The 2020’s decade commenced with a global plague, COVID-19 pandemic! Ideas on what this implies keep flying around from every shade of human logic. Religious, political, economic, scientific… I don’t mean to add to the mucky pool of speculative theories being pushed from various social platforms. Since the outbreak in late December, subsequent superfluity of opinions have neither aided our understanding of the plague nor our response to it.
COVID-19 is critical, not least for its sustained mockery of social conceit. Human capacity has been humiliated and exposed as finite and fickle. For all our technological advancements, we can’t tackle a single strain of microbes. When forces of nature run amok, we are stupefied. And having never learned to work together as a civilized species, we take for granted the conveniences afforded our earthly tenancy. Benevolences of Him whose power makes it possible for us to inhabit this planet, we insult with impunity. What now?
For a herald of sacred doctrine, my lines above might seem like an attempt to preach to the choir. But I have a word for you, and, shortly, you’ll see how this connects.
Love: Product of Sincerity
The apostle Paul wrote three epistles to two young pastors—Timothy and Titus—to provide, as it were, instruction manuals on God’s objective for His Church. In 1Tim 1:5 we read, “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned…” The word ‘end’ in this passage denotes target, purpose, outcome. It’s the goal of a mission. God works toward specific outcomes. For the commands in Timotheus epistles, God purposed to entrench love in church community. Not only do the epistles define acceptable conduct for individuals, families, and leaders, the pastor himself likewise is tutored on how to relate to different categories of people.
Think about it; how much love can be expected in a home with no relational boundaries? Neither husband nor wife submits to the other. None consults the other on mutual decisions. Children do whatever they please. Authority structures are nonexistent. Everyone is boss over their choices; folks are free to try out anything anytime. Does that sound like a recipe for love? Unsurprisingly, church leaders were to be sampled from members of functional family units. If someone is unable to manage his own family, how would he guide the church of God?
Society has dissenters who brazenly flout decorum, and Christendom is not exempt. Misguided folks think they can produce results without following design processes. Godly results are only produced through godly processes. Adherence to established order is the means to an end. Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned. Which virtues produce love in Christian church? Pure heart! Good conscience! Unfeigned faith! Faith is sincere only to the degree it submits to Scriptural directives.
5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm (1Tim 1:5, 6 ~NIV).
Self-seekers roamed Crete, giving lectures that could not achieve godly results. Love bonds believers like glue, but love only thrives where godly values are applied. Timothy was sent to instill godly behavior. An ambassador of Christ with clear blueprints, the young minister did a great job. Ephesus is named church number one in the book of Revelation!
Can Timothy Teach You?
Timothy and Titus were young ministers, so young that Paul urged each of them to “not let anyone despise their youth.” (1 Tim 4:12, Titus 2:15). Some folks build a superiority complex and refuse to learn from other believers. They look down upon youths, and their revelation of Christ. But majority of Bible greats commenced their spiritual journeys as youths. Samuel, David, Jeremiah, Mary the mother of Jesus, the twelve disciples of Jesus…
One afternoon in the late seventies, my father sat outside his house reading the Bible. My kid sister turned to him and said, “Dad, turn to Romans 10 and read there instead.” For all I know, Marion had no idea what she was talking about. She didn’t know any Bible books by name. Certain family members had recently gotten saved, including Mom and some of my older sisters. Dad was curious to find out what the Bible said about salvation. God sent someone to instruct him. A child! His little girl, about five years old! Thankfully, Dad was a humble man. He followed through and accepted Christ shortly thereafter.
We deny ourselves opportunities to grow in spiritual things when we yield to pride. The Bible states; 27..God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised… yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. (1 Cor 1:27-29 ~KJV).
It’s funny how life’s greatest lessons come from folks we aren’t naturally inclined to consult. God uses nobodies and nothings. He chooses things we consider foolish, weak, or trivial. It should quell our tendency to lean on the arm of flesh. Religious arrogance has a covert way of entrenching itself unawares.
Years back, I was tickled at how speakers were introduced to audiences. Someone would belabor obscure points about a preacher’s backgrounds, travel, talent, and whatnot. If the poor fellow didn’t fit the pedestal set in people’s minds, they left feeling cheated. Back then, I showed movies in schools and colleges. At a girls’ high school in a remote area, I arrived looking like a wagon pusher. I’d traveled for miles on public transport carrying heavy projector and movie reels. When my host sought to extract credentials for my introduction, I knew why. I asked her to give my name and simply tell the students I was there to show a Christian movie and to talk about Jesus. Her pride was visibly hurt. Didn’t I have something important to say about myself?
Our outreaches were bathed in fervent prayers. Many souls wept at the altar calling upon Jesus. Outward façade was of no consequence. It was all about God, not us. Physical appeal may have its place. We mustn’t lay obstacles in our own path by being ridiculous. But to make an impact in this wicked world, we must pay greater attention to the inner man of the heart. Else, spiritual warfare could catch us flatfootedly like COVID-19.
Church folks create phantoms sometimes. In an attempt to beautify religion, they wrap it in worldly glitter; looks, attire, titles, and the nth fad of visual allure. In his quest to win Christ, Paul deemed such stuff as trash. Should they be our badge of honor? In the grand scheme of things, we don’t lose sight of what truly matters. We turn our backs on vain flattery. We await highest compliments at God’s rewards desk, “Good and faithful servant!”
A Kingdom of Power, Not Mere Words
Paul never used God’s Word to entertain. He embodied his message; he lived what he preached. Timothy is an example of his mentees. Before he was tasked to build the Cretan church, Timothy had proven himself at Corinth, Thessalonica, and elsewhere. He was not a dispenser of unproven theories but a living example of what he taught. Here’s Paul’s account.
16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me [The Church at Corinth]. 17 This is why I have sent you Timothy, my beloved and trustworthy child in the Lord. He will remind you of the way of life I follow in union with the Messiah Yeshua and teach everywhere in every congregation. 18 When I didn’t come to visit you, some of you became arrogant. 19 But I am coming to you soon, if the Lord wills; and I will take cognizance not of the talk of these arrogant people but of their power. 20 For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of words but of power. (1 Corinth 4:16-18 ~CJB).
We all can love. Love is not an fleeting emotion. It’s a decision. We become to others what we want them to be to us. Love empowers. Christian fellowship is strongest where love thrives. Love fosters godly conduct. It draws people to its model. Love is the practical part of Christian education. Without love, religious fervor is reduced to empty talk. Love gives comfort to the troubled, hope to the weak, and courage to those facing trials. Love reassures the broken. Love prays for a hurting world seeking God’s wisdom and direction. Faith works through love. God is love.
Finally, love is the mark of Christian discipleship (see John 13:34-35). The world has greater philosophers than Christendom ever will; brainier, wealthier, more talented and renowned specimens of human capacity. While God is the giver of all these, He chooses none of it for social cohesion. Christ’s church is not about human ability. It’s reliance on the Creator of the Universe. It’s acknowledgment of human transience and God’s sovereignty.