Friday, May 27, 2016

Able To Teach

Able To Teach                                                05-27-16

2 Timothy 2:24-25 (ESV) 24  And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,
25  correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,


My thoughts today.

If you read from the fourteenth verse of Second Timothy 2, the context will hopefully clear up my mental processes today. A well known radio commentator used to describe it as "a skull full of mush." (smile) Pay particular attention to verse 21. In context that verse is speaking to a self imposed "cleansing." Not a cleansing from sin or bad habits, but from doctrinal error and false teaching. With that in mind, allow me to share my thoughts today.

I read about three or four news articles today and the descent into anger and frustration was rapid and decisive. You would think that I would eventually learn, but alas, I am afraid that I am hopelessly captive to the headlines. (big smile)

At any rate, it seemed to me that the aforementioned  articles were more of an attempt at appeasement, as opposed to tolerance.

Appeasement- placation, concession, pacification. A diplomatic policy of making material or political concessions to an enemy power in order to avoid conflict.

The articles, having spiritual overtones were not political in nature but the concept of concession and placation are the same. Concessions in order to avoid conflict.

All that being said, it was not the articles, but a REPLY to the last article that provoked the message today. The article in question referred to a particularly heinous act done in the name of religion. There were hundreds of replies, but I read only one. The very first one.

Have you ever read something that angered you? I don't mean irritated, I mean really ......off? Well, this replier had had enough and he let loose. He mentioned something about "if they wanted a war, then let's give them a war." Except those were not the words that he chose to express his anger and frustration.

Well, as I read the outburst I could feel the indignation rising up in me. I agreed with this reader's reaction and I AGREED FULLY AND HEARTILY! They want a war, let's give them a war!! Except those were not the words that were going through my mind either. As I began considering"taking it to the street" the title verse came like a ticker tape across my mind's eye. Look again.

2 Timothy 2:24-25 (ESV) 24  And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,
25  correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 


Hmmmmm.......

Before going on, look at this. At no point in this section of Scripture is God advocating a tolerance or appeasement of false teaching or doctrinal error. Nope.
as a matter of fact here and in Romans 9 Paul uses the terms honorable and dishonorable in similar contexts. But, don't let me get bogged down here.

What hit me in this passage were the phrases "Lord's servant" and "able to teach." I went to a commentary and read about what it meant to be able to teach. That phrase emphasizes disposition or attitude as much as it does skill. It is possible to teach the RIGHT THINGS IN THE WRONG WAY.

One thing I have learned over the years is that no one has all the truth.

1 Corinthians 13:9-10 (ESV) 9  For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
10  but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.


You see the problem in our land today is not a difference of interpretation on the Scriptures. Not at all. Rather, it is an appeasement to an assault on the validity and truth of God's Word.

The Bible says we are to endure evil, not placate it. It says we are to correct our opponents in gentleness, not beat them over the head with God's Word or worse,...argue them to death. Yes, there is I believe a time for public confrontation, but it must be led by the Holy Spirit . I also believe that not everyone is called to that type of confrontation. Got to be very cautious when deciding to "take it to the street."

However, let us, especially me, not fall prey to that spirit or idea of appeasement. History teaches us that concession does not work. Compromise? O.K. Appeasement? No way. If it does not work in our physical world, do you think it will work against the enemy of our souls? Just sayin' The Apostle Paul puts it this way.

2 Timothy 3:14-15 (ESV) 14  But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it
15  and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.


Continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed.

Psalm 119:44-45 (ESV) 44  I will keep your law continually, forever and ever,
45  and I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts.



God Bless







    

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