These are satan’s Agents. They may be pastors, spouses, or others. It may not be their goal but that is the effect of their “counsel,” actions, thoughts, etc.
Their actions have the effect of causing too many believers to deny Christ.
I’m thinking of in particular those who are considered “exceptionable” Christians.
Articles:
B1 15 Narcissistic Religious Abuse Tactics
B2 A testimony Things I Learned from a Lifetime in Evangelicalism and What I Learned Since
B3 The Narcissistic Pastor: 10 signs that you may be one
Basic characteristics as I understand it
B1 Craves the admiration of others, even seeking worship.
B2 Control. This is life is their way and only their way.
B3 Abuse in every form if the above characteristics are not meet by others
3 John 1:9-11 NKJV I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church. 11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.
B1 Characteristics of Diotrephes
C1 Loves the preeminence= not just recognition of being the leader but craving more, and if not given, will respond with abuse.
C2 Prating= talking much, going on and on about this issue, with evil words, false accusations, shaming, etc. Maybe even teaching that he is greater than the Apostle.
C3 Malicious words= evil, hurtful, shaming, even verbal abuse, lies to sway the other people’s thoughts to change about the Apostle. His speeches and verbal abuse did not satisfy (content with) him, so Diotrephes had to do even more.
C4 Unkindness/inhospitality= the word receive means to receive hospitably. Diotrephes would not warmly welcome missionary believers, nor help them in any way. See Romans 15:7 and Philippians 2:29.
C5 Uncompassionate= God is compassionate. (See Matthew 9:36, Mark 1:41, James 5:11)
C6 Forbids other people’s actions= totally controlling micromanager, threatens, abuses, does anything possible to stop others. He practices what he preaches for he will not assist these missionaries and then forbids others from helping them.
C7 Excommunicates those who disobey him
D1 The teaching of the Lord, the Apostles, and the prophets allow excommunication for
E1 Sexual sins see 1 Corinthians 5
E2 Refuses to obey the message of the Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 3:14. This especially deals with someone who is able to work and find work but refuses to do so but instead leeches off others.
E3 Causing divisions in the church. This is purposely by any means set people against each other in the church. Romans 16:17
E4 Wrong Christology. 2 John 1:9-11
E5 A member who teaches aberrancy from the apostolic faith. Titus 3:9-11 Avoid foolish questions, genealogies, bitter disagreements, and battles over the law, for they are not beneficial or useful. 10 Reject a heretic—after the first and second warning—11 Knowing that such a person is corrupt and sins, being self-condemned. See also 2 Thessalonians 3:6.
D2 Diotrephes did not have any of these conditions to justify his throwing people out of church. He needs to be thrown out.
C8 Evil= The Greek word means evil, wicked, evil thinking, destructive, etc.
C9 Has not seen God= He is a fake Christian. See Matthew 15:8, 1 John 2:9, 1 John 2:4, John 14:23-24, etc.
B2 Loves the preeminence
C1 The Greek word is φιλοπρωτεύω philoprōteúō.
C2 It means to love to be first, that is, the top authority.
B3 We can also surmise more from the description of Demetrius who had a good testimony from others. Diotrephes has a poor testimony from others.
Ephesians 6:13 NKJV Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
John 8:32 NLT And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
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