III John
Report of congregation walking in truthverses 1-4
The elder to the well-beloved Gaius
whom I love in the TRUTH
Beloved – I wish above all things that you may
prosper and be in health
even as your soul prospers
For I rejoiced greatly when the brethren came
and testified of the TRUTH that is in you
even as you walk in the TRUTH
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in TRUTH
Support traveling Biblical teachersverses 5-8
Beloved – you do faithfully whatsoever you do to the brethren
and to strangers
Which have born witness of your charity before the church
whom if you bring forward on their journey
after a godly sort – you shall do well
because that for HIS name’s sake
they went forth taking
nothing of the Gentiles
We therefore ought to receive such
that we might be fellow-helpers to the TRUTH
Diotrephes: bad leaderverses 9-10
I wrote to the church – BUT Diotrephes
who loves to have the pre-eminence among them
received us not
Wherefore – IF I come
I will remember his deeds which he does
prating against us with malicious words
and not content therewith
neither does he himself receive the brethren
and forbidding them that would
and casting them out of the church
Demetrius: good leaderverses 11-12
Beloved – follow not that which is evil – BUT that which is good
He that does good is of God
but he that does evil has not seen God
Demetrius has good report of all men – and of the TRUTH itself
YEA – and we also bear record
and you know that our record is TRUE
Benedictionverses 13-14
I have many things to write
but I will not with ink and pen write to you
but I trust I shall shortly see you
and we shall speak face to face
Peace be to you
Our friends salute you
Greet the friends by name
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in good health, even as your soul prospers. (2137 “prosper” [euodoo] means to lead by a direct and easy way, to lead on a good path, to grant a successful issue, be successful, get along well, have a way opened, succeed in reaching or to guide well)
DEVOTION: Any pastor should wish the best for his congregation. It should be expressed on a regular basis. The people who are under the under shepherd should know that they are loved without reservation.
Why should this be true? It is because Jesus Christ loved HIS disciples without reservation except for one. HE even loved Judas but HE knew that he was headed for perdition.
Leaders should want each member of their congregation to be successful in their Christian life first and then in their stay here on this earth. John was trying to guide them well.
Remember that one of the ways the LORD corrects HIS people is to send them sickness when they are not living the way HE wants them too. As a side note we also have to realize that not all sickness is caused by a believer not living the way the LORD wants them to. Sometimes sickness is sent to strengthen their faith. Sometimes it is sent to a leader to show his dependence on God for health.
John wants everyone in his congregation to be healthy and successful in their Christian life. He wants their soul to prosper.
Our soul is our personality. It is our inner self. There is always a battle going on in our soul between believing that the LORD has forgiven us of all our sins and the devil telling us how bad a sinner we are. Our enemy never seems to let up. He may leave for a while but he returns to remind us of all our failures.
We need to have the strength to realize that the LORD has given us the victory by HIS death on the cross. Our sins are gone. They are buried in the deepest sea. They are as far as the east is from the west. We can believe that all the persons of the Godhead love us and are working with us until we meet Christ through death or through Rapture.
CHALLENGE: We need to encourage our fellow believers to lead a life that is pleasing to the Father. We need to help them follow the path the LORD has set before them.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. (5479 “joy” [chara] means the emotion of great happiness and pleasure, gladness, delight, or bliss)
DEVOTION: John was a leader. He was one of the twelve disciples that followed Jesus. He was one of the disciples that saw Jesus Christ in all HIS glory on the mount of transfiguration. He was called the “beloved disciple.”
Now Jesus is in heaven and John is leading a local church. He was involved with many local churches and wrote letters of encouragement to them. He wanted every believer to know and practice the truth.
The one truth that he expressed in all of his letters was that believers are to love one another. This is not just a friend’s love for someone. It was a family love for one another. It is different when you love someone who is not part of your family and the love you have for your family if you are genuine believer.
Our love for our family should first want to see all of them become a follower of Jesus Christ. Second, it should be to help them grow in their knowledge of the LORD. Third, it should be to help them with any difficulty that comes their way. Fourth, we should never give up on our family even if they seem to not want us to help or be around.
We have four children that lived and thirteen grandchildren. We want all of our children and grandchildren to love the LORD first. We want them to love one another also. Some days it is easier than others. Our goal is to always be there when needed and encourage them in every way that we can in the LORD.
When they love the LORD it brings great joy to our hearts. When they love one another it brings great joy to our hearts. When they not only love one another but are following the truth of the Word of God in their lives it brings GREATER JOY.
This needs to be true in every Christian family. Our prayers should be daily for our family first and then for those who are part of God’s family. John stated he had not greater joy than to see those under his care following the truth.
CHALLENGE: Are all those who are reading this devotional walking in truth? That is something only you know for sure.
: 9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, receives us not. (5383 “preeminence” [philoproteuo] means to be fond of being first, desire to lead, ambitious of distinction, or to strive to be first)
DEVOTION: John is writing to another church regarding loving the truth. He wants this church to prosper and to have health. He had heard that they are walking in truth which brought him joy.
One of the characteristics of the church that brought him joy was that they greeted fellow believers who are strangers to them faithfully. He saw these as acts of love. These individuals were traveling teachers who John knew and wanted to come to this church. They were individuals who didn’t depend on the Gentiles or those outside of Christ for their support. They were fellow- helpers in the truth.
However, there was one man in the church who loved to be number one. He wanted to run the church. He wanted to be the only teacher in the church. He wanted all the other members to not invite these strangers who were fellow believers into their church to teach. In fact, he would threaten them with excommunication if they invited these individuals into their homes or the church. He wanted exclusive rights as their teacher.
He didn’t even like John the apostle to come. He said malicious words about him. John told them in this letter that he would deal with him when he came.
In this letter he also complimented a member of the church by the name of Demetrius. He had a good report. He was a follower of the truth and was one who invited these individuals to worship with them.
There are people in all churches who want to have the first place in the church. They want to be leaders but are not qualified. They want to make all the decisions. They think that they have a special relationship with God that no one else can have for one reason or another.
We have been in churches that were dying because there are people with this attitude in them. Some of them will state it by saying that they don’t care what the Bible says or what the constitution says. Some will think that they are closer to God than anyone else in the church. They don’t want anyone to teach anything they don’t agree with. Sometimes these people not only have been in the church for a long time but they have money and hold that over the head of the other members of the church.
Watch out for these people in our churches. Watch to make sure that we don’t become one of them. If we get to the point in our lives that we don’t want to listen to advice from others, we are truly in trouble. If we think that we are the only ones who can protect the church from error, we are truly in trouble. The LORD is still on the throne!!! The Holy Spirit is in EACH believer. If error is being taught the Holy Spirit will speak to the spirits of all those who are true believers, not just to one or two people.
CHALLENGE: Watch out that you don’t have to be the first one in church. Watch out that are the only one that people turn to for direction. Ask the LORD to protect you from having to be number one.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words; and not content therewith, neither does he himself receive the brethren, and forbids them that would, and casts them out of the church. (5396 “prating” [phluareo] means to utter nonsense, talk idly, to bring forward idle accusations, make empty charges, to accuse one falsely with malicious words, disparage, or gossip)
DEVOTION: There are good leaders and bad leader in local churches. This was true even in the first century church. There are people who think that they are the only ones who are true to God. They have a tendency to be very negative people. They see a heretic in every other individual. They think they have a hold on the truth of the Word of God that no one else has.
In this church that John was concerned about there was such a man. He would talk against the Apostle John. He would not be nice in what he said. He would not be encouraging. He would not even let them into his church. He thought he was the guardian of truth. Anyone who disagreed with him was not a true believer.
He not only would not let these traveling Bible teachers into his church but he didn’t want anyone else to take them in either. In fact, if they had anything to do with these individuals, he would have them excommunicated from the church. He wanted to be number one and not have even a number two.
John had nothing good to say about this man. There was another man in the same congregation or in another local church who was just the opposite. His name was Demetrius.
He was one who set a good example by inviting these Bible teachers into his home church. He knew the truth and was willing for others to teach the truth that Jesus had come in the flesh. He taught that Jesus Christ was the Messiah sent from God who was equal with God. He taught that the Godhead was made up of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Our responsibility is to have good Bible teachers come to our churches. These men might not agree with every point of doctrine that we hold to but they know that Jesus Christ came in the flesh and they love the brethren.
Traveling teachers depended on food and lodging from the people they taught. There was even a need for money to continue their ministry. They were not taking money from the unsaved but only those who were believers.
We have the same thing happening today. We need to support good Bible teachers. CHALLENGE: Remember that there are basic doctrines that need to be believed but also some that are personal preferences. We have to learn to not mix them up and make the preferences our guideline.
:11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that does good is of God: but he that does evil has not seen God. (2554 “does evil” [kakopoieo] means 1 to do harm. 2 to do evil, do wrong. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship])
DEVOTION: Do you find it interesting about the attitudes toward homosexuality and premarital sex in our country? What came first was the postmodern mindset of there being no absolute truth—that everything was relative, and that one’s opinion was just as valid as another’s. Then there was the rationalization that everything which was deemed pleasurable was okay, just as long as no one was hurt.
This has become so pervasive in our culture that now even those in the church who call themselves followers of Jesus Christ accept these attitudes. They teach, for example, that God did not judge homosexuality after all, and that we cannot be judgmental concerning this, but that it is an “alternative lifestyle” not expressly condemned in the Bible. When people speak out on this subject, they are labeled as “close-minded bigots.”
What has happened is that we have lost our sense of what is good and what is evil according to God’s standards of morality. God’s creation was made in such a way that it would bring glory to Himself, and not to man. Man was designed to live in connection with God, and when this was spurned at the Fall, man needed a way to restore that connection back to God. That connection became the Ten Commandments that God gave to the children of Israel. In them people were to determine what was actually good and what was evil in God’s eyes.
So we need to be determined to stand against evil in our generation. There is certainly no place in the church of Jesus Christ for compromise about this. The evil of injustice and poverty should be addressed by the church. So should the evil of sexual immorality and divorce. We, as the body of Christ should be distinctively different that those around us in all that we say and do.
CHALLENGE: Make it your vision to expose evil and bring people back to God. Don’t settle for what the culture says is okay—much of that is evil today as well. (MW)
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Wroteverses 9, 13
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Writeverse 13
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverse 11
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
HIS name’s sakeverse 7
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Gentilesverse 7
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Loves pre-eminenceverse 9
Receive not fellow believersverse 9
Diotrephes deedsverses 9, 10
Prating against Johnverse 10
Malicious wordsverse 10
Not receive the brethrenverse 10
Forbidding others to receive brethrenverse 10
Casting out of the churchverse 10
Follow evilverse 11
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Well belovedverse 1
Loveverse 1
Truthverses 1, 3, 4, 8, 12
Prosperverse 2
Healthverse 2
Soul prosperverse 2
Rejoiceverse 3
Testifiedverse 3
Walk in truthverses 3, 4
Joyverse 4
Faithfulverse 5
Strangersverse 5
Witnessverse 6
Charityverse 6
Godly sortverse 6
Fellow-helpersverse 8
Goodverse 11
Good reportverse 12
Bear recordverse 12
True recordverse 12
Trustverse 13
Peaceverse 14
Greetverse 14
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Elder [John]verse 1
Well belovedverse 1
Gaiusverse 1
Belovedverses 2, 5, 11
Brethrenverses 3, 5, 10
Childrenverse 4
Strangersverse 5
Churchverses 6, 9, 10
Fellowhelpersverse 8
Diotrephes: loved preeminenceverse 9
Demetrius: good reportverse 12
Speak face to faceverse 14
Friendsverse 14
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
3 Behind this verse we see the flow of Christians between the early churches as well as between the Johannine ones. And it went on in the second century also. It may have been occasioned in some instances by a change in personal circumstances and in others because of opposition and persecution. However, it may have been more intentional than this and may have represented, particularly among the Johannine churches, a commitment to live as a fellowship of Christians deeply concerned for one another.
Traveling missionaries and evangelists may have indeed swelled the ranks of those who moved back and forth. Yet it would probably be too much to read into the term “brothers” an exclusive reference to them. In any event there was a lively flow of persons between the church where Gaius was a member and the elder’s community. Moreover, these men appear to be reporting to the elder as a normal and expected activity. They tell him about Gaius’s faithfulness to Christian truth as well as about his sincerity and faithfulness in his daily living. In vv. 5–8 the elder specifies the conduct he has in mind. Nowhere in this letter, however, does he refer to the theological issue before the church. Westcott’s (p. 226) comment may well be correct. “The words evidently point to some difficulties from false teaching which Gaius had boldly met, though as yet the issue of his work was uncertain.” (Barker, G. W. (1981). 3 John. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews through Revelation (Vol. 12, pp. 371–372). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
I rejoiced greatly (ἐχαρην λιαν [echarēn lian]). As in 2 John 4 and Phil. 4:10, not epistolary aorist, but reference to his emotions at the good tidings about Gaius. When brethren came (ἐρχομενων ἀδελφων [erchomenōn adelphōn]). Genitive absolute with present middle participle of ἐρχομαι [erchomai], and so with μαρτυρουντων [marturountōn] (bare witness, present active participle of μαρτυρεω [martureō]). Present participle here denotes repetition, from time to time. To the truth (τῃ ἀληθειᾳ [tēi alētheiāi]). Dative case. “As always in the Johannine writings, ‘truth’ covers every sphere of life, moral, intellectual, spiritual” (Brooke). Even as thou walkest in truth (καθως συ ἐν ἀληθειᾳ περιπατεις [kathōs su en alētheiāi peripateis]). “Thou” in contrast to Diotrephes (verse 9) and others like him. On περιπατεω [peripateō] see 1 John 1:6 and on ἐν ἀληθειᾳ [en alētheiāi] see 2 John 4. (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (3 Jn 3). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
v 3. The elder was glad (cf. v. 4) to have learned from some brothers about Gaius’ loyalty to the truth. The words, tell about your faithfulness to the truth, somewhat paraphrase the Greek which more literally reads, “witness to your truth.” The apostle was saying he had heard that Gaius was a man of the truth. Quite possibly the “brothers” who brought this testimony to John had enjoyed Gaius’ hospitality, the same thing which the writer apparently urged on behalf of Demetrius (v. 10). The words, and how you continue to walk in the truth, elaborate what the “brothers” had said about Gaius. Gaius’ style of life (his “walk”) was consistent with God’s truth. (Hodges, Z. C. (1985). 3 John. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 912). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
A good testimony (vv. 3–4). Gaius was recognized as a man who obeyed the Word of God and “walked in truth” (see 2 John 4). Some of the brethren had made several visits to John, and they had joyfully reported that Gaius was a glowing example of what a Christian ought to be. In my own pastoral experience, I must confess that I have often been a bit “on edge” when people have said to me, “Is Mrs. —— a member of your church?” Or, even worse, “I know one of your members quite well!” John never had to fear when Gaius’ name came up!
What made Gaius such a good testimony? God’s truth. The truth was “in him” and enabled him to walk in obedience to God’s will. Gaius read the Word, meditated on it, delighted in it, and then practiced it in his daily life (see Ps. 1:1–3). What digestion is to the body, meditation is to the soul. It is not enough merely to hear the Word or read the Word. We must inwardly “digest it” and make it part of our inner persons (see 1 Thes. 2:13).
It is clear that Gaius’ entire life was wrapped up in the truth. True living comes from the living truth. Jesus Christ, the truth (John 14:6), is revealed in the Word, which is God’s truth (John 17:17). The Holy Spirit is also truth (1 John 5:6), and He teaches us the truth. The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to reveal the Son of God, and then to enable us to obey the will of God and “walk in truth.” (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 542–543). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
3 when brethren came and testified. The phrase indicates that Christians continually praised Gaius’ exemplary obedience to the fundamentals of the faith. His spiritual reputation was well known. you are walking in truth. Gaius’ walk matched his talk. His reputation for practicing what he preached was exemplary (2Jn 4). John’s commendation of him is one of the greatest given in the NT, since the commendation centers not only in the fact that he knew the truth but that he faithfully practiced it. Gaius’ actions were in stark contrast to Diotrephes’ negative reputation (v. 10). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (3 Jn 3). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 3. For I rejoiced greatly when the brethren came, &c.] From the place where Gaius lived, to that where John now resided; these brethren seem to be preachers of the word, who travelled from place to place to spread the Gospel: and testified of the truth that is in thee; either of Christ, who was formed in him; or of the Gospel, which had a place in his heart; or of the truth of grace that was in him, as well as of that faithfulness, integrity, and sincerity he appeared to be possessed of, being an Israelite indeed, and without guile: even as thou walkest in the truth; in Christ, and in the Gospel, and as became it, and with all uprightness; see 2 John 4 and this occasioned great joy in the apostle; as it is matter of joy to every one that truly loves Christ, and his Gospel; or has the true grace of charity in him, which envies not the gifts and graces of others, but rejoiceth in the truth, wherever it is found; and especially to the faithful ministers of the word, when they hear of the truth of grace in any souls, and that such continue walking in the truth of the Gospel, and particularly those who have been wrought upon under their ministry, as follows. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 3, p. 665). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
God uses Gideon’s 300 men to rout the entire Midianite army.
INSIGHT
“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit” is the work of the Lord accomplished (Zechariah 4:6). Few stories illustrate that principle more clearly than that of Gideon and his army of 300. God wants prepared men to fight His battles with His weapons in His way. His weapons are not earthly but spiritual. His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. We want to offer God our strength and our weapons and our insight but He does not need them. We need Him. Rather than trying to get God to accept our plans, strategies, and goals, we ought to strive to understand His. His way is the way of victory. (Quiet Walk)
GOD’S REVELATION
…the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 1 Corinthians 1:21
Salvation is something that comes altogether from God. And when we put it like that, do we not see very clearly why it is that so many people reject it? The natural man dislikes the whole idea of revelation. Why? Because he is wise and prudent, so full of his own intellect and understanding. He boasts, “I am not going to be treated like a child. I have it within me and in my own power to arrive at any knowledge that I may desire.” Revelation gives the lie to that.
But men and women do not like that, and Paul puts it like this in 1 Corinthians 1:21: When “the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” Here is a great principle, and if we are wrong at this point, how can we be right anywhere else? The gospel starts by proclaiming that it is a way of salvation. Its message is not something that man has thought of or achieved, but something that comes out of the mind of God. It is something that God shows and gives, that He has revealed; it is altogether from His side, and man contributes nothing to it.
Why is God’s way of salvation a matter of revelation? One of the reasons why it must be revelation and not discovery is the greatness of God. “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast…revealed….” Oh, how easy it is to talk cleverly about God and to understand the philosophy of God, to have our religious arguments and discussions. But isn’t half our trouble that we forget altogether who God is and what He is? From eternity to eternity, He is the Creator and sustainer of everything that is.
A Thought to Ponder: The gospel is altogether from God’s side, and man contributes nothing to it.
(From The Heart of the Gospel, p. 112, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
A Righteous Desire
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness.” (Matthew 6:33)
The Pharisees of Jesus’ day were quite “religious” in their behavior, but our Lord often took them to task because “all their works they do for to be seen of men” (Matthew 23:5).
God’s Kingdom Is First Priority: The Lord’s admonition in our text was given to focus His followers beyond the “ordinary” desires and needs of their physical existence. We are expected to “look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18). As promised, when we are rightly focused, “all these other things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).
Yielded to Righteousness: We become “servants” of those things that we “obey.” We obey that which we have “yielded” ourselves to (Romans 6:16). It is not possible to “serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24). Our “members” (our physical bodies) can either become “instruments” (weapons) of ungodliness or of righteousness (Romans 6:13). We either “walk” after the Spirit or after the flesh (Romans 8:1).
Doggedly Pursue Godliness: “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness” (1 Timothy 6:11). Even though our “new man” longs for righteousness, and we consciously yield ourselves to seek and serve God’s kingdom, “with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin” (Romans 7:25).
We must never become slack in our diligence. “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).
(HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
Whoever said, “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty,” was certainly correct. Especially in times of crisis. For instance, it took a lawsuit to convince Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker to allow religious people to leave their homes to exercise their freedom of religion. Under his original executive order, the governor would permit “Essential Businesses and Operations” to have gatherings of 10 or more people, but not religious gatherings. Even stay-in-your-car drive-in services, as Pastor Steve Cassell of the Beloved Church found out when he was issued a cease and desist order, were forbidden with threats of arrest and prosecution.
Cassell and the Thomas More Society responded by filing a lawsuit. As Thomas Moore senior council Peter Breen said, “Keeping liquor stores open but indefinitely shutting down churches and religious ministries violates our constitution and our most basic liberties. If liquor stores are ‘essential,’ so are churches.” The governor quickly issued a replacement executive order explicitly allowing the free exercise of religion, as well as permitting gatherings that comply with social distancing.
Governor Pritzker is particularly easy to pick on here, but he’s certainly not alone. The Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly issued an order that exempted “26 types of secular activities from its gathering ban” but specifically prohibited “churches and other religious services or activities” with 10 or more people, even if they obeyed social distancing requirements. That order only lasted until the Alliance Defending Freedom filed a federal lawsuit. The governor has since issued a new order that didn’t single out churches.
Still, as ADF Senior Counsel Tyson Langhofer said, “It’s a shame that it took a federal lawsuit… in order to finally prompt the governor to issue an order that she could easily have issued in the first place: one that doesn’t… unconstitutionally target churches.”
It is more than a shame, actually. It’s revealing. Because from governors’ mansions to city halls across the country, from major metropolises like Bill de Blasio’s New York City to small cities and even smaller townships in the Bible Belt—like Chattanooga, Tennessee and Greenville, Mississippi—state and local officials are demonstrating just how badly they understand America’s First Freedom. It’s bad enough that, as another ADF official admitted, ADF and the Thomas More Society and other religious freedom groups “can’t possibly monitor every situation across the nation.”
Last week on Twitter Southern Seminary professor Andrew Walker wondered aloud on Twitter, why there has been such a “general mismanagement of religious liberty at the gubernatorial and municipal levels”?
I think, like so many other things I could point to during this time, this is a problem COVID-19 certainly didn’t create. So many cultural fault lines and foundational weaknesses of our theology and society are being revealed and exploited during this pandemic.
Specifically, I think Princeton Professor Robert George best articulated why we are seeing so many local officials fail so miserably on religious liberty right now, during an episode on the BreakPoint Podcast. Too many Americans, he told me, including lawmakers and even Christians—“essentially see (religion) as a hobby… like football, or going to the ballet, or collecting stamps.” These things are, of course, non-essential.
“But in our constitutional tradition,” George continued, religion “is singled out for special care… Our founding fathers, who bequeathed to us this great constitutional government … understood that religion has to do with the conscience.” (Break Point)
Secular freedom is the freedom to do whatever one wants; biblical freedom is the freedom to do what is right. Os Guiness points out how liberalism has influenced the church:
People who, a generation ago, would have considered it “worldly to go to the cinema now view films in their own homes that would have been unthinkable to much of the “world” before. Mind you, they still may not go to the cinema, but in almost everythingn else they have changed. Both in and of the world, many evangelicals are now out-doing liberals as the enthusiastic religious modernizers – and compromisers – of today.
(p. 101, Developing Leaders for the Small Church by Glenn C. Daman)
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