I struggle with this text. I do. I struggle with it on a personal level, and I don't really even know why. In finishing off 1 Timothy chapter 1 I am once again confronted with this ugly issue of handing over members of our family to Satan...and I do not like it.
1 Tim. 1:18-20
Here Paul instructs Timothy to follow the prophecies made about him (which were?) in order that he may fight the good fight and keep the faith (Bon Jovi again....that guy just keeps popping up as we look at scripture...weird). He then brings up good 'ol Hymenaeus (tell me that guy didn't get made fun of in school) and Alexander, two guys who obviously had a problem with blaspheming and were handed over to Satan to be taught a lesson.
Here's where the struggle comes in. I don't really get how handing someone over to Satan helps the issue, and yet I am not sure how to discipline regarding these things. Church discipline. I am sorry that we ever had to come up with such a thing. I spose when it comes right down to it Sin has caused a lot of sorrow over the years. Sure won't miss Sin when it ain't around no more. Church discipline. Handing someone over to Satan. I am not entirely sure what that statement really means. I am assuming based on literature I have read that it means somthing along the lines of abandonning them to the world until they have learned their lesson, or essentially kicking them out on their cans until repentence takes place. Allowing them to have to deal with the consequences of their actions on their own. Thats why this is so troubling to me...cause it jsut seems like that is not what a family does. And yet, my family has.
Here is my experiences. First of all, and Paul will remember this well, Don Irvine. He was a man in our church that I really enjoyed being around. He had a great family, made a good living, even drove a Volvo. I was pretty impressed by this guy, and looked up to him quite a bit. He was with us as we took our youth group down the coast to California. Don and I wrote a song about the trip and preformed it live at church ("Passing Lilo on the Left Hand Side). I believe he was the original "Awesome Possum". We loved the guy. And he fell in love with another woman, left his family for her and was subsequently "disciplined". I didn't get it. It hurt to think that I as a member of the congregation was not to even sit down and have a burger with Don. It just didn't sit well with me. Shouldn't we journey with him at this dark time in his life? If all light leaves, what will be left but darkness.
I was kinda mad at the churchs' stand. At the time it was 1 Cor 5:5 that I was pointed to, much the same verbage as this passage. And even thought Paul clearly outlined it, it still didn't sit well with me.
Then my own father pulled the same bone-head move. And recieved the same result. And it still doesn't sit well with me. And yet, we have essentially given him over to Satan in our immediate family, to say nothing of the churchs' stand. I am angry with my father for his decision. I am dissapointed in the life he has chosen. I literally have no realtionship with him.
And even so, "handing him over to Satan"....just doesn't sit well with me. I'm not sure what to think or write, only that I struggle and know not how to get passed this hard truth communicated in this passage.
Tough stuff for sure. At least Paul can't get too much more controversial in the next few chapters, hey? Surely he wouldn't.
Yeah, surely.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
High-Tech Tolkien
I love the works of great writers like C.S. Lewis and Tolkien (all one has to do is look at my shelf to see that) and I can't help but feel like we have a little in common with these men. Apparently they used to sit around and smoke pipes and simply talk. Talk about religion, theology, the books they were writing, life in general. They talked. I think this kind of interaction is so so so healthy and good, and perhaps we are accomplishing it in a small and impersonal way by creating this blogging ring. I like the thought that we are High-Tech Tolkiens, Cyber-C.S. Lewis'.
In fact...I may just have to start smoking a pipe while I'm blogging.
In fact...I may just have to start smoking a pipe while I'm blogging.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Trustworthy Sayings of a Righteous Badass
How good is it that people change? How good it is that God does not. Change can be scary, invigorating, challenging, exciting, disastrous and/or rejuvenating. I am not a stranger to change, not in this season of my life especially. The new job, new town, new kid...when we embrace change, we EMBRACE it. Though it is in no way easy, it is a necessary part of our journey, and was a life altering experience for Paul.
1 Tim 1:12-17
Paul thanks the Lord for his strength, mercy, blessing, grace, and love. He acknowledges that even though he was an evil man at one point, Christ not only forgave him but chose to use him to do great things, even beyond what Paul could have perceived at the time he wrote these words. He then goes on to say that it has all been done not for Paul's glory, but instead to display the unlimited patience of Christ Jesus, the King.
Paul was one bad dude. We have already established that he did what he did out of a sense of duty and a form of "patriotism", but dude, he was destroying Christ's children. You have to be one heck of a person to kill someone over their beliefs. Sadly, its been done a whole lot throughout history, and continues on to this day. I have to admit, I can respect the passion and conviction it would take to be that hardcore, but yikes!! To go so far as to kill a human being, that's insane. And once Paul has seen these actions through the eyes of Christ, he realizes that he is the Chief of Sinners. Most days I am pretty sure that I am his First Lieutenant. That's not to say I consider myself a man as great as Paul, but rather I live with the knowledge of how much I suck!! Thankfully, I can also live with the knowledge of how great and unchanging, how merciful and patient a God I serve. He is the same God that Paul serves. And I say serves because Paul is still serving Christ today, just as I am. Only thing is Paul has the added bonus of living in the same Kingdom as he. How sweet will that be one day. And that is the reason that Christ accepted the Chief of Sinners, to further his Kingdom...make us aware of his unending patience fo those of us who believe in the Eternal Kingdom. Hopefully the Chief's First Lieutenant is reflecting that same truth.
I am touched, amazed and thankful that Paul and I serve the same God. That even though Paul considered himself real BAD, he knew that with Christ he was RIGHTEOUS. And I love the trustworthy saying "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst." What an amzing God.
1 Tim 1:12-17
Paul thanks the Lord for his strength, mercy, blessing, grace, and love. He acknowledges that even though he was an evil man at one point, Christ not only forgave him but chose to use him to do great things, even beyond what Paul could have perceived at the time he wrote these words. He then goes on to say that it has all been done not for Paul's glory, but instead to display the unlimited patience of Christ Jesus, the King.
Paul was one bad dude. We have already established that he did what he did out of a sense of duty and a form of "patriotism", but dude, he was destroying Christ's children. You have to be one heck of a person to kill someone over their beliefs. Sadly, its been done a whole lot throughout history, and continues on to this day. I have to admit, I can respect the passion and conviction it would take to be that hardcore, but yikes!! To go so far as to kill a human being, that's insane. And once Paul has seen these actions through the eyes of Christ, he realizes that he is the Chief of Sinners. Most days I am pretty sure that I am his First Lieutenant. That's not to say I consider myself a man as great as Paul, but rather I live with the knowledge of how much I suck!! Thankfully, I can also live with the knowledge of how great and unchanging, how merciful and patient a God I serve. He is the same God that Paul serves. And I say serves because Paul is still serving Christ today, just as I am. Only thing is Paul has the added bonus of living in the same Kingdom as he. How sweet will that be one day. And that is the reason that Christ accepted the Chief of Sinners, to further his Kingdom...make us aware of his unending patience fo those of us who believe in the Eternal Kingdom. Hopefully the Chief's First Lieutenant is reflecting that same truth.
I am touched, amazed and thankful that Paul and I serve the same God. That even though Paul considered himself real BAD, he knew that with Christ he was RIGHTEOUS. And I love the trustworthy saying "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst." What an amzing God.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Teachers are Bad...or is that Bad Teachers are Bad...
I am not a good student. Maybe its just that I never was really REALLY into the classes I was taking, or maybe its that I am too much of a seeker of fun...or perhaps a bit of both, but I have never really been into school. I don't particularily want to go back...ever, don't miss the nights of homework, papers and exams, don't miss Doris the lunchlady and eating porkchops for dinner 3-5 nights a week in the cafe. And I have TRADITIONALLY had a hard time warming up to teachers. I always kind of considered most teachers to be former geeks who had graduated to being dorks with diplomas. But being a teacher aint easy. Its not enough that they have to deal with students like me on a daily basis, but they also have the responsibility of informing, transforming and conforming young minds to grasp the factoids that they are teaching, and if they get it wrong they stand to not only decieve a generation, but risk being labelled as False Teachers...and that my friends is not a good thing in the eyes of Ol' Paul.
Here we are again in 1 Tim., this time 1:3-11. Paul is getting some big stuff off his chest right off the get-go. It quickly becomes pretty clear that theres a group of dudes getting it all wrong. Their classes are filled with "meaningless talk", and they in fact don't know what they are talking about. Not sure what this meaningless talk was all about, but it seems pretty clear that they were missing the point of what it was they were suppose, as TEACHERS to be teaching. Paul then goes into some talk about the Law (ah...the good ol' Law) and whom it was (and wasn't) intended for.
So, what do I make of all this....or perhaps..."What does it mean to me"...heh heh. All sarcasm aside, here's a few thoughts....
Good work is by faith. Faith. Faith. Faith, faith, FAITH. I feel a Bon Jovi song coming on...Sid knows what I mean. God's work is by faith, not geneologies, not laws, not rules, signs, people, places things or sometimes "Y". It is by faith. You want God's work, have faith. You want controversies, teach false doctrine. And myths...don't even get me started on myths....
We can get so wrapped up in the Why-too's and the Wither-Fores of Christianity that we forget about the faith aspect, which is a truely remarkable thing. It makes the work of Christ hard to prove and impossible to deny. The Law is good, but without faith, hope and love, it easily become meaningless talk.
Then there is the other side of the coin, the one that focuses soley on Love, Hope, Peace and Faith. These qualities are uber-important to our journey with Christ, but devorced from the law as so many of our generation are tempted to do, they become distorted as well. We have HOPE in Christ because we cannot make it to heaven on our own based on our sinfulness and God's Holiness, but Christ makes it all work out. We LOVE because he has first loved us, it is a love that is completely without equal, and one that we should everyday seek to emulate. A LOVE that kept him on a cruel cross of wood and steel. It was the Law that put him there, but love that kept Him. And it is Faith in what he has done and is doing that make us his children. Faith, hope, love and the law...they need eachother to be whole and make for good, solid teaching.
We also see Paul making the statement that the Law is Good...if it is used properly. This, quite obviously, says to me that there were (and most assuredly are) many teachers using it improperly, or there would be no reason to bring it up. So how do we use it improperly? We become legalistic. We place rules above people in our value systems. Or, conversly, we let it slide, we make light of it or bend the law to suit our needs and desires. This too is an improper use of the law. Likewise, we can use Love, Hope and Faith improperly, and teach falsities about all of these wonderful gifts of God...and that, is being a Bad Teacher.
Paul is a man, and had every ability to be a false teacher that these men, that you and I have. And yet he is confident, as we are, that he was a man of sound doctrine, and that his teaching conformed to the glorious gospel of the blessed God. Just as He did to Paul, God has entrusted the truth of his message to us in the Scriptures, may we be worthy of what we have been given.
It's a little heavy to think that I am completely able to be a false teacher, but lets face it, I have all the qualifications. It is only God's hand in my life that keeps me on the right track, and Lord I pray that you would continue to guide both me and my brothers here. Keep us from being Bad Teachers....that would be....Bad.
Here we are again in 1 Tim., this time 1:3-11. Paul is getting some big stuff off his chest right off the get-go. It quickly becomes pretty clear that theres a group of dudes getting it all wrong. Their classes are filled with "meaningless talk", and they in fact don't know what they are talking about. Not sure what this meaningless talk was all about, but it seems pretty clear that they were missing the point of what it was they were suppose, as TEACHERS to be teaching. Paul then goes into some talk about the Law (ah...the good ol' Law) and whom it was (and wasn't) intended for.
So, what do I make of all this....or perhaps..."What does it mean to me"...heh heh. All sarcasm aside, here's a few thoughts....
Good work is by faith. Faith. Faith. Faith, faith, FAITH. I feel a Bon Jovi song coming on...Sid knows what I mean. God's work is by faith, not geneologies, not laws, not rules, signs, people, places things or sometimes "Y". It is by faith. You want God's work, have faith. You want controversies, teach false doctrine. And myths...don't even get me started on myths....
We can get so wrapped up in the Why-too's and the Wither-Fores of Christianity that we forget about the faith aspect, which is a truely remarkable thing. It makes the work of Christ hard to prove and impossible to deny. The Law is good, but without faith, hope and love, it easily become meaningless talk.
Then there is the other side of the coin, the one that focuses soley on Love, Hope, Peace and Faith. These qualities are uber-important to our journey with Christ, but devorced from the law as so many of our generation are tempted to do, they become distorted as well. We have HOPE in Christ because we cannot make it to heaven on our own based on our sinfulness and God's Holiness, but Christ makes it all work out. We LOVE because he has first loved us, it is a love that is completely without equal, and one that we should everyday seek to emulate. A LOVE that kept him on a cruel cross of wood and steel. It was the Law that put him there, but love that kept Him. And it is Faith in what he has done and is doing that make us his children. Faith, hope, love and the law...they need eachother to be whole and make for good, solid teaching.
We also see Paul making the statement that the Law is Good...if it is used properly. This, quite obviously, says to me that there were (and most assuredly are) many teachers using it improperly, or there would be no reason to bring it up. So how do we use it improperly? We become legalistic. We place rules above people in our value systems. Or, conversly, we let it slide, we make light of it or bend the law to suit our needs and desires. This too is an improper use of the law. Likewise, we can use Love, Hope and Faith improperly, and teach falsities about all of these wonderful gifts of God...and that, is being a Bad Teacher.
Paul is a man, and had every ability to be a false teacher that these men, that you and I have. And yet he is confident, as we are, that he was a man of sound doctrine, and that his teaching conformed to the glorious gospel of the blessed God. Just as He did to Paul, God has entrusted the truth of his message to us in the Scriptures, may we be worthy of what we have been given.
It's a little heavy to think that I am completely able to be a false teacher, but lets face it, I have all the qualifications. It is only God's hand in my life that keeps me on the right track, and Lord I pray that you would continue to guide both me and my brothers here. Keep us from being Bad Teachers....that would be....Bad.
Let the Blogging Begin...
Here it is...the Blog. First off let me say I am notoriously bad at a) Grammer and Spelling b) Consistency and c) Studying...so blogging...of course I am going to do some blogging...its only a natural fit for a guy like me right...heh heh...ehhhhh....
Anyway, Sid has challenged us to do this and become iron, sharp iron. Here goes the sharpening.
Timothy 1:1-2
Paul is writing a letter to Timothy, someone he has obviously invested in to a significant degree. His purpose for writing seems that he feels divinely appointed to do so. I am assuming that there are a few things that Paul has on his heart that he feels as someone Tim respects that he must address as an ambassador of Jesus Christ and a "Father Figure" to Timothy. And he starts it off with a loving word of Grace, Mercy and Peace.
Here are a few of my thoughts on this. First of all, I often pass these intro verses off as sort of "To Whom it may Concern"...but there is some pretty rich stuff in here if we look a little closer (the Bible is funny like that). Paul has a pretty keen awareness of what he is and the importance of that position. He is an apostle of Christ Jesus. And why is he thus? Not simply or even because he has chosen to be, but rather because he is "commanded" to be. Jesus is Paul's SAVIOR, and the knowledge of this leads Paul to apostleship not because he feels like he should, but because he realizes that based on what Jesus did and who he is, Paul really has no choice. And yet it is not done out of a sence of obligation, because Christ is not Paul's burden, Paul's Debtor or the monkey on Paul's back. No, Christ is his Hope, Paul's absolute. Paul does not serve Christ as an apostle because he wishes for the blessings of God, he is certain about it and this leads to a life of complete devotion. And that is just the first sentence here folks.....
Secondly, he calls Timothy his "True Son." Now, recently having a child has made me keenly aware of how amazing the parent to child bond truely is. I love Sophie immensely. Sure she can be frustrating at times, but it is that bond which keeps me from hating the fact that she likes to be awake at awkward hours, makes me wipe her ass multiple times a day and cries during the most important parts of my favorite TV shows. Not even my own mother could get away with as much as Sophie does and still be as cherished as she (that statement in and of itself paints some rather disturbing mental images). Uhhh...anyway, my point is that the parent to child relationship is a very strong and unique bond. Now, I am assuming at this point that Paul never "sired" any offspring, et he experiences that deep of a relationship with one whom he has mentored in Timothy. He calls him his "true son" in the faith. Woah. I have had some pretty deep relationships with other people in the past that I have been on a faith journey with, some of whom remain some of my favorite people, but to put them on the same level as my own child, that is pretty intense. I haven't ever reached that level of commitment and love with anyone outside of my own family. But perhaps that is what Christ desires for us inside of the mentorship arena. I'm not really sure how to experience that to this point, but at least now I have somthing to chew on.
And finally Paul wishes Timothy Grace, Mercy and Peace from God and Jesus. Thats nice hey? Too often we give casual greetings of " I love you"...or "How's it going"...or here's my worst one "Hey dude....been praying for you." I am the king of insincerity, and I need to change that. I also need to learn to live in the light of the reality of God's omnipotence. God can exist and bless us in such a small thing as a greeting to a friend. Indeed He is big enough to be great in the small things too. How sweet is that??!!
Well, next time kids we will be looking at some of Paul's teachings, specifically his warning against False Teachers of the Law...of which I hope to never be. Be good to one another, love the blessings God has given you and Grace, Mercy and Peace to you all from God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.....seriously, for real.
Anyway, Sid has challenged us to do this and become iron, sharp iron. Here goes the sharpening.
Timothy 1:1-2
Paul is writing a letter to Timothy, someone he has obviously invested in to a significant degree. His purpose for writing seems that he feels divinely appointed to do so. I am assuming that there are a few things that Paul has on his heart that he feels as someone Tim respects that he must address as an ambassador of Jesus Christ and a "Father Figure" to Timothy. And he starts it off with a loving word of Grace, Mercy and Peace.
Here are a few of my thoughts on this. First of all, I often pass these intro verses off as sort of "To Whom it may Concern"...but there is some pretty rich stuff in here if we look a little closer (the Bible is funny like that). Paul has a pretty keen awareness of what he is and the importance of that position. He is an apostle of Christ Jesus. And why is he thus? Not simply or even because he has chosen to be, but rather because he is "commanded" to be. Jesus is Paul's SAVIOR, and the knowledge of this leads Paul to apostleship not because he feels like he should, but because he realizes that based on what Jesus did and who he is, Paul really has no choice. And yet it is not done out of a sence of obligation, because Christ is not Paul's burden, Paul's Debtor or the monkey on Paul's back. No, Christ is his Hope, Paul's absolute. Paul does not serve Christ as an apostle because he wishes for the blessings of God, he is certain about it and this leads to a life of complete devotion. And that is just the first sentence here folks.....
Secondly, he calls Timothy his "True Son." Now, recently having a child has made me keenly aware of how amazing the parent to child bond truely is. I love Sophie immensely. Sure she can be frustrating at times, but it is that bond which keeps me from hating the fact that she likes to be awake at awkward hours, makes me wipe her ass multiple times a day and cries during the most important parts of my favorite TV shows. Not even my own mother could get away with as much as Sophie does and still be as cherished as she (that statement in and of itself paints some rather disturbing mental images). Uhhh...anyway, my point is that the parent to child relationship is a very strong and unique bond. Now, I am assuming at this point that Paul never "sired" any offspring, et he experiences that deep of a relationship with one whom he has mentored in Timothy. He calls him his "true son" in the faith. Woah. I have had some pretty deep relationships with other people in the past that I have been on a faith journey with, some of whom remain some of my favorite people, but to put them on the same level as my own child, that is pretty intense. I haven't ever reached that level of commitment and love with anyone outside of my own family. But perhaps that is what Christ desires for us inside of the mentorship arena. I'm not really sure how to experience that to this point, but at least now I have somthing to chew on.
And finally Paul wishes Timothy Grace, Mercy and Peace from God and Jesus. Thats nice hey? Too often we give casual greetings of " I love you"...or "How's it going"...or here's my worst one "Hey dude....been praying for you." I am the king of insincerity, and I need to change that. I also need to learn to live in the light of the reality of God's omnipotence. God can exist and bless us in such a small thing as a greeting to a friend. Indeed He is big enough to be great in the small things too. How sweet is that??!!
Well, next time kids we will be looking at some of Paul's teachings, specifically his warning against False Teachers of the Law...of which I hope to never be. Be good to one another, love the blessings God has given you and Grace, Mercy and Peace to you all from God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.....seriously, for real.
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