Jump Start # 3206

1 Timothy 2:1-2 “First of all, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”

We just had an another election this week. There was a lot of hype saying that this may be the most important election in this generation. It seems that same thing was said about the last election. And, in any election, some are happy and others are sad. The divided times that we live in only makes that magnified. Sad becomes mad and with that comes charges and claims about how unfair the results were.

Our verse today, the apostle calls on us to be prayerful and to include in those prayers, kings and all who are in authority. This was to be so a peaceful life could be lived among the people of God. We remember that those early Christians didn’t have a say in who would rule over them. They did not have elections as we do. Corruption, violence and vice were very common among the political hierarchy in Rome. The brethren couldn’t vote, but they could pray. They could pray remembering that God removes kings and appoints leaders. God is always upon the throne.

Now some thoughts from this:

First, those in leadership positon, be it in politics, business, school, or even within the kingdom must keep in mind those that they are leading. To forget that, is to abuse your position and it often is the source of many problems, complaints and heartache. How many times is the expression, “we don’t count,” often heard in business, in government and sadly, even in the church. Too often the decisions that are made are based upon selfish motives and with an intention of keeping the position and power.

The abuse of power and position often leads to uprisings. On a boat, it’s called a mutiny. The captain is set a float in a small row boat as the crew takes over the ship. In ancient politics, the abuse often led to assassinations and a take over of the government. In business, it leads to workers quitting. And, in the church it leads to splits.

It is an honor to lead people. One must do it nobly and with the intention of doing what is right. When one believes that he is better than others because of his title or position, he will quickly lose the qualities of a leader and become a tyrant.

Second, those that follow are not in the position of leaders and we must remember that. Rebellions, mobs, riots are caused not by those in charge, but by those who wish they were in charge. Leaders often must make the difficult call that is painful yet necessary. Even in the powerful Shepherd Psalm, David was led through dark valleys and sat at the table with his enemies. Those are places he likely would not like to be, but it was necessary as he followed the shepherd. If we only followed the leaders we liked or obeyed the rules that were pleasant to us, chaos would ensue. And, it does. Just notice how people drive these days. In long lines of traffic, people have made U-turns right in front of a No U-turn sign. Some drive in the grass or emergency lane just to get around others. They are doing what they want to do. If followers do not follow leaders, then the leaders have no impact.

Third, we must be prayerful towards our leaders. We may not like them. But much too often we’d rather complain about them, post mean things on social media about them, talk down about them than pray for them. Can you imagine praying for a Caesar? Take your pick of them. None of them would fit our liking. Yet, the apostle urged, begged, pleaded, with brethren to be praying for them. I wonder if our times would be better if we prayed more for our leaders?

Fourth, in the excitement of elections and the obsession with red and blue and left and right, let us never forget that there is an up and a down. Every two years there is an election. The ads fill the commercials on TV. The mailbox is stuffed with information about the candidates. Lots and lots of money flows into these campaigns. For the most part, one won’t hear from the majority of these candidates until another two years. And, in all of this, God is the one who holds our allegiance. There has been wars, recessions, inflation, disasters, corruption, good times and bad times, and our God is still there. Candidates come and go, yet, God is still there. We must never forget that we are first and always disciples of Jesus.

Another election…time for more prayers.

Roger

Jump Start # 3205

2 Timothy 2:17-18 “and their talk will spread like gangrene, among whom are Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and thus they upset the faith of some.”

Dangerous times is not something new to these days. In our verse today, the apostle warns of dangerous talk. Three immediate things we notice. First, their talk spreads. Paul likens it to gangrene, which is the deadening of the body. We might use the illustration of mold on a wall. It spreads. Second, what was spreading was error. They claimed the resurrection was over. Obviously, they were not talking about Jesus’ resurrection, because it was over by the time this was written. The future resurrection, our resurrection, is what they had in mind. For them, it had already taken place. We missed it. We were left out. How they would prove that is difficult to understand. Thirdly, what they were doing was harmful. They are described as “men who have gone astray from the truth,” and, they were upsetting the faith of some. They were not making brethren stronger. They were not encouraging. They were not helpful. They were making things worse.

Some lessons for us:

First, some things have never changed. Yet, today, there are some who are upsetting the faith of others by saying things that cannot be proven Biblically. Some have an interest in being important. They want a following. And, that is nothing new. The elders at Ephesus were warned that among them some would try to draw the disciples after them. Pride feeds the need to be recognized, valued and important. Some things have never changed.

Second, our faith can be turned upside down if it is not firmly established in the word of God. We need to recognize what God’s word says. We need to be able to notice what isn’t true to the Scriptures. It’s when we don’t know that error gains a foothold among us. Our greatest tool is truth. Truth has nothing to fear. Ask the hard questions, truth can handle it. Examine it. Study it. Know it. Live by it. And, when one is richly embracing truth, he will recognize things that just aren’t right.

Error doesn’t wear a name tag. Error doesn’t announce that what is said is not true. The Lord told us that error looks like one of us. It’s a wolf in sheep clothing, is how Jesus defined it in His sermon. From a distance, that wolf can sure look like a sheep. But look at it closely, you’ll see differences. That wolf won’t eat grass like the sheep. That wolf stands taller than the rest of the sheep. From a distance, he may look like a lamb, but he isn’t. The keen eye will notice. And, when error is placed next to truth, the differences are clearly seen. Don’t be fooled. Not be misled.

Third, an upset faith, shipwrecked faith, or a faith that has crashed, is of little good. If indeed the resurrection was over, what would that mean? Would that mean we missed Heaven? What’s the purpose then if we are no longer going to be raised. Why walk with the Lord, if this is it? Why worship if this is it? Why be holy if this is it? One might as well toss in the towel and live as an animal.

But what about the words of Jesus in John 5 which promises that all who are in the tombs will come forth? What about Paul’s words to the Corinthians that tell us that all will be changed and put on the imperishable? Those “all” words, do they mean “all” or just “some?” Someone should have said that to Philetus. Smooth talking and a charismatic spirit can get around plain simple Bible verses.

Fourth, some of the greatest threats that brethren face are not from the outside but rather from the inside. The danger from within is that we give each other so much benefit of the doubt and we tend to put our guard down because it’s one of us. And, that’s just what Satan does. He sneaks in unnoticed. He picks and chips away at faith until he has wrecked the hearts of many. This is why wise shepherds must truly be overseers. They are not overseeing budgets and supplies, but the hearts of the brethren. What’s being listened to and read? What’s influencing folks? Is there a spirit like Hymenaeus who is spreading things and irritating the faith of some?

We must love the Lord and the truth more than we love each other. If not, we will look the other way, when we should not. We will give someone a pass, who should not be given a pass. We will tolerate things that ought not to be tolerated. The wellbeing of a congregation is wrapped around their love of the Lord and His word.

Dangerous times…keep your eyes open and keep God’s word open.

Roger