In the Power of God
2 Timothy 1:1-14[1]
One of the great
challenges of life is what to do when it feels like your values are under
attack. For most of my life, I have heard people say that the Christian faith
is under attack in our country. I’m not so sure I would agree with that
sentiment. I know that there are some who speak against religion in general.
Ironically, I would say Jesus echoed some of their criticisms of religion. In
our day, it seems to me that the greater problem is that the Christian faith
has become irrelevant. I don’t think that’s the fault of the faith, mind you. I
think that’s because of the way “church people” like us represent the Christian
faith. Or perhaps it would be better to say that we fail to represent the
faith.
Unfortunately,
part of what happens when we think of ourselves as under attack is that we go
into a “defensive” mode. When we see ourselves as the victims of attack, it’s
easy to see threats where none exist. When we go into this “defensive” mode,
one thing we do is pull back from engaging people who are “other.” We retreat
to the safety of our “own” group. And we have certain “litmus tests” to be able
to make sure someone really is a part of our group. Whether it’s a list of
beliefs, or certain stances on social issues, or sheer tribalism (where we
trust only those of our own race, creed, and nation), this kind of stance makes
it hard to live out our faith in the world.
That was the
situation to which 2 Timothy was addressed. Timothy and the believers in his
care were discouraged. It would seem that they found themselves in a setting
where the challenge of living the Christian life was getting them down. As a
result, they were retreating into a mode of “guarding” themselves, of
“avoiding” those who were perceived to be a threat, and of drawing lines to
keep out those who were on the “outside.” It’s hard to understand why they
turned in on themselves this way, but it would seem that the underlying problem
was that they were struggling with a sense of being ashamed of their faith (2
Tim. 1:8).
This may seem
strange to us. Apparently Timothy and the band of struggling believers he was
serving were feeling ashamed because they were losing out to competitors
preaching a different gospel. We don’t know all that these “impostors” stood
for, but what we do know is that they imposed strict demands on their converts’
behavior, while indulging their own desires to do whatever they pleased. They
wormed their way into congregations, and then milked the people for money. It
would seem Timothy and his flock felt ashamed of the gospel because these
“impostors” were so successful at gaining converts, while they were struggling
to survive. As a result, they had gone into a “defensive” mode.
Unfortunately,
there are aspects of 2 Timothy that seem to positively encourage this retreat
into a “defensive” mode. The Scripture actually uses language that I would say
only reinforced their natural inclination to withdraw from perceived threats.
It advises the believers to “guard” themselves, to “avoid” and “shun” others,
to mark off those who are not a part of the “chosen,” and to effectively
“consign” others to their fate. Much of this language is reactive, not
proactive. It doesn’t sound very much like Jesus’ challenge to courageous
discipleship!
But there are
other ideas here that are more helpful. First, Timothy is encouraged to
“rekindle the gift of God” (2 Tim. 1:6). The image here is of fanning the
embers of a fire that is no longer burning. There is still heat in the coals,
but they have to be coaxed into actively burning again. In the face of
discouragement, Timothy was challenged to “tend the fire” of his calling and
gifts. I think at least a part of that meant for him to remind himself who it
was who called and gifted him in the first place.
Second, Timothy
is reminded that “God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a
spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline” (2 Tim. 1:7). This is one
of those passages where I think the King James translators got it right: the
spirit God has given us is one of “power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” In
other words, the charge to Timothy was to recognize that it was the Spirit of
God who gave him the power and love and good sense to be able to face the
challenges that came his way. He didn’t face these hardships alone, but rather
the way for him to fulfill his life and his service was by “relying on the
power of God” (2 Tim. 1:8).
I think that this
advice to Timothy can help us as well. The Bible tells us that each and every
one of us has been given a “gift of God” with which to serve others. That means
that living a life of faith and service is not a “self-help” project. Rather,
we live and serve through the gifts God has given us. And sometimes we have to
“tend the fire” of our calling and gifts. More than that, however, we do not
fulfill the life of discipleship to Christ in our own strength alone. Rather,
the Scriptures make it clear that we have all received the Spirit of God, who
gives us more than enough power and love and good sense to be able to follow
the path of faith no matter what we may face along the way.
While I don’t
believe it’s helpful for us to think of ourselves as “under attack,” it’s
clearly the case that striving to live the Christian life and to give of
ourselves in service to Christ is a path that can be discouraging at times. It
can feel as if we’re constantly swimming against the stream, and we can grow
weary with fatigue. But the Scriptures continually remind us that we don’t
serve in our own strength alone. We serve with the power and love and good
sense that God gives us. We fulfill our calling to live for Christ and to serve
others by “relying on the power of God.”
[1] ©
2019 Alan Brehm. A sermon delivered by Rev. Dr. Alan Brehm on 10/6/2019 at
Hickman Presbyterian Church, Hickman, NE.
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