GOD REVEALED – A New Testament Journey (PART 6)Esimerkki

1 Timothy – Fighting Fit

As we grow older, flab sets in. It gets harder to maintain ourselves. Only disciplined efforts to remain fit and healthy will keep us that way.

It is the same with the church. Wrong doctrines creep in. It’s tougher when influential people are propagating them. Paul tells Timothy to pull the strings to maintain spiritual discipline within the church. In order to do that, he has to be “Fighting fit.”

There are levels of fitness based on levels of faith.

Spiritual Fitness – Cleared Conscience

Spiritual fitness does not arise from abstinence or physical discipline (though the reverse may be true) nor is it based on great knowledge. It results from clear motives and a spirit-controlled life.

Goal: To save sinners (1:15); one clear and common goal
Means/approach: Fight the battle well (6:12). Be constantly on your toes.
Defenses: Hold on to faith and good conscience (1:18, Eph 6:10-18) which are weapons of warfare.

Fitness regime:
Connect with God (2:1-4) – Requires constant prayer and godly living
Conduct with others (3:2, 9-10) – Above reproach and people-oriented. Ability to teach by life and words.
Care of self (4:7-8, 12-14) – Sharpen skills, train in godliness, and be a confident role model

Spiritual Flab – Smeared Conscience

Knowing the right terminology and being charismatic or influential does not make up a spiritual leader. Many hold positions with wrong intentions.

Goal: Material gain or money (6:9-10); they have large followings attracting the similar minded.
Means/Approach: Fruitless discussion (1:6), speculation, debates – which divert from the truth

Defenses: Weak and vulnerable (4:8), they easily fall away.

Fitness regime:

Connect with God: Inconsequential (4:2-3) – They endanger churches but weed in wrong doctrines, veering away from the truth.
Connect with others: Impulsive (2:8, 5:22) – Allowing anger, disputes, and indiscretion to dominate
Care of self: Indulging (3:5-6, 11-13) – They fall prey to pride, bad habits, uncontrolled passions, and bring the world into the church rather than take Christ to the world.

Shipwrecked Faith - Seared Conscience

One cannot have a smeared conscience for long. Either it needs to be cleared or gets permanently seared. Such people continue to play leadership roles in churches. They are so far gone, beyond the point of no return (4:2-3).

When influential leaders set the church on a detour, do we maintain an example?
Do we steer clear of false teachers? Do we have clear goals and actions towards fulfilling them?