Monday, January 26, 2009

Persecution of the godly

2Ti 3:10 But you have fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
2Ti 3:11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
2Ti 3:14 But continue you in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing of whom you have learned them;






Recently, I have done some study in the area of New Testament lists of qualities and sins. Therefore I note with interest that this Scripture (which I intended to look at some months ago) begins with an outlay of things in Paul's life which have provided an example to Timothy and no doubt to millions of believers since the epistle was penned.



Some brief notes on these:


1) Paul's doctrine - The teaching of the Apostle was always centered around the revelation he received of Christ Crucified, Resurrected and Ascended on High. We too should be not only acquainted but well familiar with Paul's doctrine of Christ and the expansion of this to cover all areas of the Christian's life. In relation to eusebeia we ought to study Paul's teaching on godliness and seek to cling to it and apply it in life.





2) Paul's manner of life - The Apostle's manner of life was on display for all to see, but a companion to his ministry such as Timothy was undoubtedly able to observe this more closely. We would do well to look at the manner of life maintained by Paul and the other apostles, as documented in the Book of Acts and alluded to numerously in the epistles. It is important to have an example of mature Christianity to look upto in the spiritual walk. We in these last times are caught betwixt a wonderful company of examples from the perfect Lord Jesus Christ to the apostles and through to those God has used throught the ages to this very age, and the terrible crowd of wicked sinners that fill the public eye of the world today. We must decisively follow one and not the other.





3) Paul's purpose -

1Co 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.



This reveals to us something of Paul's purpose. He would not carry out a crucial function of Christian ministry such as the frequent baptising of new believers, because Christ had charged him with a very particular purpose of ministry: the preaching of the gospel. There does not seem to be any greater directive for Paul's life and ministry than to proclaim Christ in areas where He had not yet been known (Rom 15:20) and to confirm the faith of disciples and churches (Acts 14:22 & 15:41). Timothy's purposes had some distinctions from Paul's, just as ours will. However some of us will have a very similar purpose to the Apostle and in any case we most be single-minded and focused in the Lord.



4) Paul's faith - If Paul did not have the astonishing faith that he did, his preaching of the gospel would have lacked the personal conviction that the Apostle always displayed. Paul intends for his faith to encourage Timothy and other believers as they endure the hardships he goes on to describe. John's gospel account of Jesus Christ's miracles was designed for us to recognise and believe in who Jesus was. When we read of apostolic faith and how it was answered by God Almighty, we can also take courage and be strengthened in our belief.



5) Paul's longsuffering -
2Co 11:23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
2Co 11:24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
2Co 11:25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
2Co 11:26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
2Co 11:27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.



These verses demonstrate Paul's longsuffering: his sufferings were long and many indeed. Yet through it all he endures. Once again this is given as an example for all followers of Christ to take note of in the living out of their own faith. These are the kind of persecution and tribulation we are told to expect in the verses that follow.



6) Paul's charity -

1Co 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1Co 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
1Co 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing
.



The Apostle could not write these words and then neglect the matter himself. He is speaking in Corinthians 6 by revelation, but also in some sense by experience. Paul knew the great love of the Lord and he strove to live this out by charity throughout his ministry. His care and concern for fellowbelievers is demonstrated in how he begins his epistles and the affectionate terms he employs in reference to those who labour with him in the ministry. Paul knew about charity firsthand and indicates to Timothy that his own charity was also well known.



(7) Paul's patience - We often think of patience and longsuffering as somewhat synonymous, but patience reminds us that even an apostle has to wait to see the fruits of his work and that all profitable things take some time to come to pass. His patience reinforces his longsuffering and faith in all that he undergoes and also the purpose discussed above.


(8) Paul's afflictions and persecutions - This is one of the main issues in this passage. Timothy "you have known fully my... persecutions, afflictions." Paul gives details to bring particular incidents to Timothy's attention. Paul and Barnabas were driven out of Antioch (Acts 13:50). In Iconium they were treated violently and the people attempted to stone them (Acts 14:5) and in Lystra Paul was stoned by the crowds and dragged out of the city (Acts 14:19). This all happened in Timothy's neighbourhood (Timothy seems to be from Lystra according to the narrative in Acts 16) and so these persecutions were to be especially familiar to him.


Drawing on this "close to home" retelling of his missionary history, Paul declares to Timothy and every man of God to follow after him:


"YEA AND ALL THAT WILL LIVE GODLY IN CHRIST JESUS SHALL SUFFER PERSECUTION."


This is the huge statement that we are to consider. Godliness means suffering persecution and if that persecution is related to Paul's then we shall suffer at the hands of the religious and irreligious alike. The question I ask myself as well as you is, "Where is the persecution"?


And if no persecution, am I truly living godly in Christ Jesus? I think this has to do with speaking the gospel and opposing error and unrighteousness. Ungodly people are looking for our approval. We can give them love without giving their wicked lifestyle approval. This can also be difficult in the church. If one is operating in love, they do not want to cause division or unnecessary offense. But if someone is motivated out of a love for the comfortableness of their own state, they do not want to cause a shake up or any offense whatsoever, such as might disturb their convenient arrangement.


But if we do pursue a complete righteous and pure eusebeia attitude and reverence towards God and proclaim the gospel, live a life worthy of it's calling and seek a pure church with pure worship, doctrine, fellowship and sacraments...it follows that we ought to experience persecution at some point.


We see that evil deceivers shall abound in the name of Christianity, on the fringes of it and outside of truth completely. We cannot play nice in this area. We must live godly and suffer persecution in the face of this spread of evil.

But we are assured that we are not to follow after falsehood or be carried away on every wind of doctrine, but to continue in the things which we have learned. When it says "knowing of whom you have learned", it must speak not only in an apostolic/teacher sense, but of Christ. If we hold onto Him, His example and teachings, we will not fall into ungodliness, but continue in the way of eusebeia.