Correcting with Gentleness
The blogosphere is often filled with vitriol, name-calling, and character assassinations. And, unfortunately, it is often a Christian vs. Christian thing. This is very unfortunate and contrary to living in the Spirit, even when dealing with “opponents.” A couple of years ago, I wrote a post called “Correcting with Gentleness” that deals with this issue:
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In 2 Timothy 2, Paul instructs Timothy concerning how to deal with “opponents”:
And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:24-26 ESV)
What does Paul mean by opponents in this passage? Is Paul instructing Timothy in how to deal with people who disagree with him over any subject matter or any topic? Or, perhaps Paul wants Timothy to deal with gentleness over insignificant matters only? What is the context of this passage?
Just a few sentences previously, Paul wrote the following words:
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. (2 Timothy 2:15-18 ESV)
According to Paul, Timothy is to demonstrate that he is an approved worker who does not need to be ashamed by “rightly handling the word of truth”. In Scripture, the phrase “word of truth” is almost synonymous with the term “gospel”. So, Timothy is to handle the gospel correctly.
Meanwhile, others are not handling the gospel correctly. Instead, they are taking part in “irreverent babble” – or “worldly empty talk” – that is, not related to the gospel. Paul gives Timothy two examples – Hymenaeus and Philetus – of people who are contradicting the gospel by saying that the resurrection has already occurred. Later, Paul would again warn Timothy to have nothing to do with “foolish, ignorant controversies” that “breed quarreling” (2 Timothy 2:23). Instead of giving in to these types of “youthful passions”, Timothy is to pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace instead (2 Timothy 2:22).
It is in this context that Paul instructs Timothy to deal with his “opponents” in a most peculiar way: 1) without being quarrelsome, 2) with kindness, 3) with skillfulness in teaching, 4) with patient endurance, and 5) with gentleness. Why should Timothy deal with “opponents” in this manner? In hopes that God would grant them repentance.
In the context, it seems that Paul is telling Timothy how to deal with people like Hymenaeus and Philetus – those who are contradicting the gospel – as well as with those who are taking part in “worldly empty talk” and “foolish, ignorant controversies”.
I think the church has lost the ability to deal with “opponents” in gentleness, primarily because we have very shallow relationships with one another. We do not know one another, and thus the only way that we can deal with one another is through “skillful teaching” – which usually turns into a shouting match instead of a kindness match.
Are there times when “false teachers” – those who teach contrary to the gospel – should be pointed out and removed from the assembly. Yes, we see this example in Scripture. But, this seems to be the exception, not the rule. We do not begin by condemning people – in fact, we should never condemn people – and we do not begin by “excommunicating” people. Instead, we must begin with kindness, patience, gentleness… teaching with our attitude and our lives as much as with our words.
What should the church talk about?
Earlier, I was thinking all the discussion that are taking place among Christians all over the world. You can read about them in books or on blogs or in journals or in magazines. There are many, many different topics.
But, thinking about all of these discussions, I began to wonder… What should the church talk about?
Should we discuss and argue about our differences? Certainly, it’s important to seek understanding together, but should this be the focus of our conversations with one another?
Should we share methods and plans and organizations and programs? Some of these have been very effective from time and time and from place to place. But, should these be the focus of our conversations?
What should we discuss?
Graduation Day Thoughts
Tomorrow is graduation day at SEBTS. Students from the college and the seminary are graduating.
Many of these students are completely biblical studies degrees and Masters of Divinity degrees with the purpose of finding a job with a church organization.
I want to encourage all of these graduates. Education is important, and your degree demonstrates that you have acquired certain information. This is good, and it can be very helpful for the church.
Please, remember, though, that education is not the same as maturity. Whether you accept a paid position with a church organization or you serve in some other capacity, you should seek to learn and grow from those who are more mature than you. You still need to be discipled.
For those who will be in a “staff” or “ministerial” position with a church organization, please also recognize that people may place requirements and duties on you. Don’t confuse administration, planning, and decision-making with leading (as a servant) or with making disciples.
Seek to make disciples, spending as much time as possible with people, regardless of your vocation or position.
I don’t want to die
I don’t want to die. It’s true.
Why? Because I have too much to live for. I have good ideas. I’m pretty smart. I enjoy my life. Things are good.
I need to die, but I don’t want to die.
You see, I know that my life is still too much my own. I do not die daily, hourly, minutely. (Yes, I know that “minutely” is not a word, but it works here.)
Why do I not spend more time making disciples and being discipled? Because I want to hold on to my life too much.
Why do I not spend more money helping other people, especially those who are in need and hurting? Because I like my life too much.
Why do I not spend more time serving people? Because there are other things in my life that I would rather do.
You see… I don’t want to die. And, if I want to live for Christ, I must die. Today. This hour. This minute. And the next.
But, I don’t want to. I want to do things my way… the things that I like… the things that bring me joy.
Oh, I have plenty of time to make disciples, to be discipled, and to serve other people… but I’d rather spend my time in other pursuits. I have plenty of money to help those who are in need… but I’d rather spend my money in other ways.
I need to die. But, I don’t want to die. And it’s killing me. Because I know that I need to die.
Which one is the minister? Which one is the missionary?
In a few days, two of my friends will be graduation from Southeastern, one from the college and one from the seminary.
One of the graduates plans to move (with his wife) to Switzerland to learn French, then to Africa. Once they reach Africa, they will work with an organization to help translate Scriptures into local languages and dialects.
The other graduate (with his wife) plans to move to Florida and look for a job teaching history in a local public high school.
So, which graduate is the minister? Which graduate is the missionary?
Answer: Both graduates (and their wives) are ministers, and both graduates (and their wives) are missionaries.
Holy People, Days, Places, and Service
Just to emphasize my point from my post “Living in the Shadows“… if you are a child of God…
You are a holy person.
Today is a holy day.
Wherever you are is a holy place.
And whatever you do in Christ’s name is holy service.
In Christ, there is no distinction in the holiness of people, days, places, or services.
More unhypocritical love
A few days ago, I pointed out that unhypocritical (or sincere) love (Romans 12:9) includes the practice of “showing more honor” to one another (Romans 12:10).
But, Paul described “unhypocritical love” in other ways as well. He says unhypocritical love (Romans 12:11-13):
- is not idle in eagerness
- is burning for the Spirit
- is a slave to the Lord
- is rejoicing in hope
- is enduring troubles
- is persisting in prayer
- is contributing to the needs of the saints (God’s children)
- is pursuing hospitality.
I’ve translated these in a way that indicates a sense of continual action. What do you think?
Living in the Shadows
I grew up in the deep South in the 70’s and 80’s. We grew up going to church where ordained ministers would hold services on Sundays. Perhaps it was only me, but I saw this as holy men performing holy services on holy days in holy places.
As I’ve continued to study Scripture, I see that my understanding while I was growing up is much closer to the Old Testament than to the New Testament. But, what’s the problem with that? The Old Testament is Scripture too, right?
Yes, but when it comes to things like the temple, the priesthood, the sacrifices, the Sabbath, and other aspects of life as the people of God in the New Testament, the New Testament tells us that these things are shadows of reality, and not reality themselves.
In other words, these things were all intended to point to something else, something bigger, something better. In fact, all of these things point forward to Christ, who fulfilled the whole law and became the better temple, high priest, sacrifice, and Sabbath.
Given my background, it is easy to switch back to thinking that there are holy days on which holy men do holy things in holy places. But, when this begins to cloud my understanding, I live in the shadows and not the reality of Christ. In Christ, all of God’s children are holy people; every day is a holy day; all opportunities to serve are holy offerings; and any place we are is a holy place, because we are the temple in which God dwells.
When do we live in the shadows? When we find ourselves asking questions like these: Should you do that on Sunday? Is there an ordained minister available to do that? Should they be doing that in the church [building]? Why is that person preaching [or teaching, or baptizing, or serving the Lord’s Supper]?
These questions indicate a shift back into the shadowy thinking of the Old Testament. Today, in Christ, we have the realities available to us; we do not need the shadows.
Great Commission and Money
It is good to support those who are traveling away from home in order to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and to strengthen churches along the way. As God’s children, we should not only send people to carry out this service, we should also support them with money as well as prayer.
However, we should never confuse giving money to others as fulfilling the Great Commission. The Great Commission in carried out in each of our lives only when we are making disciples ourselves.
Increasing giving does not indicate an increase in concern for or carrying out of the Great Commission.
Thinking about discipleship again
Yesterday, Thursday, I completed a time of formal discipleship with a seminary student. He was required to find a “mentor” for a class called Supervised Field Ministry for the Spring semester so that he could graduate this month. He sent out a few emails, I responded, and we began to meet together several times per week for the last three months.
I don’t think I was exactly what he was expecting. And, this type of formal discipleship is not exactly what I prefer.
The two of us were quite the pair. I’m from the deep south, and he’s from the north. I’ve been a believer for more than 30 years, and he’s been a believer for less than 10 years. He’s single, and I’m married with two children. He’s passionate about evangelism, and I’m just as passionate about relational discipleship. He wants to be a vocational pastor, and I do not want to get paid to pastor.
So, how did two such different people do together? Fine. Very well, actually. No, we don’t see eye to eye on everything, but that’s not what discipleship, love, or unity are about. Instead, we both sought the best for each other. We wanted to help one another grow in maturity in Christ. We found our unity in Christ, not in shared circumstances, situations, or doctrines.
What will happen now? Hopefully, our relationship with continue. I’ve left that ball in his court. I think I have more to learn from him, so I hope we’re able to spend more time together.