Reject Quarrels: 2 Timothy 2.20-26

On Monday, January 14^th, we were encouraged to read and meditate upon 2 Timothy 2.20-26. This section from what was likely Paul’s last recorded letter exhorts young Timothy to be on guard against false teaching and to pursue a lifestyle that is characterized by righteousness. Especially within the context of the stern battle against false teachers, Paul’s words in verses 23-24 strike an unexpected note.

But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they breed quarrels. The Lord’s slave must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, (2 Timothy 2.23-24, HCSB).

In a world where there is much to be disputed, Paul says there are some arguments that we should flee. In fact, it seems that part of the “youthful passions” Timothy is instructed to avoid stem from an immature bent toward argument. Not every battle is worth fighting. What’s more, sometimes the righteous and mature thing to do is to avoid the dispute.

Furthermore, notice how Paul wants Timothy to think of his opponents.

… instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance to know the truth. Then they may come to their senses and escape the Devil’s trap, having been captured by him to do his will (2 Timothy 2.25-26, HCSB).

First, Paul instructs Timothy to treat his opponents with gentleness. Why? The answer is found in remembering the source of their error. Timothy is to consider his opponents as victims who need to be freed from the trap of Satan. Moreover, Timothy is to understand his gentle instruction as something God desires to use to set them free and grant repentance.

These wise words from the Apostle Paul have encouraged me to ask myself two questions when it comes to “disputes” and dealing with “opponents.” First, is it worth it? In other words, what is truly at stake in this dispute and is that thing worth the dispute? Second, does my attitude toward this person need adjustment? We can often be tempted to de-humanize those we disagree with and start to feel justified in our anger, hatred and lack of gentleness. Often these questions and the time it takes to consider them will transform the nature of the “dispute” and lead to Christ-like reconciliation. Other times these questions might lead us to literally obey Paul’s commands in verses 22-23

Flee from youthful passions . . . reject foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they breed quarrels.

“Saved from our Tongues” - Hearing the Word: James 1.19-27

Have you been saved … Is he saved … When was she saved? These are questions we often ask and hear being asked in our circles. Individuals who don’t navigate the world of Protestant Evangelicalism, would likely ask, “Saved from what?” When the Bible uses the word, “saved,” it doesn’t always mean what we mean. Jesus’ brother, James uses the word in our reading from January 3, James 1.19-27.

Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and evil excess, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save you (James 1.21, HCSB).

In church contexts, we often use the word, saved, to refer to a one time event when, having believed the gospel, God forgives our sins because they were atoned for when Jesus died on the cross. James, on the other hand, uses the word with a bit more specificity. According to Jesus’ brother, we continually need to be saved from our tongues. In verse 19, we need to be saved from “tongue overuse.”

Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger (James 1.19b, HCSB).

There is a sinful bent within each of us away from listening. And the opposite of listening, according to Jesus’ brother, is speaking. There is a distinctive Jewish flavor to all that James writes. As a faithful Jewish follower of Jesus, James repeated throughout the day what is known as The Great Shema (see Deut 6.4-9). And the first command in this Jewish mantra is LISTEN!! The rhythm of our day needs to be established by obedience to this command. Noise prevents us from listening. Furthermore, the biggest obstacle to listening is the noise that we ourselves create.

The Word of God is able make us into a people who listen. Be encouraged to find a still quiet place to read and ponder and meditate over and marinate in the Scriptures. Having done so, pause and engage in the discipline that Richard Foster calls “Holy Listening.” Our lifestyles make this difficult. It will require some intentionality, but it will be worth it! The Word is mighty to save. My prayer is that we would believe in the saving power of the Listened-to-Word. 

So may the Spirit of God use the Word of God to make us into a listening people, who were saved, are being saved and will be saved from our tongues.

And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our bodies; it pollutes the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell (James 3.6 HCSB).

Hearing the Word of God: James 1.1-18

Last year we did our best as a Church Family to read through the entire Bible. This year we thought it would be wise to reduce the pace a bit, in order to facilitate a more calm and slow approach to our Bible reading. So each day of the week we will be encouraged to not only read, but also to meditate upon two passages from God’s Word. Paul teaches in Romans 10.17 that faith comes from what we hear. My prayer is that this slower, more contemplative approach to our daily Bible reading will enable us to more intentionally hear from God and thereby have our faith strengthened collectively and as individuals. 

On January 2, one the passages we were encouraged to read was James 1.1-18. As I meditated on James’ introduction to his letter to the people of God who had been scattered by persecution, a few themes began to emerge and I would like to share one with you. 

Neglecting Prayer is a Theological Problem

Notice verse 5. “Now if any of you lack wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him” (HCSB). “Wisdom” in this context does not refer to knowledge or understanding, but rather an ability to live life with endurance in spite of difficult circumstances (cf. verses 2-4). So when we are faced with various trials, James teaches that trials should turn us to our knees to ask God for the wisdom to live winsomely within difficult times. Furthermore, James cannot encourage us to pray, without also reminding us of the generous and uncritical goodness of God. Faith motivates prayer. To be provoked to pray, we must know that our Father is good and desires to hear and answer the prayers of his children. In other words, prayer is the evidence that I am coming to believe with certainty that Jesus reveals to us a God who is a kind and loving Father who listens to the requests of his children. Additionally, when I neglect to pray I am revealing what I really believe – that God is not eager to hear my prayers. Are you eager to pray? Why do so few of us make it a priority to gather for prayer on Wednesdays at 6pm? Often times the busyness of the week, the cold temperatures outside or the kids’ homework become obstacles to making corporate prayer a priority. According to Jesus, small groups of praying Christians affect change within the world.

I assure you: Whatever you bind on earth is already bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth is already loosed in heaven. Again, I assure you: If two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there among them (Matt 18.18-20, HCSB).

May our growing understanding of God’s undivided goodness encourage each of us to be devoted to prayer.         

How long? Prayers for Peace

How long? How long? How long, O LORD?

Father, in the midst of tragedies like what befell Newtown, CT, we are thankful for your word that expresses the flood of emotions we are feeling.

How long, O LORD, until you bring peace in our violence?

How long, O LORD, until you bring justice into our injustice?

How long, O LORD, until you bring healing into our brokenness?

How long, O LORD, until you bring generosity in our greed?

How long, O LORD, until you bring love to overwhelm our hatred?

How long, O LORD, until your people refuse to use their freedom as an excuse to condone evil.

How long, O LORD, until Jesus returns and all is made new?

How long, O LORD? How long? How long?

At this moment we remember before you the 28 victims of tragic violence in Newtown, CT. Have mercy on all who grieve. Give peace to the family of the gunman. Show kindness to Sandy Hook Elementary School - to teachers, parents, administrators and staff.

Enable the church of Jesus Christ to mediate the peacemaking presence of Jesus to a world bent on violence.

Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord mercy.

The Overcoming of Evil

Miroslav Volf was born in 1956 in Osijek, Croatia, which was then part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In 1957 he and his five-year-old brother, Daniel were being watch by their Nanny, Aunt Milica, when Daniel “slipped away” from the courtyard to go play with some soldier friends a mere two blocks away. The soldiers enjoyed Daniel because of the diversion he provided from their normal, not-so-exciting duties and had become quite fond of him. On this day one of the soldiers innocently placed Daniel on a horse-drawn bread wagon and then the unthinkable happened. A tragic accident robbed Daniel of his life and the Volf family was left devastated. Miroslav has also experienced brutal interrogations at the hands of then Communist Yugoslavian Officials. These horrific events have uniquely equipped him to interpret well texts such as these in his book, The End of Memory: Remembering Rightly in a Violent World. 

You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matt 5.43-44, NIV).

But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6.27-28, NIV).

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Rom 12.21, NIV).

I am especially interested in this final text from Romans 12, because it seems that Paul is motivated by a desire for the reader to not be overcome by evil. Paul doesn’t want evil to win. He wants evil to end and he provides us with a sure way for evil to be overcome. The verb translated overcome is from the word nikao which means to vanquish or defeat. Jesus uses the word in John 16.33 where he says, “Take heart! I have overcome the world.” Furthermore, John says the same is true of us who have been born of God. “… for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God" (1 John 5.4-5). Do you want evil to be defeated – vanquished – overcome? God offers one way to his people. Love those who do evil. Pray for our persecutors. Do good to those who hate you. Overcome evil with good. This gospel truth is why I have been so moved over the past two days by these words from Miroslav Volf, one who has endured the dark intensity of evil.

To triumph fully, evil needs two victories, not one. The first victory happens when an evil deed is perpetrated; the second victory, when evil is returned. After the first victory, evil would die if the second victory did not infuse it with new life.

Among the many reasons God could offer his people to respond to evil with good, one is particularly powerful I think – the desire to see evil defeated. Do you desire the overcoming of evil? The gospel promise is that it will be overcome, ultimately by goodness.

Come and See

One of the most effective ways to make a significant point in a sermon, a story or a book is to emphasize your point at the beginning and the conclusion. Consequently and interestingly, the tree of life makes an appearance in both the opening and final scene of the Bible (see Gen 2.9; Rev 22.1-2). This tree radiated with the very life of God and it is of this tree that all humanity is invited to partake. Nonetheless, we prefer fruit from the tree that appears in Genesis 2, but is absent in Revelation 22, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. So instead of gladly receiving the life God offers, we have chosen that which leads to death. However, the God who offers life, loves the ones who have chosen death, and offered his own life to the forces of death that we might know life. Through Jesus Christ God is offering the very life of God to the world.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3.16, NASB).

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly (John 10.10, NASB).

While the life we receive from God through Christ will last forever, the life described here is more about essence than it is about time. It’s more about quality than quantity. Here’s what I mean. God is above time. And the life he offers to the world is the life that he has enjoyed within himself for eternity. This is the life that he has offered and is offering to the world. Through the death and resurrection of his Son – through the pouring out of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost – through the continuing ministry of Jesus through his Body, the Church – God is offering his very life to the world.

My friends, I cannot imagine better news than this. The God of the universe is offering his very being – his very essence – his very life to the world. Moreover, his Son has commanded his Church to proclaim this good news to the world. Are we heeding his charge? It is my prayer that the Spirit of God will nurture within our Church family what I like to call a culture of invitation. We worship a God who freely gives himself to those who will accept him. Furthermore, every time we gather God is offering his life to those gathered. I would like to encourage each of you to contribute to this culture of invitation by prayerfully selecting someone within your network of relationships and saying to that person what Philip said to Nathanael, “Come and see” (John 1.46).

Therefore...

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit … “

~ Jesus the Christ

“Therefore” – One of the most important words in the New Testament. In the original language it’s a simple conjunction comprised of three letters. Within this simple conjunction, however, the key to discipleship is found – within the simple little word the key to God’s plan for the nations is found. The word translated therefore, points us back to the bold assertion Jesus exclaims in verse 18: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” Jesus’ words recall a significant prophetic vision recorded in Daniel 7.14.

And to Him was given dominion.

Glory and a kingdom,

That all the peoples, nations and men of every language

Might serve Him.

His dominion is an everlasting dominion

Which will not pass away;

And His kingdom is one

Which will not be destroyed.

This prophecy tells the story of the world from God’s perspective and at the center of God’s story is a King. Any King “worth his salt” must have a kingdom and the King at the center of God’s story receives His kingdom from God Himself. Aside from the fact this kingdom is God’s, two other elements of this kingdom are worthy of our attention. 1) This kingdom will not pass away. Kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall but not this kingdom. It is everlasting. It will not pass away. It will not be destroyed. This kingdom is worthy of our life’s devotion 2) This kingdom is for all peoples. Daniel’s vision announces the reason the Ancient of Days will give dominion to the Son of Man; that all the peoples and nations of every language might serve Him. And it is this King that we encounter in Matthew 28:16-20. Jesus declares I am the Son of Man. He asserts that all authority in the cosmos is being given to Him. What is the appropriate response? Jesus says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.” In other words, the process of gathering men, women, girls and boys to serve the Son of Man has begun. If you are a Christian – if you believe that Jesus Christ is the risen and ascended Lord, there is only one acceptable response. “Go therefore and make disciples.” It is to the obedience of Jesus’ command that we have dedicated the month of October at SBC. Especially during our Make Disciples! conference with Tim Catchim, we are offering relevant resources that will equip us to obey the One who commands us, “Make disciples!" Linked below is a talk given by Tim which should whet your appetite for how God will use him among us. 

http://vimeo.com/35944513