The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Timothy 4:3,
"They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth."
I can't help but notice the thrust of those given to false teaching is to manipulate others. Notice the false teachers: they "forbid", they "order" others. Whether their motivation is avarice (which accompanies so many false teachers these days), or the pursuit of accomplishing some self-gratifying purpose that feeds an arrogance or conceit, they are always attempting to control those around them. Those who yield to them become useful in accomplishing their questionable ends. I'm sure you can identify examples of this you have encountered.
The Lord has raised certain ones up in our lives to equip and train us, "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." Ephesians 4:11-13. The context in which this kind of godly ministry takes place exists in contrast to the efforts of false teachers. While false teachers operate in a sphere of forbidding others, ordering others, manipulating others, godly teachers recognize the direct connection each and every believer has with their God, and refrain from such manipulation.
I am not referring to the taking of a strong stand against sin, or against false teaching - indeed, Paul told Timothy to command the false teachers from peddling their wares, "As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies." 1 Timothy 1:3-4. What I am referring to is the manipulation of others to achieve ends that are not consistent with God's agenda. An example of this would be a false teacher or teachers identifying "distinctives" in their theology - perversions of orthodoxy - that require a break with a genuine fellowship. This might provide these teachers with a following of their own, a financial benefit that might accrue to the leadership that such a new group might bring, etc.
When it comes to thinking of those who manipulate others, I am reminded of what Paul said earlier in this letter, "There is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus..." 1 Timothy 2:5. Each of us have a direct connection to Jesus Christ when we embrace him in faith, and that connection extends to the entire godhead. We, each, can now approach God's throne of grace on our own with full confidence and without the manipulations, distortions and perversions of false teachers who promise us theirs "is the way!"
Paul makes some interesting observations relative to these things in Romans 14. He says, "Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. One person's faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand." Verses 1-4.
Indeed, when it comes to ordering others, false teachers may need to be reminded, "One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind." Verse 5. And, "You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written: 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.' So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister." Verses 10-13.
Possibly the best advice for false teachers who have a compulsion to manipulate others is, "So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God." Verse 22.
There is a place for teachers in our lives that bring us into God's presence and point us to him. Such folks are wonderful. Those who seek to manipulate us with false doctrine, do so, not to bring us near God, but bring us near their false teachings and their questionable agenda.
"They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth."
I can't help but notice the thrust of those given to false teaching is to manipulate others. Notice the false teachers: they "forbid", they "order" others. Whether their motivation is avarice (which accompanies so many false teachers these days), or the pursuit of accomplishing some self-gratifying purpose that feeds an arrogance or conceit, they are always attempting to control those around them. Those who yield to them become useful in accomplishing their questionable ends. I'm sure you can identify examples of this you have encountered.
The Lord has raised certain ones up in our lives to equip and train us, "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." Ephesians 4:11-13. The context in which this kind of godly ministry takes place exists in contrast to the efforts of false teachers. While false teachers operate in a sphere of forbidding others, ordering others, manipulating others, godly teachers recognize the direct connection each and every believer has with their God, and refrain from such manipulation.
I am not referring to the taking of a strong stand against sin, or against false teaching - indeed, Paul told Timothy to command the false teachers from peddling their wares, "As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies." 1 Timothy 1:3-4. What I am referring to is the manipulation of others to achieve ends that are not consistent with God's agenda. An example of this would be a false teacher or teachers identifying "distinctives" in their theology - perversions of orthodoxy - that require a break with a genuine fellowship. This might provide these teachers with a following of their own, a financial benefit that might accrue to the leadership that such a new group might bring, etc.
When it comes to thinking of those who manipulate others, I am reminded of what Paul said earlier in this letter, "There is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus..." 1 Timothy 2:5. Each of us have a direct connection to Jesus Christ when we embrace him in faith, and that connection extends to the entire godhead. We, each, can now approach God's throne of grace on our own with full confidence and without the manipulations, distortions and perversions of false teachers who promise us theirs "is the way!"
Paul makes some interesting observations relative to these things in Romans 14. He says, "Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. One person's faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand." Verses 1-4.
Indeed, when it comes to ordering others, false teachers may need to be reminded, "One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind." Verse 5. And, "You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written: 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.' So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister." Verses 10-13.
Possibly the best advice for false teachers who have a compulsion to manipulate others is, "So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God." Verse 22.
There is a place for teachers in our lives that bring us into God's presence and point us to him. Such folks are wonderful. Those who seek to manipulate us with false doctrine, do so, not to bring us near God, but bring us near their false teachings and their questionable agenda.
Something to think about...
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment