The Dangers of Distractions
The Danger of Distractions
1 Timothy 1:1-11
In our quest to follow our faith, it is easy to become derailed by the distractions of the insignificant. Instead of focusing on obedience to God’s word and His moral law, we can become ensnared by people's opinions. As Paul is writing to Timothy, his protégé and a young pastor starting in ministry, Paul warns him of the dangers of “strange doctrines and myths and endless genealogies.” Throughout the writings of Paul, we find two different false teachings in the church. The first error is legalism, which incorporates rules and regulations not found in Scripture into the Christian life. These are grounded in traditions and principles not found in Scripture but ones that we make essential in our faith. The second error is liberalism. This involves rejecting and denying the Biblical teaching of morality to conform Scripture to our views and justify our behavior rather than allow Scripture to transform us. We see these errors creeping into the church and our lives today.
Paul warns of those teaching strange doctrines. Some people were influencing the church by teaching a different doctrine. In our Christian life, the standard for truth is both the Old and New Testaments. Some teachers today undermine these teachings by either rejecting them as outdated or adding to them by making new rules and regulations or by introducing myths and speculations. In other words, they were distorting the Scripture by their interpretation and speculations. The mark of a false teacher is not just how they live but what they teach. Do they teach the truth of the whole counsel of God’s word, or do they promote different teachings by distorting the text to conform to their ideas and desires? This is easy to do. We can quickly find a “proof text” that affirms our interpretation. Others can come claiming to have unique insight and knowledge of the Bible that is hidden from others. One of the reasons false teachers gain popularity is that they say what we want to hear. They either give us the license to sin (liberalism), or they give false security through external rules and regulations (legalism). How do we identify and avoid these teachers in a culture where people follow others because of their popularity?
Paul provides the answer in verses 5-11 by challenging us to examine the teachers we listen to by properly assessing whether their teaching is Biblical. First, we must explore the person's life, attitude, and conduct to ensure they live a life consistent with the Bible. In verse 5, Paul reminds us that the goal of teaching is not information but transformation and that our lives and behavior reflect the love we are to have for God and others. This comes from a pure heart. The heart in Scripture refers to the center of a person’s thoughts, motives, and spiritual life. A good conscience refers to a person living by the standards and principles grounded in scripture. The point is that a genuine teacher manifests consistency between what he teaches and how he lives.
Second, a genuine teacher upholds the truth of all the Scripture found in the Old and New Testaments (vs. 8-11). They correctly understand the Bible and proclaim the moral and spiritual standard of conduct revealed in the scriptures. They call people to a life of obedience to what the Bible teaches. Instead of justifying sin and distorting the Bible, they call people to obedience to it. Their teaching conforms to “sound teaching,” which points not to how they teach but to what they teach. We do not judge a preacher by how eloquent they are but by how much their teaching conforms to “sound teaching” (vs. 10). This refers to sound doctrine that conforms to the teaching of the Bible. In our age of proliferation of teaching, we need to be careful not to become distracted. Instead of following the Bible, we can start to follow people. Instead of adhering to sound doctrine that calls us to a transformed life, we can follow popular teachers and say what we want to hear. Instead of following the truth, we can become distracted by what is false. We need to know God’s word and live by His Word, which is the foundation for godliness.
1 Timothy 1:1-11
In our quest to follow our faith, it is easy to become derailed by the distractions of the insignificant. Instead of focusing on obedience to God’s word and His moral law, we can become ensnared by people's opinions. As Paul is writing to Timothy, his protégé and a young pastor starting in ministry, Paul warns him of the dangers of “strange doctrines and myths and endless genealogies.” Throughout the writings of Paul, we find two different false teachings in the church. The first error is legalism, which incorporates rules and regulations not found in Scripture into the Christian life. These are grounded in traditions and principles not found in Scripture but ones that we make essential in our faith. The second error is liberalism. This involves rejecting and denying the Biblical teaching of morality to conform Scripture to our views and justify our behavior rather than allow Scripture to transform us. We see these errors creeping into the church and our lives today.
Paul warns of those teaching strange doctrines. Some people were influencing the church by teaching a different doctrine. In our Christian life, the standard for truth is both the Old and New Testaments. Some teachers today undermine these teachings by either rejecting them as outdated or adding to them by making new rules and regulations or by introducing myths and speculations. In other words, they were distorting the Scripture by their interpretation and speculations. The mark of a false teacher is not just how they live but what they teach. Do they teach the truth of the whole counsel of God’s word, or do they promote different teachings by distorting the text to conform to their ideas and desires? This is easy to do. We can quickly find a “proof text” that affirms our interpretation. Others can come claiming to have unique insight and knowledge of the Bible that is hidden from others. One of the reasons false teachers gain popularity is that they say what we want to hear. They either give us the license to sin (liberalism), or they give false security through external rules and regulations (legalism). How do we identify and avoid these teachers in a culture where people follow others because of their popularity?
Paul provides the answer in verses 5-11 by challenging us to examine the teachers we listen to by properly assessing whether their teaching is Biblical. First, we must explore the person's life, attitude, and conduct to ensure they live a life consistent with the Bible. In verse 5, Paul reminds us that the goal of teaching is not information but transformation and that our lives and behavior reflect the love we are to have for God and others. This comes from a pure heart. The heart in Scripture refers to the center of a person’s thoughts, motives, and spiritual life. A good conscience refers to a person living by the standards and principles grounded in scripture. The point is that a genuine teacher manifests consistency between what he teaches and how he lives.
Second, a genuine teacher upholds the truth of all the Scripture found in the Old and New Testaments (vs. 8-11). They correctly understand the Bible and proclaim the moral and spiritual standard of conduct revealed in the scriptures. They call people to a life of obedience to what the Bible teaches. Instead of justifying sin and distorting the Bible, they call people to obedience to it. Their teaching conforms to “sound teaching,” which points not to how they teach but to what they teach. We do not judge a preacher by how eloquent they are but by how much their teaching conforms to “sound teaching” (vs. 10). This refers to sound doctrine that conforms to the teaching of the Bible. In our age of proliferation of teaching, we need to be careful not to become distracted. Instead of following the Bible, we can start to follow people. Instead of adhering to sound doctrine that calls us to a transformed life, we can follow popular teachers and say what we want to hear. Instead of following the truth, we can become distracted by what is false. We need to know God’s word and live by His Word, which is the foundation for godliness.
Recent
Archive
2024
January
The Coming JudgmentThat is My KingThe Certainty of Christ's WordsThe Uncertain CertaintyThe Importance of Spiritual PreparednessThe Danger of Spiritual ComplacencyChrist's Measure of SuccessThe Unpopular TopicRejection, Confusion, Betrayal, and WorshipBetrayal and RedemptionThe Inexplicable Act of LoveBetrayal, Bravado, and FearBetrayal, Bravado, and FearThe Unlikely Witnesses of Jesus' DietyRemorse, Repentance and ForgivenessThe Power of the Crowd and the Power of FaithThe Irony of the CrucifixionThe Cost of SinThe Cure for SinThe Reality of the ResurrectionLiving a Life of SignificanceThe Attitude of a SlaveThe Basis for Confident LivingThe Basis for Confident Living
February
The Prayer God AnswersWhen Adversity Becomes a TriumphFinding Joy in the Ministry of OthersPursuing the InsignificantPerspective in SufferingThe Sacrifice of SelfIf God can do it, then why can't we.The "Kenosis" of Christ"THE NAME"Divine Initiative and Human ResponsibilityThe Age of ComplaintReorienting our Focus Pt 1
March
Reorienting Our Focus Pt 2The Basis of SalvationDetermining ValueSetting the Right Goal in LifeFollowing the Right PeopleRecognizing our CitizenshipResponding to ConflictThe Keys to PeaceLearning to Think RightlyThe Secret of ContentmentThe Blessing of GivingA Life without SignificanceThe Futility of LifeThe Endless PursuitThe Futility of PleasureThe Limits of WisdomEvaluating Our WorkFinding Joy in LifeThe Doctrine of Right Time
April
May
Finding BalanceThe Folly of AllObeying Those in LeadershipWhen Injustice ReignsKeeping Perspective in an Upredictable WorldFinding Success in the World of VanityThe Value of Wisdom in the Struggles of LifeThe Danger of Foolish ThinkingTrusting in God's Unseen HandEnjoy the MomentAct before it is too late.The Geneology of Christ: A Testimony of God’s Grace and SovereigntyChrist the KingThe Authority of Christ
June
The Compassion of ChristThe God who cares for us.The Power of JesusThe ServantChrist the JudgeThe Compassion of ChristScandalous GraceThe Power of Christ Over DeathWho Is Jesus?The Majestic KingThe TIming of GodThe Value of NothingThe Basis for Security in LifeThe Joy of The FatherThe Grace of JesusThe Divine WordThe Greatest Prayer
Categories
no categories
No Comments