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1 Timothy 2-3 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is 1 Timothy 2:1-3:16.

“I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling…” (I Timothy 2:8).

Well, I know I’m going to get in trouble for this one. But I just can’t help but think about this in my reading today.

I am all about scriptural authority. I think the basis for everything we do as congregations and individual Christians should be anchored in Scripture. I want book, chapter, and verse preaching. I don’t want think-sos, I-feels, or I-just-can’t-believes. And I am part of a spiritual fellowship that feels the same way.

Of course, the big trouble with all this is consistency. I’ll be clear. I’m sure I’m inconsistent in places. I don’t think inconsistency means the basis of my plea is wrong. It just means I get it wrong in places. However, some inconsistencies are obvious. When they are, they cause a severe chink in the armor.

I think this passage represents one of those. Like it or not, this passage says that lifting our hands while praying is absolutely, unequivocally, and undeniably scripturally authorized. I don’t care what you say about this text. I don’t care if you point out that Paul’s main point was about keeping our hands pure from wrath and quarreling. I don’t care if you hone in on the fact that it mentions men. I don’t care if you want to highlight the emphasis on prayer. No matter how you slice it, dice it, spin it, or flip it, this text says holding hands up during prayer is authorized.

Why then do we conservative Christians buck against what is so clearly authorized? Why am I going to get private e-mails about this post sharing the fear from some that I’m slipping? Why will some even make public comments about it below? Why will someone call my shepherds and suggest they give me a talking to? Because we fear what people will do with this. No, this passage does not authorize worship that is governed by emotionalism. No, this passage doesn’t authorize much of what goes on in charismatic and Pentecostal churches. No, this passage does not authorize jumping, shouting, dancing in the aisles, speaking in tongues. Yet some of us are scared that if we start letting people lift holy hands while praying it will lead to that. Apparently Paul wasn’t afraid of that. Maybe we shouldn’t be.

I suggest that instead of trying to manipulate outcomes by twisting what the Scripture says or neglecting it, we learn to be honest with the text. Will people abuse things in the text? Sure. But that is their problem, not mine. All I know is if we are going to be people of the book, speaking where it speaks and silent where it is silent, then let’s go ahead and speak where it speaks. Let’s not rebuke what the Scripture itself authorizes explicitly. Let’s be honest with ourselves, with the Bible, and with our motives, even if that leads us some place we didn’t want to go.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? Click the following link to add your input: Post a comment.

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Today’s illustrations are provided by the wordle tool at Wordle.net. You can find my wordles here.

Philemon (ESV) by Wordle*

1 Timothy 1 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Philemon 1:1-25; 1 Timothy 1:1-20.

“I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service…” (1 Timothy 1:12).

I am truly humbled by Paul’s statement here. Paul understood that whatever strength he had wasn’t his own. Therefore, he thanked Jesus for the strength he had.

I rarely thank God for my strength. Rather, I want to come to God and show my strength to Him as if it is something with which He should be impressed. “Hey, God, look at me and my strength. Have you seen everything I’ve done for You. Pretty good, huh?” That wasn’t Paul. No doubt, Paul recognized his own involvement in the work he had done. But he was no fool. Whatever he had accomplished had been by the strength given to Him from Jesus Christ. Without Jesus he could accomplish nothing. Thus, Paul’s strength was not his gift to Jesus. Rather, it was Jesus’ gift to him.

I don’t want to think this way. I want to think that somehow I can be strong and show Jesus how strong I can be. However, when I pursue that course, I always fail. How could I possibly think I can impress Jesus with my strength?

Today, I need to recognize I don’t have any gifts to give Jesus. I need the gifts He has to give me. I just need to turn to Him for that and be thankful.

Keep the faith and keep reading.

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? Click the following link in order to add your input: Post a comment.

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Today’s illustrations are provided by the wordle tool at Wordle.net. You can find my wordles here.

Today’s reading is 1 Timothy 6:1-21; 2 Timothy 1:1-18.

“But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content” (1 Timothy 6:8).

I spend too much of my time wondering when I will get to own an iPad, flat panel TV, the latest Mac, a car that doesn’t squeek or leak, a house with a playroom, an office, and a bed and bath for each family member. I want. I want. I want. In fact, I’m pretty sure it is more than want. I need these things. Then I get into entitlement and resentment. I cannot possibly grow in peace and joy when this is how I approach my life and material blessings.

However, I look at myself and notice that I am clothed. I have a full stomach from eating today. I even have a full fridge which means I’ll eat for the rest of today. I’m worried about tomorrow, but God has taken care of me today, which is the only day I really have. I should be content. God has given me more than enough. If I want to have peace, I need to spend more time today thanking God for what He has given me than complaining about what He hasn’t.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is 1 Timothy 4:1-5:25.

“For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially those who believe” (1 Timothy 4:10).

Why can I strive and toil today? Because my hope isn’t based on my striving and toiling. If it was, I’d be in trouble. But, my hope is set on the living God. He is the Savior of all who will be saved. He has the ability to save. He has the love to save. He has the plan to save. He wants to save me. He will save those who believe.

Because he is worthy of my hope, I can do my part today by striving and toiling for Him. I know that through His power, my striving and toiling will actually accomplish something. I know that He will accomplish something in me and through me.

Today, I want to focus on godliness, reverence toward God, because I know by God’s power it will actually be helpful to my eternity.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is 1 Timothy 2:1-3:16.

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings, be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peacefull and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

What a relief it is to know that I don’t have to have political opinions to be a Christian. What a relief it is to know that I don’t have to agree with everyone else politically to be doing what God wants about politics and legislation. What a relief it is to know that Christ’s church can have unity while the world breaks its head in political unrest. What a relief it is to know that I don’t have to be a political activist, filled with anxiety about the latest laws. What a relief it is to know that I don’t have to argue about healthcare, gun control, immigration, taxes, or even the legislation about homosexuality or abortion in Christ’s church.

All I have to do is put the nation in God’s hands, praying to Him that our leaders will allow us to live our Christian lives in peace. And, of course, trusting Him to care for me if our leaders refuse to do that.

What a wonderfully glorious principle it is to see that we can have unity despite political differences because God’s will isn’t about getting certain national legislation passed and we can keep all that arguing and divisiveness out of the church. Oh it is so good when a body of believers can have this peace and leave all that political pressure and posturing outside the relationship we have in Christ.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is I Timothy 6:1-21; II Timothy 1:1-18.

Sorry about the weekend break. The extra long weekend became an extra work in the yard weekend for me and I hardly got to my computer at all. Thanks for sticking with me though and coming back today.

The first couple of verses of today’s reading struck me:

“Let all who are under a yoke as slaves regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.”

I hope we can talk about these verses without getting distracted by the existence of slavery. Jesus didn’t specifically come into the world to promote social reform, though no doubt the single greatest factor that ended slavery in most nations is the teaching of the Gospel. Christianity was not about social reform but about how to live in a way that glorified God within society as it existed. Slavery existed, therefore Paul taught how to glorify God while that happened.

However, these verses didn’t hit me because of the talk about slavery. Rather, they hit me because of the talk about disrespecting someone because they are a brother. In this particular case, he was speaking of servants who seemed to think they could get away with not working quite as hard in their service because they were brethren with their masters. Paul’s point was the Christian slave serving a Christian master should work all the more knowing they were benefiting a beloved brother.

I know we don’t have master and slave relationships today, but do we often have this same kind of disrespect for our brethren?

It is one thing to be in a tight spot and receive benevolent help from our brother and sisters in Christ. However, it is a completely different thing to think every time we have business or work dealings with a Christian that they should cut us a deal just because we are brothers and sisters. It is amazing to me the number of people who will ask a Christian to cut his/her prices because their selling to or working for another Christian. Yet, they never once think about doubling their payments because they are buying from or hiring a Christian. Does this not demonstrate that same kind of disrespect Paul was talking about? Does being brothers or sisters in Christ suddenly mean we have a right to demand they cut their profit margin? Are we really given the right to take advantage of their work and say it is all in the name of Jesus? Why don’t they have the right to expect us to pay double because we are contracting with or buying from a beloved brother or sister?

Don’t misunderstand. As I said, it is certainly fine to seek benevolent aid when we need it. I think it is certainly fine for Christians to offer deals to other Christians if they want. What concerns me is the level of expectation Christians to always pay less when they are contracting with or buying from other Christians. Being brothers and sisters does not give us the right to take advantage of each other. 

Let’s make sure we are showing respect to our brothers and sisters for their work. Let’s be happy to pay fair prices and fair wages especially to our brethren because those who benefit from it are believers and beloved. If they want to show respect and love for us by giving a deal, that is their decision. We shouldn’t just expect it.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading.

Today’s reading is Philemon 1-25; I Timothy 1:1-20.

Paul said, “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost” (I Timothy 1:15).

This reminds me once again of a point I made on my personal blog last week. As a Christian striving to do what is right, I sadly have a tendency to look at the world and say, “Perhaps if you can become as good as me, you can be a Christian too.” The problem is, that is a pharisaic statement that corresponds to Luke 18:9. That is trusting in me that I am righteous.

Paul’s approach and what I need to remember is not that people should become Christians so they can be as good as me. Rather, I should be saying, “If you are as bad as me, if you are a sinner like me, you need the same Savior I have, can I tell you about Him?”

Christ Jesus didn’t come into the world to save people who measured up. He came into the world to save sinners and I believe Paul could only say he was the foremost then because I hadn’t been born yet. If you are a sinner like me, quit trying to be good enough to go to heaven. Instead, turn to the Savior and let Him save you and set you free from your sin.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

I don’t know how many times I have heard people my age (for I am still a youth) and younger whine and moan with I Timothy 4:12 on their tongues. “Oh, you awful old people. You’re not supposed to despise my youth.” But these whiny fits miss the point of Paul’s statement. He was not telling Timothy to direct from on high that no one was allowed to despise him for his youth no matter how youthful he acted. Rather, he was telling Timothy what he needed to do so no one would despise his youth. In fact, he immediately provides 5 keys to keep others from despising his youth.

1) Be an example

Specifically, Paul told Timothy to set an example in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity. If we don’t want folks despising our youth then we need to exemplify mature Christianity even though we are young. We need to speak in mature ways, live in mature ways, love in mature ways, believe with maturity and show mature purity. This connects with the command elsewhere to flee youthful lusts. Let’s face it. Paul’s point is if we don’t want people to despise our youth, then don’t act like a youth. 

Here is the key. If we talk rashly and carelessly, without thinking… If we behave impulsively… If we love selfishly… If we believe shallowly… And if we stain our purity with thoughtless arguments about personal liberty, then our older brethren are going to look at us and say, “Your young, you don’t understand.”

2) Give attention to reading, exhortation and teaching the Scripture.

This is a statement about personal humility. Too often, we young people are not actually focused on reading, exhorting or teaching based on the Scripture. Rather, we have a point we want to make because we think we have figured something out that no one before us ever has. Then we go searching about for a Scripture to make it fit.

If we want our older brethren to honor us despite our youth, our words and teaching must be based on Scripture not the latest self-help book or the newest scholarly treatise even if it is from a respected theologian. I know I have been one of the worst violators of this principle. I love self-help books. Certainly, we can gain some insight into scriptural ideas. However, when we teach we have to make sure what we speak is the oracles of God, not Covey, Maxwell, Blanchard or Warren.

3) Use your gifts

Based on my understanding of other texts and the passing on of miraculous gifts through laying on of apostles hands, I do not believe this passage refers to miraculous gifts of the Spirit. Rather, I think this refers to the gift of the ministry and authority that the elders who had charge over Timothy granted him because of the prophecy the Spirit had revealed to them about Timothy. The reason he had the opportunity to be an evangelist and work at Ephesus was because of this gift.

Therefore, I believe Paul’s point is not to squander the opportunity given him. The elders had put trust in him. They expected him to do good work and so they had granted him a measure of authority and ministry. In much the same way that Paul had said deacons who do their job well gain a good standing, if we young people will use the opportunities given to us by our leaders, we will also develop a good standing. Our older counterparts will not despise our youth when they recognize that we use what abilities, opportunities and resources we have been granted well. If we squander what we have now, why should they give us more?

4) Make progress through devotion

Sadly, we young people can sometimes think we have already reached the mountaintop. Oh, we pay lip service to the fact that we have room to grow. However, we have the idea that really we are pretty much as good as it gets and if everyone else no matter their age would be more like us they would be really spiritual. Paul’s statement here demonstrates that we have some real room to grow. It also demonstrates that the older folks have been through exactly what we have been through. They know what we have experienced and they have come out on the other side. They can tell when we are maturing and when we are not.

We need to devote ourselves to the keys Paul is mentioning. When we do, we will grow. We will progress. We will actually climb toward the real mountaintop and those who are already closer will actually be able to see our progress. They will, therefore, no longer despise our youth.

If, on the other hand, we continue in the mindset of our own greatness and maturity, those who really are more mature than us will be able to see our immature pride and arrogance. They will despise our youth, but they won’t be the ones sinning.

5) Watch your teaching

There is something about being young that says we need to come up with something new. The young seem to believe they only justify their existence in the body of Christ if they figure out something no one else has yet been able to realize. Granted, I realize everyone has room to grow and we may in fact have a spiritual breakthrough that is novel and true at the same time. The problem is with this mindset, we can very easily lose sight of what we really need to be teaching. We need to teach the truth that has been passed down to us from the word of God. It is not our job to find new things. It is our job to pay attention to what we are teaching and make sure it is in line with what has been passed on from Paul, the apostles and prophets of the New Testament. 

As young people, we definitely need to take care. If we have studied and believe we have figured out some truth that others have missed, we need to take great care before we go hog wild passing it on. We may not be the first to think the way we do. Some of our older brethren may have already “discovered” our new teaching and in their maturity know why it doesn’t mesh with the word of God.

Again, the point is not that we never branch off with some “new” teaching, but that we take care and watch what we teach. We are not teaching to show off our mental prowess. We are teaching to help folks glorify God and go to heaven. Let’s keep that as our goal and we won’t be enamored with introducing folks to some new teaching, approach or practice unless there is real reason to do so.

Don’t let people despise your youth. But don’t approach it as a demand to simply not despise you no matter how you act. Live in such a way that folks won’t despise you because you are acting youthful. 

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC