcome Cancel Culture…they come right from the text here.
4 Principles to Overcome Cancel Culture
- Speak truth in love. (Vs. 10)
- Overcome evil with good. (Vs. 11)
- Focus on positive relationships (Vs. 12)
- Keep building healthy community (Vs. 13-15)
Look at these quickly with me.
- Speak the truth in love.
Look at Verse 10.
3 John 1:10
“So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.”
John doesn’t hold back from being very clear here to show what the problem is.
He says, “If I can come, I’ll bring it up with him.” But it also seems to indicate that he is not sure if he can come, so Gaius needs to stand up to him.
Friends, don’t feel like you can’t stand up for yourself. Don’t let the bully push you around. You can fight back. And you can do so in a loving, kind manner.
Let’s look at the second one.
4 Principles to Overcome Cancel Culture
- Speak truth in love. (Vs. 10)
- Overcome evil with good. (Vs. 11)
- Focus on positive relationships (Vs. 12)
- Keep building healthy community (Vs. 13-15)
3 John 1:11
“Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.”
Here is another way to say this… “Don’t stoop low.” Don’t repay evil with evil. Don’t get pulled into the pit. Take a higher road and a different way.
Love you enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you.
Let’s look at the third principle here.
4 Principles to Overcome Cancel Culture
- Speak truth in love. (Vs. 10)
- Overcome evil with good. (Vs. 11)
- Focus on positive relationships (Vs. 12)
- Keep building healthy community (Vs. 13-15)
Slide: 3 John 1:12
“Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.”
Here, John introduces us to another individual. His name is Demetrius. Demetrius is quite possibly the one who carried this letter to Gaius. He may have chosen him that he might support Gaius in dealing with Diotrephes.
When the cancel culture is coming our way and the bully rears his or her head, tune out, turn away, and don’t stay in the negativity. Delete your social media. Stop listening and giving life to the narrative. Focus on positive relationships and find life there.
Which leads me to my 4th principle.
4 Principles to Overcome Cancel Culture
- Speak truth in love. (Vs. 10)
- Overcome evil with good. (Vs. 11)
- Focus on positive relationships (Vs. 12)
- Keep building healthy community (Vs. 13-15)
The fourth way to overcome Cancel Culture is to Build Healthy Community.
Look at verses 13-15 as we conclude our study.
3 John 1:13-15
“I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name.”
Notice the words, “Peace be to you.” John’s heart for Gaius is that he would live and lead in peace. That he would keep doing the right things…loving, serving, supporting, and helping those who share the gospel.
And he wants him to know that even in this time of challenge, he can enjoy the peace of our Lord and peaceful relationships.
A coach will often tell his players, “Don’t let them get in your head. Play your game.”
That’s sort of what I hear John saying here.
“Gaius, don’t let Diotrephes get in your head. He is just a bully. Instead, y’all keep doing right. Keep leading well. Keep at it. What you are doing is making a difference and I have such joy when you walk in the truth like that.
Gaius, surround yourself with the true friends in the gospel. They are peaceful relationships — ones that bring you life. Don’t sweat Dieotrephes. Confront him and speak the truth. Just know, you probably won’t change him because he is all about himself. But Gaius, don’t quit. Be faithful and build healthy community. Surround yourself with the right people and you will be fine.”
Friends, you and I both can look around and see how hard it is to graciously walk before others. The culture in which we live stands squarely against Christ. In the days ahead, I believe it will be harder and harder to not be canceled and to stand for what we believe in.
This teaching is crucial. It’s vital. And it’s rooted in our relationship with Jesus.
Remember 3 John 1:4.
3 John 1:4
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
The Scripture tells us in Proverbs to Buy the Truth and Do Not Sell it.
In the days ahead…maybe even now, you or maybe your children will be pressured to sell the truth…to abandon your faith…to walk away from Jesus.
Let me encourage you…this is nothing new. It’s been happening from the 1st Century if not before. But God’s word give us these 4 things that we can do.
4 Principles to Overcome Cancel Culture
- Speak truth in love. (Vs. 10)
- Overcome evil with good. (Vs. 11)
- Focus on positive relationships (Vs. 12)
- Keep building healthy community (Vs. 13-15)
May we be found walking in the truth!