Three Destructive People in Church and Other Places

As church leaders, we are called to minister to all and to have good order in the church. Good order, of course, implies direction and even discipline. Working with people is the greatest gift God has given us as leaders and the most challenging. More than once, Moses was ready to give it up and even blamed God for the people He gave him. It sounds little different than Adam blaming God for the woman He gave him. Working with people is one of the greatest challenges of church leadership. People, including leaders, at times, are moody, pouty, irreverent, nasty, hypocritical, nice, loving, faithful, brave, courageous, and bold. (Those who are older hear the Wyatt Earp theme song. 😊)

Diotrephes

All of us should thank God for the Timothys in our lives and those who hold up our arms when we are becoming overwhelmed. There is no way I could have been as effective in leadership without the many Timothys who upheld me in prayer, kindness, and wise counsel. Too often, we neglect Timothy because we are so occupied with Diotrephes, Alexander the metal worker, and Judas. I have over 50 years of ministry experience, was a lead pastor for over 30 years, and was full-time in church conflict management. I want to share my take on these three and whom I consider the most dangerous.

Diotrephes was most likely a Gentile since his name references being nurtured by Jupiter (Zeus). Jupiter was the number one god and held the power of the thunderbolt. Diotrephes certainly sounds like Jupiter from John’s description in 3 John:

⁹ I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. ¹⁰ So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. (NIV)

Consider how John describes Diotrephes:

1. He must be first among them all. (Very Jupiter-like.)
2. He will not acknowledge apostolic authority. (He considers everyone below him, or in the modern vernacular—he would say to leaders—we are all even/equal before God.
3. He spreads nonsensical rumors about John. I am reminded of a pastor who was accused of planning to put an expensive modern floor in the gym. The problem? They had no gym. Nonsensical.
4. He also refuses to welcome other believers who disagree with him.
5. If you disagree with him, he will excommunicate you.

This person is a problem in any church; however, those who are fair-minded know he is totally wrong, and his leadership will eventually fail. Let him fail under his own weight and leadership while warning others.

Alexander the Metal Worker

Paul refers to an interesting character in his second letter to Timothy:

¹⁴ Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. (2 Timothy 4:14, NIV)  

We know little about Alexander. There are a couple of references to an Alexander in Acts 19:25-34 and 1 Timothy 1:19,20. Both of these references are negative: In Acts, an Alexander spoke against Paul and for the silver working of the Greek goddess Artemis. In 1 Timothy, Paul turns Alexander over to Satan in an apparent disciplinary matter. We can’t be sure if it is the same Alexander, but if it is, the discipline had little impact, and in 2 Timothy, Paul deals with him again.

In 2 Timothy, Paul asserts that Alexander did him a great deal of harm. It is interesting that a loud metal worker can harm a great Apostle. The reason is simple, people know the metal worker and have little knowledge of Paul. I have seen congregations follow a pastor who had openly and significantly violated, multiple times, the thou shall not commit adultery commandment and move on trampling down the victims a second time with the majority of the congregation behind him in the spirit of forgiveness.

Paul’s second statement has always fascinated me: The Lord will repay him for what he has done.I don’t know what was in the heart of Paul, but here is what I think, or better stated, what I would like to think he meant. (You certainly may disagree, and perhaps number 4 is the only one I can support directly with Scripture.

1. I tried discipline, and there was no repentance.
2. I have tried reason but have yet to be successful.
3. I cannot correct someone who rejects the apostolic authority Christ has given me.
4. I must focus my energy back on the mission and trust the Lord to repay (punish) him for what he has done. Lord, I turn this situation and Alexander over to you.

Now, on to the most dangerous person in the congregation.

Judas

Judas is the most dangerous person in the congregation. Here are several reasons why he represents such danger.

1. He is an insider.
2. He appears to be very supportive of leadership.
3. Publicly, he is an accepted and trusted disciple.
4. No one in the congregation suspects his jealousy and desire to undermine the leader.
5. Even the leaders are unaware of his true nature, except for Jesus Himself.
6. He betrays leaders in a secretive manner.
7. He will appear to kiss the leader when openly betraying the leader.
8. Even when Jesus warns the other disciples, no one knows it is Judas.

Fortunately, I have met very few like Judas. Judas can kiss the leader, charm the crowd, appear supportive, and yet covertly work against the leadership so as not to be detected. His nature is a chameleon, and his venom is toxic. Even when his venom destroys someone or something and clear testimony with evidence rises against him, he remains trusted as he slinks away into the shadows. He usually remains as other leaders fall and continues his covert work against new leaders and generations. Unlike Alexander and Diotrephes, who are exposed, Judas continues to work in congregations while other leaders come and go.

In Scripture, Judas eventually took his own life when his conscience caught up with him; however, it was after the damage had been done. In cases today, Judas may eventually exit without anyone knowing the actual damage that has been done. Only the history written in the hearts of some leaders will know it, and of course, heaven will one day proclaim it.

Yes, some personalities and people are challenging to work with within the congregation; however, most are godly people with a difference of opinion. Working with people, loving people, counseling people, encouraging people, finding compromise, giving hope, and equipping (coaching) people for life and ministry was the greatest joy in my years as a pastor. I continue to minister through videos, blogs, consulting, and preaching: A pastor’s heart gets older but beats as long as the human heart continues.

My best advice to leaders is to work on themselves and become the person you would like others to be.

Dr. James D. Allen