Bible Handle with care
Bible: Handle with care
2 Timothy 2:8-15
From the beginning of times people have argue about religion. In the early church people argue about everything: who was Jesus, who was the Holy Spirit, how are we saved, what it means to be a Christian and even if people who denied Christ could come back and be reintegrated into the church. As the church continued to clarify what it really believed we ultimately received the apostle’s creed. In the early years if you could not win your argument and convince the opposition of their errors then you would have the opposition jailed or killed. The second response was to just separate yourselves into different groups. That is how we ended up with Catholics, different varieties of Protestants, Orthodox and multiple other denominations. The third option was to state that there is no final truth and that ultimately what you believe makes no real difference.
This third option seems to be the one that is popular with today’s Christians. The October 8th issue of Time Magazine has an article about how American Catholics consider confession old hat. It states that a 2005 survey by the Center for Applied Research found that 42% of those interviewed said they never go to confession. Only 14% said they go once a year and just 2% said they go regularly. This is just a sign of the trend of people choosing from the religious buffet what they will put in the plate of their life. People today pick and choose what they will follow from their church and even what they will believe from the bible.
The October 15th edition of Time Magazine has an advertisement from an American denomination. It reads in bold letters: “Is God keeping you from going to church?” Then it adds: “Maybe you’re uncomfortable with the idea of God--- or at least someone else’s idea of God. Yet maybe you yearn for a loving, spiritual community where you can be inspired and encouraged as you search for your own truth and meaning.” This notion of having your own truth is not new. During Jesus trial, Pilate is asking him a series of questions and as Jesus is responding Pilate comments saying: “You are a king, then!” Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” “What is truth?” Pilate asked.” I do not know why but when I read this I sense the dismissive attitude of Pilate towards Jesus claim of testifying to the truth. I almost hear him say: truth? Yeah right!
This attitude seems to be confirmed by the words of 2 Timothy 2:14. “Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.” These words seem to counsel us not to get involved in useless theological arguments, that in fact arguing is detrimental to our spiritual health. So we can say to each other; well, that is what you believe this is what I believe and it is all right. But even thought the apostle Paul ask Timothy not to waste time arguing about words, he also tells him that there are some words worth giving your life for: “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.”
Many United Methodists emphasize John Wesley’s openness to persons who disagree with him; and they usually quote these words that John Wesley wrote in a small pamphlet entitled: The Character of a Methodist. “But as to all opinions which do not strike at the root of Christianity, we think and let think.” Usually the emphasis is in the words “think and let think” but not much is said about the boundaries that John Wesley placed on the abilities to think and let think; according to John Wesley we can do so only on those ideas that “do not strike at the root of Christianity.” But how can we determine what is at the root of Christianity.
For the apostle Paul anything about Jesus Christ himself strikes at the root of Christianity. “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal.” For us as Christians the truth is not a statement but a person. The gospel of John quotes Jesus as saying: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Now you either believe this or you don’t. If this statement by John is wrong, then you can spend Sunday morning in bed rather than worship. If this statement by John is correct then you would spend as much time as possible trying to get the people you love to get to know Jesus Christ.
Without believing that it is all about Jesus and that there is a truth out there we cannot deal with Paul counsel in verse 15. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” The first part of the statement is the good news; all we have to do is our best. You do not need to be Mother Theresa, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., or anyone else. All you have to do is your best. We have excellent singers in our choir. Those of us that do not have their gifts may be intimidated about singing out loud in church. But that may stop me from joining the choir, but it does not stop me from worship. All I am requited to do in worship is to make a joyful noise to the Lord. Even a one month baby can make a joyful noise. In the spiritual dimension you are only competing with yourself. The word used by Paul here denotes urgency, it means to hurry, make every effort, tray hard. Do your best. I can do that, I can do my best.
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved.” But what does that mean? Some new clothes that you purchase come with a little ticket that reads: inspected by number 56 or some other number. The word use here is the image of something that has been tested and it was able to come through it fire. We are being tested all the time by life itself. [add story about staying in hotel and how repairs have become a trial] The bible tells us that we will all one day stand before the presence of God whether we are approved or not.
“Do your best to present yourself a workman or workwoman who does not need to be ashamed” I looked up the definition of the word ashamed. It tells me that it means to have a feeling of shame, guilt or disgrace; a feeling of inferior or unworthy. None of us are worthy, the bible tells us that we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God; we are all in the same boat. You cannot have feelings of disgrace because the amazing grace of God surrounds you. God does not wait for you, you do not go out seeking God but on the contrary it is God that continuously searches for you. God desires to have a relationship with you. So if the definition does not fit, if the grace of God abounds so that you cannot have feelings of disgrace, and if we are all on the same boat whether it is President Bush or the homeless veteran sleeping on the streets of Philadelphia; then how can I ever present myself before God ashamed. There is only one way, if you do not do your best.
“Do your best to present yourself as one who correctly handles the word of truth.” How do we know that we are handling the word of truth correctly? First we must acknowledge that there is a truth. It is not just any word, but the word of truth. The word that the apostle uses here and that our bible translates as “handles” actually means to cut a straight path. The book of Joshua in the twenty third chapter states: “Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left.” The apostle John in the book of Revelation writes: “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”
It is not about being afraid of misinterpreting the bible, perfect love cast out fear, it is about not playing games and being straight with the word. It is about cutting a straight path and not deviating to the left or to the right just because it would help our position.