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. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. 2 Timothy 2:15-18 NIV
This is one of those verses that has saved my bacon many, many times, and will save it many times in the future. In this passage, Paul is warning Timothy not to indulge in godless chatter. But he's not just telling Timothy this because God forbids it, but as with all sins, there are reasons why it should be avoided. With this particular sin, godless chatter, the results are that it leads to further ungodliness and spiritual death. Paul even compares the results of this sin to gangrene - it causes death, and then that death spreads if it is not quickly cut off. We even see examples of two men who have indulged in godless chatter (Hymenaeus and Philetus), and we can see the fruits of this for ourselves: they destroy not only their own faith, but the faith of others as well. And what caused - or at least contributed to - this in the first place? Wandering away from the truth through godless chatter.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:29-32 NIV
I may be the only one who resounds with this teaching of today, but I tend to doubt it. I'm sure we've all been in the position where someone rubs you the wrong way, and you have two choices: you can either choose to dwell on and gossip about the wrongs of this person (and sometimes they can even seen justified), or you can pray to God and ask Him to calm your heart so that you can love that person and build him or her up. If you choose the latter, although it is much more difficult to do (indeed, we need to rely on God's help to make this choice), you will be allowing God to use you for good. But if you choose the former, not only will it slander and tear down the other person, but you will be contributing to your own spiritual destruction. You will be giving yourself gangrene.
I don't know about anyone else, but I've been in this position many times - and unbeknownst to me, I was participating in my own self-destruction. I find that when I do this, I can get stuck in ruts of bitterness for days, weeks, or even months, that I can only be rescued from when I come to the end of myself, surrender to God, and allow Him to pick me up and clean out my wicked, gangrene-infected heart.
Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene. 2 Timothy 2:16-17
It's no fun having spiritual gangrene; in fact, it's a rather miserable experience for all parties involved. However, I think you would agree that it is so much easier to avoid the entire situation completely by following these words of wisdom that Paul offers to Timothy, and each and every one of us as well. Avoid it, do not indulge in it, but rather seek to build one another up in love - it really is the better way.
Blessings in Christ,
Andrew
Have You Forgotten? - 12/6/08
Christmas is coming.
Time to pull out the tinsel and the shiny red and silver balls. Time to put out the blinking Christmas lights, and to pick out the nicest tree. Time to put on the Christmas caroling songs, and drink Eggnog. Time to shop for presents, and for children to send in their lists to Santa Claus.
Christmas in our society is known and celebrated for its presents and singing, and of course the big man in red. Every year, this holiday comes and goes, as just another holiday.
We have forgotten.
How many times have you truly celebrated the birth of Christ as a baby? How many times did you take it past just reading the Christmas Story? How many times have you given thanks other than on Thanksgiving Day? Or celebrated Christ rising from the dead other than on Easter? Do we subject ourselves by simply going through the motions of things only at the appropriate moment?
We have forgotten.
So as the holidays approach, take care to remember why we even have all of our holidays in the first place. Don't let society's traditions take control; don't let fakery be the norm.
As Christians, this is especially important. Too often we take the label of 'Christian', and apply it with pride, believing it to give us a high position of honor over the rest of the world. But being a 'Christian' is much more than just a name.
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit. 1 Peter 4:1-6
Christian has 'Christ' in it, so it only makes sense when in applying the full name to ourselves, to apply 'Christ' on its own as well. Or here is another way to look at it. Break it down. 'Christ-ian'. 'Christ- in'. 'Christ in me'. 'Christian'. When Christ is in you, you ought to reflect Him throughout your very being. And remember Christ is in you for a reason. It's not just traditional He is in you when you become a Christian. No, it is much more than that. But it's for us to discover, and to do that is to develop the personal relationship with Christ so that it becomes real within you. Then you too will wonder how society has become lost in its fakery. And once you know the real truth, will you take a stand to show the rest of the world their despair?
However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1 Peter 4:16-17
If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus. 1 Peter 4:11b
Be strong. Find out for yourself what being a Christian really means. Keep it real.
...Do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear [the] name [of Christian].*
Whitney
Time to pull out the tinsel and the shiny red and silver balls. Time to put out the blinking Christmas lights, and to pick out the nicest tree. Time to put on the Christmas caroling songs, and drink Eggnog. Time to shop for presents, and for children to send in their lists to Santa Claus.
Christmas in our society is known and celebrated for its presents and singing, and of course the big man in red. Every year, this holiday comes and goes, as just another holiday.
We have forgotten.
How many times have you truly celebrated the birth of Christ as a baby? How many times did you take it past just reading the Christmas Story? How many times have you given thanks other than on Thanksgiving Day? Or celebrated Christ rising from the dead other than on Easter? Do we subject ourselves by simply going through the motions of things only at the appropriate moment?
We have forgotten.
So as the holidays approach, take care to remember why we even have all of our holidays in the first place. Don't let society's traditions take control; don't let fakery be the norm.
As Christians, this is especially important. Too often we take the label of 'Christian', and apply it with pride, believing it to give us a high position of honor over the rest of the world. But being a 'Christian' is much more than just a name.
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit. 1 Peter 4:1-6
Christian has 'Christ' in it, so it only makes sense when in applying the full name to ourselves, to apply 'Christ' on its own as well. Or here is another way to look at it. Break it down. 'Christ-ian'. 'Christ- in'. 'Christ in me'. 'Christian'. When Christ is in you, you ought to reflect Him throughout your very being. And remember Christ is in you for a reason. It's not just traditional He is in you when you become a Christian. No, it is much more than that. But it's for us to discover, and to do that is to develop the personal relationship with Christ so that it becomes real within you. Then you too will wonder how society has become lost in its fakery. And once you know the real truth, will you take a stand to show the rest of the world their despair?
However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1 Peter 4:16-17
If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus. 1 Peter 4:11b
Be strong. Find out for yourself what being a Christian really means. Keep it real.
...Do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear [the] name [of Christian].*
Whitney
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