Skip to main content

Hasty

     
     Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. (I Timothy 5:22-25)
          Paul seems to like miscellany. He often adds a few quick instructions, and today’s passage is a good example. The first is to not be hasty in giving others authority. I think it just as wise to not be hasty in taking on authority. This is part of my problem with some folks, They insist that the response to everything is for someone (often not them) to do something. Do something, even if the something you do is wrong. Do lots of things, in hopes that one of the will have a positive effect no matter how badly the rest of them turn out.
          Haste not only makes waste, but it doesn’t provide an opportunity for wisdom to speak.
          Paul’s next warning is to not share in the sins of others. When some people hear this, they’re likely to point at Mr. Trump and say, “Hm?” Equally, one could point at Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden, and Mr. and Mrs. Clinton with the same question. But Mr. Trump, Mrs. Warren, Mr. Biden, and Mr. and Mrs. Clinton don’t ask us to share in their personal sins, or to approve of or celebrate them. When it comes to public policy, technically all politicians ask us to share in their sins. The question is which political philosophy’s sins are greater.
          There’s another way that we tend to share in the sins of others. Every now and then, some new person shows up at church, or shows up as a pastor of a church, and wows the congregation. Think of those who lead mega-churches. Think of those who come with “new ideas” and who start movements, particularly those who then start talking about how bad the Church is.
          Granted, the Church is far from perfect, but what Paul says in today’s passage is that we shouldn’t be hasty in joining them, or in following every whim or trend of religious fashion. We need to make sure that they aren’t leading us and others astray. There are two common directions these follow. The first is legalism and the second is license, and both lead to sin.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more