Theological Commentary: Click Here
In this
chapter, Paul emphasizes the need for Timothy to focus. This is great advice. How often do we set out with great ideas and
great potential only to find ourselves distracted? The next thing you know, the focus has been
shifted in the distraction. More distraction
happens, and the focus shifts once more.
Soon the goal of our great ideas don’t even look the same as they did in
the beginning. Often when we realize
that the goal shifted, we can’t look back and point to a specific moment where
we went astray. Usually it is a small
moment of transition followed by more small moments of transition. We lose focus and our direction chases.
More
specifically, Paul hits repeatedly on the idea that Timothy should focus on
avoiding foolish controversies. I have a
hate-hate relationship with foolish controversies. Religious people love to foolish controversies. Is baptism a sprinkling with water, full
emersion, or only valid if done in moving water? Is communion real bread or wafers? What about the great grape juice or wine
debate? Should the color of the carpet
always be red? Is church only valid on
Sunday morning? Can I actually use a
version of the Bible other than the King James or whatever the pastor preaches
from? Can pastors marry or not? Can women actually preach and hold positions
of influence? What the instruments
allowed in church? Should kids be
allowed to stay for the whole service?
I can keep
going, but I think the point is clear.
Human beings – Christians among them – love to draw distinctions and get
wrapped up in arguments. It is how we
show our identity. In a sense, human
beings find out who we are by setting up walls that indicate who we aren’t.
I love the
words that Paul uses when he speaks about people who argue about foolish
debates: gangrene. (Warning: I may have gotten that word from the ESV
translation) It’s a sickness that spreads. It’s a disease that infects and causes death
unless it is treated or cut off. It saps
our strength until we no longer have the strength to carry on.
Instead, we
should focus on righteousness, faith, and love.
These things inspire us to do more rather than sap our strength. Ever do something nice for a person and see
their smile? That makes you want to do
it again. Ever be there when someone
needed you? That grows trust. Ever do the right thing when nobody is
looking? That makes you realize God in
each of us.
Stay away
from foolish quarrels that sap the love within.
We are not defined by that which separates us from one another. We are defined by the God who desires to
bring people together.
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