Are your actions worthy of imitation?

Often, we become frustrated at the actions of others. The way someone speaks to us, or something they say about us, hurts us. Maybe we are not wronged directly, but the choices of those around us have a seemingly profound negative impact on us. At other times, others actions toward us are downright malicious and evil. Morality would claim that most people could agree to what is “bad”, that there is a definitive right or wrong.

In a very minor sense, I think of a time when someone was involved in a car accident with a drunk driver. By Gods grace no one was seriously injured or killed. Regardless, the “irresponsible” (read:bad) actions of one, caused a profound negative impact on the other (and themselves). At what point was this behavior wrong? It is legal to drink, and this person was of legal age. They had only consumed a few drinks, nothing to the level of drunkenness normally. They were not speeding, or breaking any other laws. Just a little ice, a stop sign and a little accident. The police officer did his diligence to ask relevant questions, take appropriate actions and 0.08 BAC got this individual 3 months of suspension and the other a totaled car. Why does this matter?

Dear friend, do not imitate what is bad, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does what is bad has not seen God.

3 John 11 NET

Is wrong to drink and drive? Although the Bible doesn’t discuss operating motor vehicles, drunkenness makes the list of what is obviously sinful. But perhaps this individual just didn’t have the right food intake, and this seemingly innocent bit of alcohol put them just over legal limits.

So often we like to examine right and wrong in a black or white sense, when really much of life is a lot more gray.

Although we know from context of this verse that John is dealing with Diotrephes specific sin, that is, not supporting the missionaries, and using his position for divisiveness and abuse within the church. I think something far bigger can be understood…

Who do you imitate?

In Johns Gospel he retells a beautiful story, one of Christs last teaching moments with the Disciples before His crucifixion, where He washed their feet. If it has been awhile since you have read this story, read it here.

Verse 15 says it plain as day “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”

We often see morality in what I define as a “bottoms up” relationship. Our family, our culture, our community, our city, our state, our federal government… these things define, or protect our morality. After all, this is a democracy! We can determine the boundaries for what is right and what is wrong. My family, culture, religion or government can define what is or isn’t right or wrong. I would argue John even uses this framework, although intentionally to show a deeper meaning. Let me explain.

He says: Dear friend (you, individual), do not imitate what is bad, but what is good. The one (you, individual) who does good is of God; the one who (you, individual) does what is bad has not seen God.

He makes it an outward, upward argument. As if you could do enough good to be accepted by God, or that you could do enough bad to not see God. But we know that isn’t true (John 15:5), nor is it inline with the totality of scripture.

So lets reverse it. If you have seen God, you are of God, you will do good. So, imitate Christ.

This does not mean you will be perfect. It means that if you are not of God, nothing you do will be good enough. You can’t do enough good to get favor with God. You could be the person with the highest moral standard and do so much good in this world. But it would never be enough. You need to SEE Him first.

This is a warning to our friend Gaius (and us too): We will see those around us, those who also claim to be Christian, who do not imitate Christ. They will do bad, because they are not of God, because they have not seen Him.

Or job therefore is not to go around correcting morals… but opening eyes to Christ.

Peace be with you.