1 Timothy 6:3-5
Eternity Online: John Edmiston (Editor)
Eternity-Inspiration for Monday 16th March 1998
(1 Tim 6:3-5 NKJV) If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent
to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to
the doctrine which accords with godliness, {4} he is proud, knowing
nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from
which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, {5} useless
wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who
suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw
yourself.
Have you ever belonged to a Christian discussion list that had
someone on it that was "obsessed with disputes and arguments over
words" - what was the predictable result - conflict! Paul describes
it well "envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions". "Envy" is when we
attack someone because they are more successful than us - like some of
the attacks against Billy Graham. "Strife" is when we fall to blows
and lose our Christian cool. "Reviling" is the name calling that so
often happens when we lose our cool on the Internet. "Evil
suspicions" are the distrust that is generated in the body of Christ
when the "revilings" are partly believed. Envy generates strife
which generates reviling which produces evil suspicions which damage
the church and its ministries. When we allow this to occur we
let the "accuser of the brethren" win.
Those that cause these terrible contentions have trouble with their
attitudes and their mind. Paul describes them as "proud, knowing
nothing,". Pride ensures ignorance. I am an epileptic and have not
been allowed to drive up until now but today I went and got a
learner's permit (pray for the other drivers in Townsville!). Some
people at the counter had a terrible time doing the test because
they were sure they knew it all! They didn't bother to study the
road rules book and so the complex give way laws had them stumped
every time. Its the people that are sufficiently humble to study the
book that pass the test! Isn't that like our Christian life - its
the humble students of the Word that pass God's test!
Paul then says that schismatics have "corrupt minds" and are
"destitute of the truth". Its like a mud-fight - those that throw
the mud are so busy digging around for stuff to throw that they
become filthy and dig away their own foundations.Our minds are like
a framework or scaffolding which can be terribly distorted. When it
is distorted truth cannot fit in or be constructed. The framework
can then only build a lop-sided and skewiff building. A corrupt mind
will thus necessarily be "destitute of the truth".
How do we keep our minds from being twisted out of shape - the NKJV
and KJV put it well "from such withdraw yourself". Don't keep
company with contentious heretics.When a person is in that state
leave them for God to sort out and bring back. That is His divine
prerogative - not ours. The Bible is quite blunt about this: (2 John
1:10-11 NKJV) If anyone comes to you and does not bring this
doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; {11} for
he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. This "withdrawing" has
been taken to extremes by some people so that the slightest
doctrinal difference is used as grounds for "shunning " or "the
ban". The fact that cults distort the practice does not mean that it
is wrong. Lets look at how and when it should be used.
Firstly "how"...it should be used in accordance with the following
directive: Titus 3:10 "Warn a divisive person once, and then warn
him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. 11 You
may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is
self-condemned." Thus a divisive person is to be given two warnings
and the expelled. This would be a good rule for listowners!
Now for "when" to shun a person. Verse 3 tells us the doctrinal areas
of concern "If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to
wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the
doctrine which accords with godliness, " So it seems that we are
talking about fundamental Christian doctrines and immorality. An
example of a shunned group was the Nicolaitans (Rev 2:14-15 NKJV)
"But I have a few things against you, because you have there those
who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling
block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to
idols, and to commit sexual immorality. {15} "Thus you also have
those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans,.... This was not a
disagreement the flowers on the communion table. It was absolutely
basic stuff that was being flaunted.
Finally these schismatics "suppose that godliness is a means of
gain." They were taking financial advantage of their followers and
trying to make money from their "new teaching". We will look at this
more tomorrow but it has not disappeared from the church. Greed is a
good early warning sign of a schismatic.
Prayer:
Lord keep us pure in heart and lovely in character that we may not
be clamant or divisive but gracious and reconciling in all we do for
You. Amen.
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John Edmiston ([email protected])
Editor - Eternity Online Magazine http://www.eternity-magazine.org/
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