Hold Fast the Pattern of Sound Words! (Part 2)
In the first part, we asked: What is the "pattern of sound words"? (2Tim.1:13) And is that pattern (or form, outline, example) of higher or lesser importance than the content? We said that if we want to live our life according to God’s Word i.e. if we "desire to live godly in Christ Jesus" (2Tim.3:12), then we need not only to know the Word of God, but also to understand the "pattern". That will allow us to apply it whenever there is no direct instruction for any given situation.
Remember that toy for toddlers with various forms and a box with the corresponding holes in it? Only the pieces with the right outline will fit into certain holes. If I throw in some strange, new form, the toddler will not be able to find a matching hole, even if the colours or other features otherwise were right. - When we continuously read and learn from the bible, it will give us examples for our daily life. We will understand not only the direct message, but also the underlying principle and this will enable us to apply it to another context and different situations.
Quite recently I was pointed to a book called "The Shack". I haven’t read it myself, but I heard that it became quite popular in the United States but also that it brings unrest and sorrow in some churches. If you hear about it yourself, you can learn more about it from the relevant Wikipedia article on the Internet, which I found very eye-opening, especially the "Criticism" part. For instance, one reviewer wrote: "Christ established the Church and said the gates of hell would not prevail against it (Mt.16:16-18). The Shack, as gripping as its story is, trades a church occupied with people who hear the Word of God preached for an empty shack where there is neither."
Why do I bring this up? Because I think it’s a good example of a challenge of our ability to judge according to this "pattern of sound doctrine";
To that end, let’s have a look at Chapter 4, which seems to be the culmination of Paul’s address to Timothy:
"I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you, be watchful in all things"! (V.1-5a)
This is not about being paranoid, but being watchful about everything that crosses our path here on earth. Let’s not forget, we are in enemy land (our citizenship is in heaven, right?) and we have an enemy who is not only "walking about like a roaring lion" (1Pet.5:8), but also sometimes trying to put us to spiritual sleep and laying out traps (snares) for us! (2Tim.2:26)! Are we watchful? So Paul continues: "But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry."
And what is the motivation to hold fast the pattern of sound doctrine? It’s the "faith and love (found) in Christ Jesus"! HE provides it!
So, at the end, will we be able to say like Paul: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." (4:7-8)?
(Emphasize added in Bible citations)
matthias for Taoiseach !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Nigel Phillipson — Fri, 13. March 2009 @ 17:01
Not my ambition, sorry!
Comment by Matthy — Fri, 13. March 2009 @ 17:29
Nigel correctly pointed me to 2.Cor 11v3 in response to this article:
Here is a commentary by Albert Barnes, which explains the so important “simplicity that is in Christ”:
(…)
Corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
(1.) From simple and single-hearted devotedness to him–from pure and unmixed attachment to him. The fear was that their affections would be fixed on other objects, and that the singleness and unity of their devotedness to him would be destroyed.
(2.) From his pure doctrines. By the admixture of philosophy, by the opinions of the world, there was danger that their minds should be turned away from their hold on the simple truths which Christ had taught.
(3.) From that simplicity of mind and heart; that, childlike candour and docility; that freedom from all guile, dishonesty, and deception, which so eminently characterized the Redeemer. Christ had a single.aim; was free from all guile; was purely honest; never made use of any improper arts; never resorted to false appearances, and never deceived. His followers should, in like manner, be artless and guileless. There should be no mere cunning, no trick, no craft in advancing their purposes. There should be nothing but honesty and truth in all that they say. Paul was afraid that they would lose this beautiful simplicity and artlessness of character and manner; and that they would insensibly be led to adopt the maxims of mere cunning, of policy, of expediency, of seductive arts, which prevailed so much in the world–a danger which was imminent among the shrewd and cunning people of Greece, but which is confined to no time and no place. Christians should be more guileless than even children are; as pure and free from trick, and from art and cunning, as was the Redeemer himself.
(4.) From the simplicity in worship which the Lord Jesus commended and required. The worship which the Redeemer designed to establish was simple, unostentatious, and pure –strongly in contrast with the gorgeousness and corruption of the pagan worship, and even with the imposing splendour of the Jewish temple-service. He intended that it should be adapted to all lands, and such as could be offered by all classes of men–a pure worship, claiming first the homage of the heart, and then such simple external expressions as should best exhibit the homage of the heart. How easily might this be corrupted! What temptations were there to attempt to corrupt it by those who had been accustomed to the magnificence of the temple-service, and who would suppose that the religion of the Messiah could not be less gorgeous than that which was designed to shadow forth his coming; and by those who had been accustomed to the splendid rites of the pagan worship, and who would suppose that the true religion ought not to be less costly and splendid than the false religion had been! If so much expense had been lavished on false religions, how natural to suppose that equal costliness at least should be bestowed on the true religion! Accordingly, the history of the church, for a considerable part of its existence, has been little more than a record of the various forms in which the simple worship, instituted by the Redeemer, has been corrupted, until all that was gorgeous in pagan ceremonies, and splendid in the Jewish ritual, has been introduced as a part of Christian worship.
(5.) From simplicity in dress, and manner in living. The Redeemer’s dress was simple. His manner of living was simple. His requirements demand great simplicity and plainness of apparel and manner of life, 1Pe 3:3-6; 1Ti 2:9,10. Yet how much proneness is there at all times to depart from this! What a besetting sin has it been, in all ages, to the church of Christ! And how much pains should there be that the very simplicity that is in Christ should be observed by all who bear the Christian name!
Comment by Matthy — Sat, 14. March 2009 @ 10:42