When Words Divide (1 Timothy 6:1-1:9)
Gary McManus, 07/12/2020Part of the Words that Divide, Words that Unite series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
July 12, 2020 1 Timothy 6:1-9
The manner of our public discourse/discussions. . .
From the prophet Isaiah in the very first chapter:
“Come now, let us reason together says the Lord. . .”
What about the Lord’s call to reason together with God. . .
“REASON” : “give thought to”. . .between 80 and 150 times See Acts 18:4 .
Today’s verses from God’s word:. . .
Come to find out that contentment is next to Godliness.
Let us see how Jesus dealt with controversy.
--only one example of physicality; overturning the tables in the Temple (Matthew 21:21, Mark 11:15, John 2:15)
[See Isaiah 56:7] ALL PEOPLES. . .(of every color).
Remember how we like to lump people into groups. .
The Bible does not lump all Jewish leaders into
the same group.
--Jewish leader, Nicodemus, sought Jesus (John 3).
--Jewish leader, Joseph of Arimathea, disciple
(Matthew 27:57)
--A scribe, “not far from the Kingdom. . .(Mark 12:24)
We learn from our Lord Jesus HOW TO DISAGREE. . .
even with those who would seek to kill us.
(Matthew 12:14, John 11:53 and see Acts 20:3)
Two incidences of name calling: “vipers”,
(Matthew 12:34)“white-washed tombs” (Matthew 23:27)
Check out Matthew 15:3-6. . .
Instead of arguing, Jesus is raised the fundamental
question—is this tradition from God or from YOU?
Many arguments today would be helped if the parties knew exactly what they thought they were arguing about. Public health? Christian public health?
A local example of a different issue
that you may have read about from Carmel, IN.
A priest was relived of duties after publishing a
piece in the church communications name calling
people “maggots and parasites”.
The priest issued an apology.
The issue was NOT the priest’s opinion. The
priest was not removed for his opinion.
He was removed for using official church channels
FOR his personal opinion.
The rightness or wrongness of the priest's opinion
makes no difference at all--his opinion is not official
church teaching and therefore may not be published through church channels.
What do we read in today's word of God. . .
talk that leads to "quarreling, slandering, false suspicions, quarrelsome disputes."
When our Lord Jesus faced opposition,
the Lord asks questions.. (Matthew 12:11)
Old Christian Church saying:
"IN ESSENTIALS UNITY, IN NON-ESSENTIALS
LIBERTY, IN ALL THINGS LOVE.
Jesus is full of grace when Jesus meets opposition.
(Matthew 12:26-28)
If the Kingdom has come near to you, now what?
How about you?
Amen.
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