Diotrephes and me.

I love Sunday nights, because youth group is a blast. I love the kids, just talking to them is a blast. I don't think I laugh that much any other day of the week.

The funny thing about youth group is that a lot of times I learn more about myself there than I learn in the service or in sunday school. Part of it is that Gabe and Caleb do an excellent job. Part of it is that discussing the bible with 12-13 year olds makes it clear how much of it I conveniently ignore.

We've been reading through 3 John the past couple of weeks. This week we focused on the verses 9-11.

"I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us. So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. "

And Caleb decided to illustrate the verses by having a couple leaders gossiping about people and another leader not welcoming anyone.

Well, I had no idea this was going on so I was slightly suprised to see Gabe not being his usual uber-friendly self and even more suprised to have Mallory start talking about how unprepared lessons have been - especially since it was done right in front of the kids.

But my reaction wasn't shock at her attitude or defense of lessons that I know have been good. It was much more lame than that. And it's just something I've been noticing...how frequently I go ahead and shut up about things I know aren't right. Big or small. I pretend it's fine, because it's easier.