PONDERING... The Greeting: A Testimony of Christian Friendship (3 John 1-4, 13-15)

The Greeting: A Testimony of Christian Friendship

Gist: True Christian friends love in Truth, pray for one another, and rejoice in spiritual growth.
Scripture: 3 John 1-4, 13-15

1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth .2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.... 13 I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. 15 Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name. 

John opens this letter by referring to Gaius as beloved, twice. Not only does this likely emphasize the feelings other believers felt toward him and his hospitality, but also John's personal and intimate friendship. Though we do not learn much about their friendship, what we do see really hit me. True Christian friends love in Truth, pray for one another, and rejoice in spiritual growth.

1. Love in Truth
There are two things we see here. First, this love is genuine. As we’ll look at in a moment, John cares about Gaius’ well being. He also insist on him greeting the other friends by name, intimately. Furthermore, their friendship is grounded in the mutual love of Christ. It is to be like HIS love and because of HIS love.
Application?

1. Do we love our friends or just tolerate, or worse yet, use them? Is our love selfless, or selfish? 
2. Is our loved based on the truth or personal, superficial preferences? 

So, here’s a sticky subject: Non-Christian friendships. Should we have them? Yes. How influential should they be allowed to become though? You’re closest friends should be Christians. Why? This isn’t an elitist mentality, but a practical truth. Our entire worldview is shaped around the cross—around Jesus. Anyone who does not hold to that doesn’t just “view life differently,” they are fundamentally opposed to the truth. We won’t have anything in common at the core. 

Today’s society will hate hearing this, and label me a bigot for saying it. Just the other night, Melissa and I were watching a late night show, and the interviewee (<—that’s a funny word) was talking about being a Catholic and her husband being Jewish, and said something like, “But that’s okay”. The problem is, it’s only okay if neither of you take your faith seriously—and that is what it has become. Everyone is okay with everyone else’s “beliefs” because at the end of the day those are just stylistic preferences, not fundamental, life-changing, principles (let alone a relationship based on the only truth!)…and we all embrace societies prevalent, trendy, agnostic views as ultimate truth instead anyway. “Our religion” is secondary. This cannot be the case if you love the Truth and love in the Truth. If the Gospel is true, which it is, and we believe it, which we should, then we can't ever be okay with someone missing out on it. 

In the same vein, this is why Christians shouldn’t date or marry non-Christians. It’s not an antiquated or hateful view. It doesn’t work because it's contrary to God's design.

2. Pray for Prosperity

Now this one hits a nerve because it uses the "p" word. In many conservative Christian circles, this has become synonymous with heresy. This is because one of the most evident heresies of our day is what we call the "Prosperity Gospel". Basically, this is the error of teaching God's primary purpose is for us to be healthy and wealthy while here on earth. In other words, it is the heresy that turns Jesus' grace into a "magical genie" for getting whatever we want. This clearly goes against what the Bible teaches. 

Yet, this is not what John is talking about here, or rather what he prays for: "2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul."
It's funny, when I read verse 2, I immediately grabbed on to the last part because I felt convicted for not praying for it. However, when I listened to Alistair Begg preach on this passage, he grabbed hold of the first part for the same reason... which just made me realize, I really do neither.

John prays that Gaius' physical condition would be as good as his spiritual condition (which is apparently quite good). In doing so, I think we get some insights into how we should pray for one another.

1. Pray that they have a good life.It is not sinful to ask for success in school, or work, or happy kids, or good marriages, or comfortable health. In fact, we should want these for our friends (see the love point :D). Yet, these request need to be balanced with the more important-->

2. Pray that they grow spiritually.I see this as one of the downfalls of typical "church" prayers--which might, sadly, be the only time we really pray for each other. We tend to pray that people feel better...when they are sick, or that they find a job...when they lose one. Our prayers are primarily reactionary rather than heartfelt and preventative. Prayers for spiritual health tend to be generic (i.e. "help us grow") and limited, if present at all. Yet, this is opposed to the examples of Scripture.

Application?

1. Do we pray specifically for the success and happiness of our friends? Or are we more jealous of their happiness, and excited (evidenced by our gossip) by their failings?
2. Do we pray for their spiritual growth…specifically?
3. On the other side—hitting more personally—John actually prays that Gaius' physical circumstances would be equal to his spiritual condition--what would your physical health or happiness be like if it was ”as good” as your spiritual health?

3. Rejoice in the Truth I think this is a big point to recognize. It ties in pretty tightly with the other two points. Look at what gives John the greatest joy: "4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."

Seeing evidence that those you care for and/or those with whom you have shared Jesus living in the truth should give you the greatest joy!

Application? (Pretty straight forward)

1. What gives you the most joy?

Take A Way....

1. Do we love our friends or just tolerate or, worse yet, use them?
2. Is our loved based on truth or personal, superficial preferences?
3. Do we pray specifically for the success and happiness of our friends? Or are we jealous of their happiness?
4. Do we pray for their spiritual growth…specifically?
5. What would your physical health or happiness be like if it was ”as good” as your spiritual health?
6. What gives you the most joy?

True Christian friends love in Truth, pray for one another, and rejoice in spiritual growth.