Thoughts From 2Timothy 2 - Part 6

 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

        In a world that is increasingly divided and I would say more opinionated and confrontational due to social media with platforms which reward polarizing views, a passage like this becomes our playbook for interactions.

     First of all, avoid as many arguments as you can. Everyone has an opinion and that's what makes them different than you. If everyone was like you, the world would be a boring place. If everyone was like me, there would be no New York style pizza, country music, pickup trucks, Cubs, soda water, Rom-coms, horror movies, piercings and tattoos, cats and I could go on. Just think of all the things that would be missing that make the world so diverse. Embrace different opinions and don't feel the need to tell why they are wrong, in non-essentials.

    When you feel the need to speak the truth in issues that do matter, such as the family, sexuality, abortion, the gospel, the Bible and the like, Paul instructs don't be quarrelsome but speak thoughtfully, gently and kindly as you give your case for why you believe what you do. Paul says that they probably won't accept it, but you just pray that at some point in their lives the Holy Spirit opens their mind to it. The Devil has gotten hold of their minds and instead of getting mad that they don't think rationally on a subject, feel bad for them that they can't see clearly.

      It's not up to us to change people's minds. It's up to us to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit, not be quarrelsome, know our case and be able to articulate it. God will do the changing.

Thoughts From 2Timothy 2 - Part 5

  In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. 21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.   2Tim.2:20-22

      Jesus once taught that if salt loses its saltiness, it's only good for throwing out on the street like gravel, no longer effective for its original purpose but still serves a purpose. Paul taught in Corinthians, in his analogy of the body, that certain parts are essential yet covered or treated with modesty. I think that in the church, some people have sinned so flagrantly and visibly from the evil desires of youth (youth is relative I think), that their function in the church or role needs to be one of background ministry.

       For example, if a pastor cheats on his wife, I don't think he should be restored back to that ministry. Maybe he can head up addiction or counseling ministry or become the administrative or business pastor, but I feel he's been disqualified from being the face of the church and encouraging people on how to live from the pulpit while he can't follow his own advice. Some would say adultery is a sin just like any other. My response is but it's so public. It's like preaching wearing a scarlet letter. I go as far as saying preachers shouldn't be obese because they are publicly saying, "I have the sins of gluttony and lack of self-control." I'm sure that's considered "fat-shaming". I'm guilty as charged. Once again, it doesn't mean that they can't serve the church in a huge way, maybe even more important than the preacher, say as the pastor of outreach and evangelism or missions, but there are certain roles, maybe just one, they shouldn't fill. Being a complementarian, I feel the same could be said of women especially according to Paul's first letter to Timothy, this being different in the fact that it's more creation order and design rather than sin, although there is the lingering result of Eve's sin to consider, too.

      I like the example of a tree being turned into lumber. A tree could be cut into beautiful uniform boards that are nailed and shaped into a pulpit that the preacher stands behind week after week with hundreds or thousands looking directly at it. Also, from that tree was a plank with a huge unsightly knot in it. That plank should not be part of the pulpit but yet it could be part of a floorboard covered in carpet that the preacher stands on while changing lives for 50 years of ministry. No one saw the board, but it played just as vital a part as the board in the pulpit that was visible to all.

      It seems unfair or graceless or merciless to keep a person like Billy Graham's son-in-law out of the pulpit for a sin he committed years ago, or not wanting a divorced pastor, no matter how gifted they are to be your preacher. And yes, our church has glaring weaknesses from not having women's wisdom in the diaconate. And maybe I just think obesity, as a doctor, is gross and I'm biased. But I think the worldly view that power, fame, notoriety is more to be desired than faithful anonymous service has crept into the church making us unwise in making people too visible and exposing the church to charges of hypocrisy from the world. Sin disqualifies us from certain offices, and I stand by that and I think Paul does, too.

Thoughts From 2Timothy 2 - Part 4

 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” 2Tim.2:15-19

      I used to think that avoiding godless chatter meant stop talking about things like movies, TV shows, sports, or anything that in light of eternity doesn't matter. In context of this passage though, I don't think that's what Paul is saying because the next verse continues on relating it to the false teaching that the resurrection has already happened. In other words, the Lord returned and you missed it. There are many of these false teachings around today and a wise pastor must make sure that he doesn't get swayed from Biblical truth but work hard at studying scripture to make sure he knows what it says and doesn't say. We should all do this, but I say "pastor" here because this is written to a pastor, Timothy.

       What are some false teachings out there that are dangerous? Certainly health, wealth, prosperity teachers because they have turned their focus away from living for treasures in Heaven to treasures on Earth. Then there is the teaching of purgatory and the infallibility of the pope by the Catholic Church and if you are not worshipping on the Sabbath and resting appropriately on that day you are in sin by the Adventist Church. Then there is the teaching on baptismal regeneration by the Church of Christ and if you use musical instruments you are sinning. Jehovah Witnesses say if you pray to Jesus, you are blaspheming and offending Jehovah and only 144,000 make it to Heaven which was filled some time ago. The Mormons teach that we are all going to be gods someday having spirit children which will inhabit humans on earth and the necessity of wearing Holy underwear. Some movements emphasize Biblical diets teaching these from the pulpit. 

        Biblical numerology forgets that chapters and verse numbers were added to the Bible at a later date yet claim things like Trump is the 45th and 47th president and if you look at Ezekiel 45 and 47... These codes claim to have predicted the JFK assassination, World Trade towers attack, Hitler and the holocaust, and Timothy McVeigh and Oklahoma. I have a friend who listens to Julie Green, a self-proclaimed prophet, and warned me lately that JD Vance is the White Wolf who will plan an assassination of Trump so he can take over and he is actually a wolf in sheep's clothing because he is an extreme leftist. He loves to talk to me about all these prophecies and where the USA is headed, but I feel like this is what Paul is warning against here.

        There is a lot of false teaching out there and we need to study the Bible and use sources like Got Questions? or the Bible Thinker when we are unsure what to think, realizing they could be wrong also. (but I trust them to be orthodox) Let's focus on what is true and talk about that!

Thoughts From 2Timothy 2 - Part 3

 Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 2Tim.2:14

        I listened to a YouTube discussion between Allie Beth Stuckey and David French yesterday. It was entitled Allie Beth Stuckey (ABS) vs. David French (DF). Now first off, should two Christians discussing different views on contemporary issues use the word "vs."? It implies a battle or a WWF fight. It at least implies a quarrel which Paul is warning about. I will say it was very civil and they handled it like Christians should.

       As Paul talks about quarreling about words, I would say 4 come to mind - empathy, kindness, Trump, and Christian. You might argue pronouns as a fifth, but I will include that in kindness. First, empathy. ABS recently wrote a book called Toxic Empathy and DF referenced it in 2 articles in the Washington Post naming ABS as one of the problems among Christians. He argued that in a world where empathy is needed, ABS and others are labeling it as bad. ABS obviously took offense and said she wasn't saying empathy was bad and they argued over what empathy meant for quite a while. In the end, I think it would have been wiser for ABS to name her book something else because most of my Southern Baptist Church associates won't read the book and think that someone they respect is saying empathy is toxic so stop empathizing.

         Second, they argued about kindness. DF states he refuses to use the preferred pronouns of transgender people he works with (I'm sure he runs into a whole lot more than ABS). Rather he calls them by name. He did use a preferred pronoun in a piece he wrote and got called out, but he says that he didn't mean to. DF said that to call a trans to a female "he" isn't kindness but intentionally hurting them and creating a wall of offense. He will just always use their new name. ABS argued that truth is kindness and gave an example of a trans to a male named Jake where people that loved her refused to call her Jake but her original name and eventually through the reading of scripture, she was convicted and returned to female. DF argued, and I think fairly deftly, that the reading of scripture convicted her, not the refusing to acknowledge her name and pronouns.

       Third, they argued about Trump, how could DF tell people to vote for Harris over Trump when she advocates public funding for sexual conversion therapy even for minors and wants to pass a law legalizing abortion in all states. ABS argued that no matter how many flaws and how sinful Trump is, he is a friend to pro-life, conservative values and judges, families and non-woke ideology and is much better for America than Harris. It basically came down to priorities where DF valued the Ukraine war and NATO and the lack of constraint on Trump as more harmful to America. I personally agreed with DF on everything up until this one. I think his priorities are wrong here.

       Lastly, DF endorsed Tallarico, who is running as a Democrat for office in Texas and said that he was more "Christian" than most on the right because he exhibited more kindness, civility - basically more fruit of the Spirit than other candidates. ABS said that he may be acting more like a "Christian" but he is only acting. The fruit of the Spirit is from other spirit. How can a person who is pro-abortion, pro-gay, and says God is bi-sexual be saved? DF said that he wasn't willing to judge someone's soul. I had to agree with ABS on this one, too, that the antichrist is probably going to be the most winsome person ever. I think DF is so disliked, actually by both sides, that he can't help but wish people would be civil to him, and therefore elevates civility above everything.

      Anyway, Paul says arguing about words has no value and reading the comments I have to agree. I don't know if anyone changed their opinions but rather, if they hated DF going in, they hated him more now or despised him so much that they couldn't even listen to him and had to shut it off. Some were mad that ABS even gave him a platform. I didn't read a whole lot of pro DF comments because they probably don't subscribe to ABS and would be afraid or at least reticent to comment on her feed because it wouldn't end well. Paul instructs Timothy, as a pastor, try to avoid these things. Make the main thing, the gospel, the main thing. My comment on Paul's YouTube channel - I agree 100%.

Thoughts From 2Timothy 2 - Part 2

  Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 2Timothy 2:5-10

       "God's word is not chained." What a great thought. All over the world, Christians are tortured, imprisoned, beaten, and killed for their faith, yet the gospel can't be stopped. Paul was imprisoned thinking that this would stop the damage he was doing to the fragile balance between Roman occupation and the Jews, and yet he is preaching to palace guards and writing letters to churches (and us) that would set the church on fire, even 2000 years later. If he hadn't been imprisoned, would he have had time to write these epistles?

      Is the gospel "chained" in your life. There was an attorney at our church who once said that he separated his faith from work; he didn't want to mix up the two. At work he was an attorney and everywhere else he was a Christian. The word WAS chained in his practice. Think of it this way - Let's say you pull into the parking lot at work and take off your wedding ring and leave it in the car. Why? Because you say I don't want to mix up my personal life with my work life. (Wow, this sounds a lot like Severance) 

So when you sit at your desk you have no pictures of your spouse or family, you don't text them or receive calls, you might even have some flirting relationships with co-workers because you aren't married at work. How do you think your spouse would feel about that? That's crazy, our relationships continue even at work! That's the problem with what this attorney was saying. His Christianity was a religion not a relationship. I take Christ into work and wherever I go because like my spouse, I'm married to Christ. Can that cause some problems? Absolutely, but my relationship with Him comes above everything else and if I suffer, then I suffer.

      Is God's word chained in your life or are you proclaiming it everywhere you go? Remember, this Word alone gives salvation and eternal glory. Don't hide it. That would be selfish.

Thoughts From 2Timothy 2 - Part 1

 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 3 Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 2Tim.2:1-4

        A.W.Tozer wrote a famous essay called This World; A Playground or a Battlefield. Jim Wood, a pastor living nearby, once gave a sermon which could have been entitled Are you a Fisher of Men or a Water Skier? Both had the same point which verses 1-4 above reiterate. Are you treating the Kingdom of Earth as your home or the Kingdom of Heaven as home? If this is home then yes, build bigger houses, amass wealth, and live for pleasure because as the beer commercial goes - "You only go around once in life so reach for all the gusto you can." (I bet my grandkids have never heard the word "gusto")

 To try and get non-Christians to live a selfless, altruistic, philanthropic, and delayed gratification lifestyle is foolhardy and non-sensical. As Big Tent Revival used to say, "If you don't know Jesus, live it up because this is the closest you're ever going to get to Heaven. And if you do know Jesus, be encouraged because this is the closest you're ever going to get to Hell."

       If you got drafted into the military and sent to Iran to fight the Hezbollah, while you are over there, would you invest in property and contact a builder to build you a home? Of course not. You are an alien there, you are only on a brief tour there, and why would you want to build a house in barren desert land that is probably going to get destroyed anyway? The same is true of Earth. We as believers are short timers here, only visiting the planet and our home in heaven is a secure mansion compared to this, in comparison, dump down here. Yet as believers we get sucked into the draw of the world we live in and seek to amass treasures, standing, and a future down here when there is no future down here. This is something that we need to continually guard our minds, our children's minds, our grandchildren's minds against and it takes work to have the correct mindset because it doesn't come naturally.

      If our goal in life is to please Jesus, our commanding officer in this passage, then this mindset is what pleases Him. The writer of Hebrews agrees;

 "All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.  People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them." 

     Have we been called to be fishers of men but instead we are using our boat to water ski and indulge ourselves? Sure, there's a place for both. Paul says in 1 timothy 6 that he has given us all things for our enjoyment, but yet if we don't consider seeking to save the lost enjoyable also, then the Holy Spirit has to work on our hearts. Lord, help me to see through Your eyes which can see through the smoke into the glorious Kingdom of Heaven waiting for us!

Thoughts From 2Timothy 1 - Part 4

 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.15 You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.16 May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. 17 On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. 18 May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus. 2Timothy 1:13-18

        If you have ever disassociated yourself from someone who got in trouble, you might as well rename yourself Phygelus or Hermogenes. Not very catchy names but then again maybe you deserve a name like that. Here are the reasons that you might have disassociated yourself from them. First, you are appalled by their behavior and think that "Had I known that about them, I never would have been their friend in the first place." This reason implies moral superiority and a lack of grace. You consider yourself as morally superior in that you think, "I would never do that!" News flash - you are capable of that, we all are. Tim Keller would say that we all have the seeds of that behavior, they just weren't watered yet. It shows a lack of grace in that we were moral reprobates, yet Jesus came and associated with us. How can we not do the same?

        The second reason one might abandon someone who got in trouble is to do so, that is associating with them might drag your reputation down. This is not Kingdom of God or Holy Spirit thinking. Do you want to be popular on Earth for 70 years or popular in Heaven for all eternity. Drag my name through the mud all you want because the only one's approval I care about is the King of Kings.

         Onesiphorus went above and beyond because not only did he not abandon Paul, but he actively pursued him. We might drive to the local drug rehabilitation center or jail to show someone we support them, but would we get on a plane and cross the sea to see them and encourage them? Paul prays for Onesiphorus' family that they might be shown mercy at judgement. Since it's worthless to pray for mercy for someone once they are dead, unless you are a Mormon or Catholic, I have to believe that some members of his household have not yet been saved and Paul is praying that God would "make them an offer they can't refuse" like He did to Paul on the road to Damascus. "God, please throw some extra conviction on them, please!"

             Does this trigger any thoughts of people that you may have abandoned and need to go encourage and re-friend? Go do it!