Sunday, January 31, 2016

Reflection - Quarrelling about words

Source (book): "Faithful to the end", Chapter 7, Question 2, Page 107.
By Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012


Simply getting rid of the opposition would not be the solution because there is a tendency for a leader to descend into politics if he pursues that path.
PHOTO: Simply getting rid of the opposition would not be the solution because there is a tendency for a leader to descend into politics if he pursues that path.
Paul offers a better pastoral strategy. The solution is not to dispose of the false teachers or those who opposed Timothy, but to challenge their false teaching by the preaching of sound doctrine and being an example of Christlikeness to the flock.
Picture posted by freebibleimages.org
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Think of specific examples of "quarrelling about words". Why is this detrimental to the church? How can this be avoided? Discuss Gary Demarest's point that there is a difference between strife and controversy (refer to page 103-4). How can the church avoid unnecessary arguments while not allowing tolerance that scarifies gospel truth?

Think of specific examples of "quarrelling about words".
Quarrelling about words [2]
 It would be a great help if Paul had provided us with some examples of what this involved. There are obviously some important words that Christians differ over and affect belief. It may be necessary to argue over the meaning of these words. Two examples spring to mind: Faith and Predestination. Calvinists are of one opinion and Arminians of another. They cannot both be right! [3]


There are obviously some important words that Christians differ over and affect belief.

PHOTO: There are obviously some important words that Christians differ over and affect belief. It may be necessary to argue over the meaning of these words. Two examples spring to mind: Faith and Predestination. Calvinists are of one opinion and Arminians of another. [3] 
Painting by Raphael Santi - 2 Angels
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http://mondialart.eu/produkt/zwei-engel/


Nonetheless there are instances where a disproportionate fuss is made about words. The first female bishop to be appointed in England pronounced that God was not male and should not be addressed as 'He'. Well we all know that God is a being unlike ourselves in ways beyond imagining. God is not just a very superior man!

However Jesus taught his disciples to follow his example and address God as 'Father'. So is the bishop going to use the words of Jesus or is she going to change them for the better!


Rev Libby Lane was the UK's first bishop

PHOTO: Rev Libby Lane was the UK's first bishop
Libby Lane, named Bishop just before Christmas, married to a vicar, she has spent most of her ministry serving a village parish outside Manchester and is now Bishop of Stockport.
Photo: Heathcliff O'Malley/The Telegraph
Posted by Jemima Thackray on 14 July 2015 at 7:00AM BST 
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http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/03324/libby-lane-m_3324469b.jpg
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/11736562/Women-bishops-anniversary-Church-of-England-needs-gobby-women.html


The new edition of the NIV. References to 'men', meaning all men and women, have been changed to 'people.' When 'he' is used to include men and women it has been changed to 'they'. I think this has been a waste of time. Do we really have to abandon words like 'mankind' for the sake of political correctness.


NIV, references to 'men', meaning all men and women, have been changed to 'people.'

PHOTO: NIV, references to 'men', meaning all men and women, have been changed to 'people.' When 'he' is used to include men and women it has been changed to 'they'.
Picture posted by Fritz Zimmerman on Wednesday, 1 August 2012 at 8:41 AM
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https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/c1/56/3a/c1563a38320cb9f5fd30f236e452087e.jpg
http://apocryphabookofadamandeve.blogspot.sg/2012/08/adam-recalls-creation-of-eve-he.html


I heard of a Brethren Assembly that appointed a paid man to lead the worship. This did not go down very well with one elderly lady. She said, "We don't want no titles here - no pastors - no ministers - no reverends - all our leaders are elders." I have some sympathy with the lady! But I don't think it matters too much whether a man is called an elder or a pastor.


It doesn't matter whether the leader of the worship is called an elder or a pastor.

PHOTO:  It doesn't matter whether the leader of the worship is called an elder or a pastor.
Picture posted by Synod of the Heartland
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http://www.heartlandsynod.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/FamilyAroundCross108502467.jpg
http://www.heartlandsynod.org/?page_id=96


Why is this ("quarrelling about words") detrimental to the church? How can this be avoided?
Handle the Opposition well [1]
There were false teachers promoting dangerous heresies in the church. Paul had already warned Timothy about them in his first epistle. Apparently, the problem did not go away and could have been the cause of Timothy's "tears" (2 Timothy 1:4) [4], and Paul had to re-address the issue and urge Timothy to deal with the danger, perhaps with greater boldness and firmness. Was Timothy to get rid of the opposition? We saw earlier Augustine's point about the wheat and the weeds based on the teachings of Christ. Simply getting rid of the opposition would not be the solution because there is a tendency for a leader to descend into politics if he pursues that path.


There were false teachers promoting dangerous heresies in the church.PHOTO: There were false teachers promoting dangerous heresies in the church. Paul had to re-address the issue and urge Timothy to deal with the danger, perhaps with greater boldness and firmness. Simply getting rid of the opposition would not be the solution because there is a tendency for a leader to descend into politics if he pursues that path.
Picture from :La Etnnia's Photos
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Paul offers a better pastoral strategy. The solution is not to dispose of the false teachers or those who opposed Timothy, but to challenge their false teaching by the preaching of sound doctrine and being an example of Christlikeness to the flock. Paul offers a perspective that makes ir clear that those who oppose and stand in our way are also people who need God's salvation. Whatever we do to resist their false teaching must not result in their destruction but hopefully in their salvation.


Paul offers a better pastoral strategy.

PHOTO: Paul offers a better pastoral strategy. The solution is not to dispose of the false teachers or those who opposed Timothy, but to challenge their false teaching by the preaching of sound doctrine and being an example of Christlikeness to the flock.
Picture posted by MEGUSTAMUCHO on Sunday, 18 May 2014
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http://megustamucho1.blogspot.sg/2014/05/animales-curiosos.html


The true condition of the false teachers and those who followed them was described by Paul. They were caught in "the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive" (2 Timothy 2:26). They were prisoners of the devil who has led them astray, and his intention was to make them captive "to do his will". Those who flee from sin and pursue holiness are those who seek to do God's will. All others, by default, end up doing Satan's will. In other words, one either does God's will or the devil's will. Our sinful self-will and the pull of the worldly crowd all are the devil's will. Whether we are pursuing sinful desires of the flesh or worldly desires of popularity, power, materialism and self-indulgence, we are doing the devil's will. This should be a frightening thought for those who are not doing God's will. Those who think they are free to do whatever they desire are in fact prisoners of Satan.


Those who flee from sin and pursue holiness are those who seek to do God's will. All others, by default, end up doing Satan's will.
PHOTO: Those who flee from sin and pursue holiness are those who seek to do God's will. All others, by default, end up doing Satan's will. Whether we are pursuing sinful desires of the flesh or worldly desires of popularity, power, materialism and self-indulgence, we are doing the devil's will. Those who think they are free to do whatever they desire are in fact prisoners of Satan.
Posted by Walmir Almeida on Saturday, 23 February 2013
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http://walmirbsb.blogspot.sg/2013/02/a-inocencia-dos-anjos.html#.VYUsJVKYQz8


Paul saw those who opposed Timothy's faithful teaching ministry (and thus by proxy, the ministry of Paul) as sinners and captives of Satan who needed to be saved and freed from the clutches of the devil. He hoped that "they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil". It is this perspective that shaped Paul's suggestion of how to handle the opposition.


Paul saw those who opposed Timothy's faithful teaching ministry as sinners and captives of Satan who needed to be saved and freed from the clutches of the devil.

PHOTO: Paul saw those who opposed Timothy's faithful teaching ministry as sinners and captives of Satan who needed to be saved and freed from the clutches of the devil. He hoped that "they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil".
Picture posted by Church of Jesus Christ on Friday, 29 January 2016
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Paul warned Timothy that in his fight against false teaching in the church, he should be careful not to become like the false teachers in his method, manner, or motive. If they wanted to fight in the boxing ring, Timothy should challenge them differently - with Christlike kindness. He is not to get into their boxing ring and fight like they do. Paul reminded Timothy: "Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful" (2 Timothy 2:23-24). The word "stupid" is translated from the Greek apaideutos, meaning uninstructed and ill-informed. Meaningless and useless debates are often stirred by those who do not know enough! It seems true that ignorance makes the quarrel louder and that "empty vessels make the most noise".


If the false teachers wanted to fight in the boxing ring, Timothy should challenge them differently - with Christlike kindness.




PHOTO: If the false teachers wanted to fight in the boxing ring, Timothy should challenge them differently - with Christlike kindness. He is not to get into their boxing ring and fight like they do. Instead he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and not resentful.
Picture posted by Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
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http://wol.jw.org/it/wol/mp/r6/lp-i/w15/2015/1686 - (1686.jpg)
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Discuss Gary Demarest's point that there is a difference between strife and controversy (refer to page 103-4).
Earlier, Paul had given the same warning that "quarrelling about words" in meaningless battles "only ruins those who listen" (2 Timothy 2:14). As retired Presbyterian minister Gary Demarest points out, "Strife grows out of my need to win an argument for the sake of winning. Strife is an ego contest with the opponent. Strife is frequently marked by an attack on the other person. Controversy, on the other hand, is unavoidable in communicating and applying the Gospel." [5] There is a difference between strife which we must avoid, and controversy which is difficult to avoid if we are faithful to the Word of God. [1]


Strife grows out of the need to win an argument, for the sake of winning.
PHOTO: Strife grows out of the need to win an argument, for the sake of winning. Strife is an ego contest with the opponent. Strife is frequently marked by an attack on the other person.
Picture from  Russian Cartoons - CARICATURA.RU
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Controversy is unavoidable in communicating and applying  the Gospel.
PHOTO: Controversy is unavoidable in communicating and applying  the Gospel. Controversy is difficult to avoid if we are faithful to the Word of God.
Posted in The Daniel Videos, Mark McMillion on 31 July 2014
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http://markmcmillion.com/2014/07/

 
 How can the church avoid unnecessary arguments while not allowing tolerance that scarifies gospel truth?
Meaningless "word battles" produce strife and end in ruins. The Greek word translated as "ruins" is katastrophē, from which we get the word "catastrophic". If the servant of the Lord fights against the false teachers by using the same methods and meanness, the results in the church would be nothing short of catastrophic. Sadly this was the case when there was mutual slaughtering in the aftermath of the Reformation in the 16th century that led to the bloody Thirty Years War in Europe in the 17th century. To be sure, politics took over from doctrinal matters. It attests to what we have understood earlier that the elimination of opponents rather than the persistent teaching of sound doctrine would often go that way.


The main events and figures of the early stages of French Protestantism
PHOTO: The main events and figures of the early stages of French Protestantism: from Jean Calvin, to Henri IV, including Clément Marot and Ambroise Paré. It reveals the expansion of Protestantism in France up to the Wars of Religion that shattered the Kingdom at the end of the 16th century.
The Reformation did not first appear in France but in Germany. In 1517, a monk, Martin Luther, denounced the abuses of the Roman Catholic Church in 95 theses that caused quite a sensation. Thanks to the development of printing, the proposals for reform circulated all over Europe. They were readily accepted in France amongst scholars who openly criticised the Church and advocated a renewed reading of the Gospel.
Sadly this was the case when there was mutual slaughtering in the aftermath of the Reformation in the 16th century that led to the bloody Thirty Years War in Europe in the 17th century. The elimination of opponents rather than the persistent teaching of sound doctrine would often led to bloody "catastrophic".
Texts from Introduction to the Reform in the 16th century (Virtual Museum of Protestantism) - http://www.museeprotestant.org/en/parcours/parcours-dinitiation-a-la-reforme-au-xvie-siecle/
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http://www.englishministry.com.br/bible-study/

 
Paul exhorted Timothy to deal with his opponents more kindly, teach faithfully and make sure that he does not let resentment against his opponents fester (become worse or more intense). Thus Timothy was to handle false teaching by watching his own inner life and reactions, being clear that what he should actually do was to teach sound doctrine, and that he should relate with his opponents with patience and gentleness.


Paul exhorted Timothy to deal with his opponents more kindly, teach faithfully and make sure that he does not let resentment against his opponents fester (become worse or more intense). PHOTO: Paul exhorted Timothy to deal with his opponents more kindly, teach faithfully and make sure that he does not let resentment against his opponents fester (become worse or more intense). Thus Timothy was to handle false teaching by watching his own inner life and reactions, being clear that what he should actually do was to teach sound doctrine, and that he should relate with his opponents with patience and gentleness.
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http://thebestartt.com/timothy-paul


In all this, Timothy should remain faithful to Christ and reflect His likeness in method, manner and motive. As Gary Demarest has noted, "Orthodoxy is more than merely holding the standards. It is holding them, and acting all the while in trust and love with those we regard as opponents - or even heretics (a person believing in or practising religious heresy, blasphemy)." [6] We remember Paul's earlier charge to Timothy: "What you have heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 1:13). Faith, faithfulness, and love are our constant companions on the road to heaven.
 
 
 Paul's earlier charge to Timothy:

The servant of God must not lose his temper or become resentful. Paul urged Timothy to "gently instruct" his opponents (2 Timothy 2:25). Why? So that they may come to their senses and be saved (2 Timothy 2:26). In opposing false teaching, Timothy was to harbour godly hope regarding his opponents - "that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 2:25). In other words, the issue is not winning debates, but  winning people - even our opponents. This is at the heart of a true instrument of God who is selfless and Christ-centered, who is godly and effective, useful in the hands of his Master.


he servant of God must not lose his temper or become resentful. Paul urged Timothy to 'gently instruct' his opponents

The best outcome is where there are long-term positive results: not only is the faithful pastor saved to become a model of godliness, his church members are also saved from falling prey to dangerous doctrines and wrong lifestyles by being well-grounded in God's Word; most amazing of all, the heretical teachers themselves may be saved. The church would then not be a hothouse for bruising and ugly political battles but a temple where God's truth and splendour prevail. [1]


 The best outcome is where there are long-term positive results
PHOTO: The best outcome is where there are long-term positive results: not only is the faithful pastor saved to become a model of godliness, his church members are also saved from falling prey to dangerous doctrines and wrong lifestyles by being well-grounded in God's Word; most amazing of all, the heretical teachers themselves may be saved. The church would then not be a hothouse for bruising and ugly political battles but a temple where God's truth and splendour prevail.
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Dear Lord, We pray that we do not become involve in  'quarrelling about words'
PHOTO: Dear Lord, We pray that we do not become involve in  "quarrelling about words". Instead not to let our resentment against our opponents fester (become worse or more intense). Help us to constantly keep watching over our own inner life and reactions, to teach sound doctrine, and relate with our opponents with patience and gentleness. Amen!
Picture posted by discipleblog.com on 2 October 2013
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http://www.discipleblog.com/2013/10/childrens-ministry-the-importance-of-childlike-faith/

Reflection - Quarrelling about words
By Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012



Reference
[1] From "Faithful to the end" A Preacher's Exposition of 2 Timothy, Copyright © 2014 by Robert M. Solomon,ISBN 978-1-62707-241-0, PART TWO: USEFUL TO CHRIST, Chapter 7 "Ministering to the lost" (2 Timothy 2:20-26), Page 102-105.

[2] The negative qualities of being a good teacher (There are things to avoid - Quarrelling about words), John Reed (Email: jfmreed@talktalk.net), http://www.jrtalks.com/2tim/2tim2v14to26.html

[3] Romans9v1to29: GOD'S SOVEREIGN CHOICE, John Reed (Email: jfmreed@talktalk.net), http://www.jrtalks.com/Romans/rom9v1to29.html

[4] Towner, 1-2 Timothy and Titus, 157.

[5] Gary W. Demarest, Mastering the New Testament: 1, 2 Thessalonians; 1, 2 Timothy; and Titus, The Communicator's Commentary Series (Dallas: Word Publishing, 1984) 269.

[6] Ibid. (in the same source mentioned in a previous reference), 249

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