Dear [Gaius], you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God…We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth. 3 John 5-6, 8
“Gaius…had gone out of his way to be generous. Those from John’s church who had visited Gaius had come back with a glowing report, and part of the reason for this letter seems to be to thank him. This is love in action…love for the early Christians was not primarily something you did with your heart and emotions. It was something you did with your whole life, not least your money and your home. So it had been with Gaius.”
N. T. Wright in Early Christian Letters for Everyone: James, Peter, John, and Judah (Louisville: WJKP, 2011) 185.
I must pause in Seoul today to honor Sung Wook Chung.
Like Gaius, he faithfully serves the Korean church as a leading theologian and author. This week, he has assisted John Van Drunen and me in opening the doors of ministry between the ECFA in the USA and churches and ministries in Korea through the formation of the CCFK.
Though we don’t return to the USA until Tuesday, we (like the delegation from John’s church in 3 John) will have a glowing report thanks to his assistance, his love in action, and the hospitality of Sarang Church.
Let’s all be like Gaius and go out of our way to be generous and to work together as individuals and congregations for the sake of the gospel.