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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.

Today’s reading is Romans 11:1-12:21.

“Do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you” (Romans 11:18).

Wow! That hit me where it hurts.

I’ve caught myself recently trying to barter with God. “God please do such and such so I will be better able to do such and such for You.” Now, I certainly think this is a valid approach to prayer when done from the proper motivation. Clearly, the psalmists prayed for God’s deliverance from death that they might continue to praise God among the living.

However, it is too easy for me to get into barter mode while trying to get the semantics to sound like the prayer is about God instead of me. I need to remember that God is the one supporting me and not vice versa. I need Him. He doesn’t need whatever it is I’m trying to offer Him. There is no room for manipulative ploys in praying.

Today, I’m going to check my motives in my praying. Am I asking because I want to better glorify God or because I want what I want and I’m hoping to make it sound like it’s about Him? That’s the question.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Acts 15:1-16:40.

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them” (Acts 16:25).

And here I am afraid or ashamed to sing and pray in front of people brought up in the Bible belt. There is no embarrassment, no shame, no fear. Just complete and total trust in the Lord. And that led to a new brother in Christ. I wonder what might happen if I refused to be ashamed and therefore sang hymns to God and even prayed where people could hear me. I’m not saying that I try to barge into people’s lives and be an annoyance with my spirituality. I’m definitely not suggesting I should take a “look how spiritual I am” approach. In fact, I don’t even think this was a calculated attempt at evangelism. It was just what they needed to do at the time and they didn’t have a problem with letting others overhear. If I could drop my guard and quit worrying about what people think of me, I might actually let something spiritual slip in front of someone who ends up wanting to respond to the Lord too.

As a friend of mine says, “It’s really none of my business what people think of me.” If they think I’m weird for praising the Lord, so be it. But what if they think, “Man, I wish I had what he has”?

Guess I better tune up my voice, I feel a song coming on.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS: What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Philippians 3:1-4:23.

I’m glad to read Philippians 3:7-11 today. It reminds me of what is most important for me today. It is not most important that I make money today or that I sell any books today. It is not most important that I rub elbows with some important person today. It is not most important that I pass on some great knowledge and education to my children today. It is not most important that I solve some great problem facing our world. What is most important is that I get to know Jesus just a little bit better today. If that means I have to give up something else, then so be it. 

Only by knowing Jesus will I attain the resurrection and have my lowly body transformed to be like his glorious body. 

I think I’ll go spend a little bit more time reading His word and praying. Perhaps I should spend some time with His other brethren. I will probably also take some time to do some meditating on what I learn of Him through the word. All of these things can help me know Him better and draw me closer to Him. That is what is most important today. Maybe God will use me to do some other things today as well, but most importantly, I need to know Jesus.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What struck you in today’s reading?