(photo credit: dreamgrow.com)
"Teach these things, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them. Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life. Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions. These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth." (1 Timothy 6:2-4, New Living Translation)
"These things" to which he is referring are some basic and practical instructions he has given, in the previous chapters and verses, for simply following Jesus and doing life together in the community of faith. Unfortunately, some in the community are not satisfied with this simple approach and require an "issue."
I recently had a conversation with a man who told me that he and his wife had not yet plugged into a local church in his community because he couldn't find one that would "take a stand" on certain hot-button issues. (He named the specific issues, but they are not necessary for our purposes here). I asked him how long he had lived there.
"Eight years."
Are you kidding me? For him, this said a lot about the churches in the community. For me, this said a lot more about him. And, to be honest, I would not wish his participation on any church that is trying to simply live out the truth of the gospel by following Jesus and making disciples.
Question: How do think "issues" can distract us from the main issue of following Jesus?
Leave a comment below. Your insight would be beneficial to our community.
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