It's very common to have a set of beliefs or doctrines challenged by a questioning of its practicality. Does it actually change your life? Does it affect how you live? Does this worldview actually show up in the way you live your life?
The reason for that challenge is simply that, many times, a person's lifestyle is clearly inconsistent with his stated beliefs. We've all seen the pastors who've fallen because of sexual scandal, and we've all heard the stories of religious 'hypocrites.'
Part of that judgment against Christianity in particular can be unfair - because Christians claim to be guilty of sin!
Part of that judgment against Christianity in particular, however, is fair. The reality is that cultural Christianity doesn't change lives. Growing up in church doesn't change one's life. Claiming to be 'Christian' doesn't change your life. Saying a certain set of words in agreement with truth the Bible might teach doesn't change your life.
The good news is that Christ, on the other hand, does.
In chapter 4 of 1 Timothy, Paul gives Timothy instructions about preaching the word of God. He says to the young pastor, "Command and teach these things" (v. 11) and "...train yourself for godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come"(vv. 7, 8).
Then, beginning in chapter 5, Paul begins to give Timothy specific ways to instruct different types of people in the congregation - older men, younger men, older women, younger women, widows, slaves, and the wealthy.
Before delving into the specific sections, I think it's helpful to think through a few general themes that this section brings up.
1) People are different. Not to state the obvious, but they are. They have different needs. They have different lives. They have different perceptions of reality. They will need to obey commands differently depending on their situations in life. They're going to be tempted by different things.
Pastors thus need to be mindful of who they're addressing. They need to think through the person's particular needs, desires, sins, and situations.
And so do the rest of us, as we engage them in holy conversation.
2) Yet, people's different situations and different lives are to be addressed by the same Gospel! How a pastor applies the realities of the Gospel may change - but the Gospel does not. "Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching"(4:16). "If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed"(4:6).
Thus, pastors, and the rest of us, must address each other's life situations with the Gospel itself. We'll see specific ways Paul does this in this section.
The Gospel is good news of eternal life freely given because of Jesus Christ. People's situations are not addressed with naked command - but with good news that salvation has been given to them.
3) These commands are unified on another repeated theme - the end, or goal, that the Gospel be seen by those in the church, as well as outsiders, as a good thing. In other words, the lives of Christians should make the Gospel look good. Or to put it in a negative way, the lives of Christians should not make the Gospel look bad.
The heart is that the Gospel be lifted up - that Christ be lifted up and shown to be glorious and worthy of our allegiance.
Paul's reason for writing Timothy is that "you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God - a pillar and buttress of truth."
The Church exists to hold high the Gospel! And Paul then gives the confession of the Church - the good news that is held up for all -
"Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:
He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory!" (3:15-16)
So what are some practical implications of these things?
1) We must consider people as individuals. We must listen. We must get to know their specific situations. Loving them implies this. Loving them implies that we take the time to understand what's going on - that we don't assume we know exactly what they should do. We must take the time and effort to consider them.
To do less is unloving and lazy.
2) We must address people with the Gospel. We must desire their good - we must want them to know Christ more than all things! We must realize that only he is the Savior - that we are not. We must recognize that behavior modification is not good news.
We must genuinely love them and give them the Savior. Not use them and seek to save them ourselves.
3) We must ultimately give commands so that the name of Christ will be honored. It's really easy to be pharisees and just love 'righteousness' - without really wanting to please Christ personally. It's really easy to try to fix behaviors that we just don't like - that make us upset - rather than seeking to genuinely glorify Christ.
Holy Father, I confess that I'm a sinner. It is often not my aim to please you. It isn't my aim to honor Jesus Christ. I do not love my neighbor well. I do not consider them; and so often, I do not give them Jesus!
O God, I'm sorry.
I thank you that Jesus' resurrection is my vindication because of your giving it to me. I thank you that you love us so much. That you lift up the Gospel and save us. That you love us individually in Christ.
God, glorify Christ in me and among us so that we love each other, point each other to the cross of Christ, and honor you.
Because Jesus died for my sins and rose from the dead I ask - amen.
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