NOTE: Please don’t construe the following story as partisan. All of us – Democrat, Republican and Independent – have much to learn about civility and following The Way of Jesus.
What I’m writing about this morning happens every Sunday, and in thousands of “Christian” churches. And I am, I have to say, dumbfounded as to how far from the Gospel of Love and Light so many of us have strayed…
“LAST DAYS” Here’s the scenario: My parents’ Sunday-school class were studying the New Testament book of Second Timothy. The leader asked everyone to turn to chapter three.
The text talks about how “terrible” things will be in “the last days,” and goes on to describe the characteristics of the times. “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” (2 Tim 3:1-5)
AN ANGEL? Several members of the class were asked to read the verses out loud. When it came to my mum, there was some issue with her glasses – so she passed the Bible over to my dad. But, as she passed it, the page must have flipped, so when he read from chapter three he was actually in the Book of Titus. This is what he read:
- “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone….”
Then (and as if the scripture my dad read had never been spoken) the class began to sound off about the 2 Timothy passage. It was a tidal-wave of terrible, with voice after voice decrying “how bad things are in America,” all supporting the idea that we really and truly are in “the last days.”
DISRESPECT OBAMA: People piled on, my mum said. It was all “unholy” this, “ungrateful” that, “treacherous,” and “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…” Plus, every one of these extreme negatives were directed exclusively toward President Obama and the Democrat government. The conversation sounded like one of those hate-spewing emails that tend to get passed around.
This went on for a long time, and with no attempt at moderation from the class leader.
GRACE: Eventually, my mum told me, she raised her hand. “I’ve been listening to all this judgment and harshness and condemnation,” she said. “But what about the scripture that my husband David read by mistake? We can disagree with someone’s politics, but can’t we be respectful?”
And she re-read the passage from Titus:
Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone….
The response to her statement, essentially, was dismissive. The leader said something like, “Hmmm…” and then the class picked right back up again with trashing Democrats and spewing disrespect about President Obama.
QUESTION? So here’s my question. As Christians, as Followers of the Way of Jesus, how do we represent the Gospel of Love and Light? Is there anything about the way in which we present ourselves that speaks of the Grace, Mercy and Peace that characterize the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit?
Listen to how the passage from Titus continues (and, is there any doubt that it was an angel from God who caused the breeze that turned the page?), right after the admonition to “do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone….”
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared….” DEREK
Thanks for this reminder this morning as we all search for and imbide our favored versions of last night’s debate. For me, so much of my reaction to what happens in our country and in my own life stems from “fear” – fear that I won’t have the resources to be able to keep the home engines running, fear that I’ll be left behind without my share, or fear that I’ll be rejected by others if I don’t have the right “station” in life. When I step back and look at all God has accomplished through world leaders, both “good” leaders and “bad” leaders, it helps me remember to place all my fears with Him and work on practicing His grace, mercy, and peace in this world, with His people, while He takes on the world’s problems, in His way, and in His time…..
Great comment, Bob. Thanks!
Hi, Derek,
Timothy, at your parents’ church, has been construed to mean in these present times. But if one examines history, I can’t recall any time frame in which the Timothy passage could not be cited as meaning any and all of those past time frames. Just look at World Wars I & II and the utterly destructive evil of the Third Reich. Look at the Bubonic Plague which destroyed more than substantial human life. Surely many of those people in those times thought those eras were the “end times”. What happened at your parents’ church was a typical hijacking of scripture to fearmonger and to scapegoat the politicians that a particular group abhors. It’s so easy to point fingers when, in point of fact, we all, to either a greater or lesser degree, are part of the problem. Some praise Romney and his allies when they beat up on China when in point of fact most, if not all of us, share the blame for our economic imbalances with China in that we all probably have purchased many of our possessions like kitchen gadgets, tools, etc. which were made in China Fear management seems to be the way elections get won or lost rather than intelligent debate of the real issues. And it’s sinful to employ casuistry when studying Scripture.
Peace and Blessings, Henry
That’s always the case. People want to manipulate scripture to fit their circumstance and then call down the power of God to promote their agenda! God must shake God’s head a lot.
– D
Simon the zealot and Mathew the tax collector shared a tent or campsite. I read somewhere Jesus must have had to sleep between them many a night. A reminder to let Jesus sleep between US.
Great observation. Love the imagery
Thanks for the wind of the Holy Spirit blowing and causing an atmospheric shift for those who would dare to wait in the upper room. I, too, am concerned about the blatant disrepsect for our President. He too loves America [the term of office is too short and the job too hard to take the office to destroy our country]. He has done much good, but has not been perfect. Could he or should he have made some different/better decisions in some situations? Resoundingly, “Yes!” But, so should you and I in our pulpits, in our parenting, and in handling many of our own life’s problems. As leaders, we,too, stand in positions where our decisions impact those whom we serve. If we really love our children and grandchildren so much and are so concerned about their future, why not be as concerned about their present – the conversations they hear, the hatred that we’re communicating, and the unhealthy, unwholesome example of disrepect for leadership that’s being demonstrated. Our God is able to supply all their need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus, but the demonstration of God’s love will be best known – perhaps only be known- by them through those who are closest to them.
Thanks, Bro. Derek, your mum, dad, and the Holy Spirit for opening the eyes of our understanding.
That’s an encouraging and helpful comment, Dr. Graham. God is certainly in the business of building up and of transformation – and my prayer is that our president will be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit… and that “Christians” who are so full of hate spend some time learning to follow Jesus instead.
Peace – DEREK