Jump Start # 921

2 Timothy 2:24-26 “The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.”

Paul’s words to Timothy remind us that our attitudes are as important in teaching others as is the what we teach them. A discussion can be killed because of attitudes. Quarreling, impatience, rudeness, roughness and arrogance smoother the truth and stifles any good that can come from a discussion.

Recently I had a discussion with a guy who claims to be an atheist. He went to church as a child. He doesn’t now. We met for a long while. He was pleasant. He had several serious questions.

• He has problems fitting science in with the Bible.
• He read a passage in Exodus 33 where God talked to Moses, face to face as to a friend. Later, in the same chapter the text says no one ever saw God’s face. How does that fit?

Good questions. Good discussion. We hope to meet again. It was pleasant. I left him with some things to think about. He left me with some homework that I have to do for some of his questions.

Before we left, he asked me what my life would be like if I was sitting in his chair. What would my life be like if I didn’t believe? I haven’t given that much thought, mostly because I believe. Once I crossed the bridge with Jesus, I have not had second thoughts. I never had “buyer’s remorse.” There has not been a tug on my heart to leave Jesus and return to the world. Intellectually, Biblically, and faith tells me that is foolish. That is a dead end road. That is a losers bet.

But he asked me. In a fair, honest and open discussion, I wanted to answer him. I have given that question more thought since then. What would my life be like if I was sitting in the chair of one who did not believe?

I think for most believers we have a hard time going there. It is such an impossibility with us that we can’t relate and as a result, we can’t relate. The nonbeliever can’t understand us because we can’t understand him. This question, this thought isn’t off the charts. John Lennon made a hit song singing that very concept, “Imagine.” Imagine there’s no Heaven, his song begins.

Many are so busy with the now, that they don’t think of the eternal. Many are busy with kids, schedules, vacations, taking care of the place, watching TV and dealing with life, that days pass…weeks pass…months pass…and eventually a lifetime passes with just existing here. One can get used to not thinking about God. Some feel that introducing God into their lives only adds more guilt and they already have enough of that.

It seems that there are more practical atheists than pronounced atheists. The practical branch lives for the here and now. They are busy, productive, happy and just not thinking about the spiritual. That’s where I would be if I didn’t believe. In some ways, Christians can walk step in step with the practical atheist. In theory we disagree with them. In reality, we do the same that they are doing. Too busy for prayers…too busy for reflection…too busy for worship…too busy for God. How is that any different than the guy who doesn’t believe? I don’t think I would be into drugs, running guns, laundering money, arrogant, cussing with every breath. There are those like that, but not many. Many folks who do not believe, are good people. They don’t see God. They don’t see the answers to their questions. They don’t see reasons to believe. They are not obnoxious or rude, they simply do not believe.

The image of atheism that too many believers have is a twisted soul that has drunk so heavily from the cistern of sin that he is dark through and through. They perceive him as evil, nasty and violent. They would never assume that the sweet grandma down the street doesn’t believe, or the hair dresser doesn’t believe, or the friendly co-worker doesn’t believe. They don’t fit in the image of atheism. It may be that our image is off. It may be that we need to give some thought to where I would be if I didn’t believe. It may be that no one has ever sat down with them and answered their questions, or taken time to listen, or taken time to see what life is like from their perspective.

What would life be like if we weren’t believers? You ought to see a huge hole in your heart. Something big is missing. Sure, you’d have cars and a house and careers and kids, and hobbies and vacations and family—but what was missing is something you can’t see. What’s missing is that anchor that holds you in storms. What’s missing is that rock that is Jesus Christ. What’s missing is that hope that drives you. What’s missing is that perfect example that you follow. What’s missing is that peace and joy that comes from walking with God. Sundays would be different without God. Choices would be different without God. Raising kids would be different without God. Viewing death would be different without God.

Be kind when you talk with others who are different than you. Listen. Consider. Help.

Roger

Jump Start # 656

2 Timothy 2:24-26 “The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.”

Our passage today is one of those common admonitions from Paul that are just stuffed and layered with multiple thoughts, ideas and principles. The direction of this passage is toward Timothy and all who would preach and teach God’s word. God has specific guidelines about who can be a shepherd or elder leading His people but it seems that just about anyone can preach and they usually do. Here two prevailing thoughts are addressed.

First, the attitude and spirit of the Christian. Look at the list of words Paul uses: kind, patient and gentle. The servant of God is to be kind to all. Not only kind to the congregation or to brethren but to all. He is to be patient when wronged. That carries the idea of opposition. He is able to teach. He is gently correcting those who are in opposition. Those in opposition may get obnoxious and loud. They may distort things and play mind games to win. They may fuss about words. Not God’s man. He is not quarrelsome. He is patient, gentle and using God’s word to teach. Steady, consistent and seeing the goal of trying to bring one to Christ. The opposition may have the agenda to make Christianity look bad. He may distort, take things out of context, misuse verses, misapply what was said and go to extremes. I have witnessed those things first hand. Very frustrating. Makes a person want to pull their hair out. The opposition expects you to listen to them, but they will not return the favor. They may not be kind or patient. They may quarrel.

Our Bible studies and disagreements can be lost because the attitudes that prevailed more than what was actually said. Keep the right attitude! Don’t let things get to you. Be calm. Keep plugging away with God’s word. Keep teaching. An angry Christian who loses his cool doesn’t fit the image of Jesus. Right then the Christian might lose all credibility with the person he is talking with. This is hard to do. I’ve not always hit it right. The opposition can sure burn your biscuits!

Secondly, Paul addresses the goal of the Christian. Again, notice the words: teach, correcting, repentance, knowledge of the truth, come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil. This is what the Christian is after. He is trying to save a soul. The person in opposition is trying to win an argument. Two different agendas, attitudes and goals. The man in opposition is not thinking straight. He is senseless. Like the prodigal who came to himself or came to his senses, God’s word will do that if a person will listen with a good and honest heart.

Sin is senseless. What people will put into their bodies, do to one another makes no sense. Sensible people try to figure these things out. They can’t. Their isn’t any sense to it. Patiently and gently teaching God’s word is the only hope. Getting in the ring to slug it out verbally is a losing proposition. It won’t work.

The Christian sees and knows things that the person in opposition doesn’t. The Christian sees that the one in opposition is senseless and is being held in the clutches of Satan. The man in opposition would not agree at all with that. He would say that he is free and answers to no one. He would say that he came to his conclusions on his own. But he hasn’t. He doesn’t see where he really is. The Christian knows. The Christian has been there himself before he came to Christ. He knows slavery. He knows the hold that Satan can have on someone. He knows the darkness of the mind and the hopelessness of the soul. He knows the bitter taste of sin. The Christian is there to help. He wants the man in opposition to know the Lord. Freedom, forgiveness and hope awaits the man of opposition. This drives the Christian to keep teaching and chipping away at the false hope the man of opposition has surrounded himself with. Patiently, gently, and kindly the Christian shows Jesus. He points not to the church, but to the Christ. He uses not himself, but Christ as the example.

Now sometimes we fail at this. We forget the goal and throw away our attitudes. We get in the mud and have a good ole’ fight. When it’s over, we don’t feel good. We’ve lost our temper. We’ve gotten impatient and cruel. Sure we may have told him a thing or two, but it wasn’t a pretty fight and the outcome goes to Satan.

These century old truths are important. Far too many forget these things. Angry Christians shouting at others is not very appealing. Paul knows that. You know that. There is a right way and a wrong way. Could we not use these thoughts at home with our family, especially our teenagers? Patient…with teenagers? Gentle…with teenagers? Think it would make a difference? How about using these thoughts in the church building among brethren. Some get so worked up about a point or idea that they jump both feet right into the mud, roll up their sleeves and are ready to bust the chops of anyone who disagrees. Really?

Name calling, making fun of someone, tying conclusions that they do not agree with to them, poking fun at what they believe, ridicule, mocking, laughing at them, making up things that they never said and quoting that—is not in the arsenal of a Christian. This is how the opposition works, not the Christian. It’s time to stop these things. It’s time to have the right attitude and goals as we discuss things. It’s time to stand with the word of God and teach it. These other things do not strengthen arguments, prove points nor lead a person away from Satan.

Attitude and goal—those two things set the tone for what the outcome will be. Paul saw that they were important. Hopefully we will as well.

Roger