Argument with a 5 yr old. (2 Timothy 2)

How many times does our gentle instruction turn to heated argument?

My daughter has been going through one of her independent phases again. She is pushing the boundaries of her sense of control. On my good days I gently instruct her one my bad days I argue with her. Yesterday she says, “I want some apple juice!” I reply in a rather exasperated tone, “we don’t have any.” To which she replies, “Well then make some.” “We don’t have any,” I repeat. “Well then make some,” she retorts. “We don’t have any.” I continue the loop.

All I would have had to do was ask her to come to the freezer and have her look in and see if she could find any apple juice. She would have come to an understanding and a much simply resolution if I had done some gentle instruction with her rather than entering into this no win argument.

I think this is what Paul is getting at in 2 Timothy chapter 2. He tells Timothy twice not to get into arguments over terms and words. He says the conflicts with only lead others astray. Then he mentions one of the topics, which have been argued about. Some have said the resurrection has already come. This seems like a pretty big issue to me. Shouldn’t Timothy stand up against such false teaching?

Paul clarifies a little later by once again telling Timothy not to enter into conflicts and arguments, but if someone disagrees with you to approach them with gentle instruction. The Lord’s servant must not quarrel; he must be kind to everyone, and willing to teach without resentment.

Let’s be honest for a minute. When we get swung at, how many of us can come back with kindness, no resentment, and gentle instruction. Furthermore to leave others to come back to the right conviction in the timing of the Holy Spirit instead of our own. It is so easy to argue, it is so easy to quarrel, especially when you know you are right. When can just go for it when we know we are right, we don’t hold back. “I’ll show him to pick a fight with me, I know I’m right!”

Arguments and quarrels are really all about us. I wanted unquestioned control so I argued with my 5 year old about apple juice. She wanted control so she argued right back. It was all about me. If I had really been thinking of her and the best way for her to understand the truth about our lack of apple juice. I would have taken the time to show her and explain to her we didn’t have anymore apple juice in the freezer. Then she would have come to her own satisfied conclusion.

How many arguments at home, in the church, at work, could be quenched by kindness, teaching without resentment or condescension, and gentle instruction? If we could set aside our own ego and simple think of the best way for the person we are talking to understand, to actually serve the other person, quarrels could be avoided. You can’t argue if no one will argue with you. It just doesn’t really work that way.

May we approach one another with kindness today, thinking always of how we can best serve each other to come to a better relationship and understanding.

Paul and the Three Musketeers (2 Timothy 1)

Are we people of action?

So last night I broke down and went to see the new Three Musketeers movie. I spent the day studying the book of Acts and was so impressed by the sense of boldness the apostles had in those stories, I wanted to watch something full of courage and action. I was not disappointed. D'Artagnan, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis where full of both. I have been reading the book as well by Dumas. It is impressive to me the way these characters stop at nothing. They just keep going until the task is accomplished or they have been wounded trying. In the book in fact they are all wounded trying. On one of the first adventures to England to retrieve the diamonds from Buckingham first Porthos is wounded, then Aramis is taken in, and finally Athos barricades himself in the cellar to escape those after his life. And yet D'Artagnan rides on, wounds a man in his way and gets to Buckingham and back to Paris with the newly set diamonds in his hand. (A little different from the movie.)

Paul is the same way. He stops at nothing! In 2nd Timothy chap 1 says three times we are not to be ashamed. First to Timothy not to be ashamed of the gospel, then not to be ashamed of him in chains and then once again commending those who have been in support of him as he is in chains they have not been ashamed of him. Most scholars recognize 2nd Timothy as Paul's last recorded letter. He has come to the end of his life and thus the end of his ministry. What is it that has placed Paul in these chains at the end of his life? His bold hope in the Resurrection of Jesus.

The resurrection of Jesus is the proof that he was the messiah all Israel had been waiting for. When confronted by the Jews in Jerusalem Paul exclaims he has been arrested for his belief in the resurrection. Now for one this causes a big argument between the Pharisees who believe in resurrection and the Sadducees who do not. But it is the truth. Paul has put his hope in this Christ, this hope of Israel, this Jesus. The resurrection is the proof of his hope.

Interestingly enough the resurrection is our source of hope as well. Jesus' raising from the dead is the proof the resurrection in the end will come. Not only that, Paul also tells us the resurrection power is available to us today.

I can tell you, I need the resurrection today. I need new life from the spirit flowing into my body and soul today. It is only hope that sustains us some days and with out an anchor for this hope we would be lost. We the anchor however we can move forward boldly and unashamed!

What would it really look like to live our Christianity unashamedly? How would it change the life we live today? Would we with the boldness of the Musketeers leap and hurl ourselves into whatever danger and obstacle might come in order to accomplish our mission? What would it look like to never give up, never surrender for the sake of the gospel. I have a feeling it would look and awful lot like Paul and Jesus before him.

May the hope of the resurrection push us forward today is my prayer and the power of the resurrection, the Holy Spirit, sustain us as we do.