God's Word Reads Us
This is the sermon I preached at St. Timothy Lutheran Church last Sunday, 11/20/19. The text was 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5.
Everything
about our lives in Christ revolves around relationship: relationship with God,
relationship with each other and relationship with our community. At the center
of all of this we find scripture, holding it all together. We find two critical
themes in 2 Timothy concerning scripture as 1. gift of God and 2. for the
practical life of God’s people.
As
the gift of God, scripture was intended to be part of a lively dialogue, a
life-giving and dynamic interpretation, with commentaries emerging to respond
to changing times, rather than as an unchanging and infallible document.
God-breathed scriptures are inspiring, not imprisoning. They guide our paths,
but don’t determine exactly each and every step we take. Scripture energizes
and motivates instead of imprisoning and suffocating us.
The
sacred writings of Timothy’s childhood were the Hebrew Scriptures, which early
Christians understood as leading believers to Christ. By the time of the
writing of 2 Timothy, gospels may have been circulating as well. Jewish parents
were to begin the education of their children in Torah (the first five books of
the Old Testament) at age five. This is what Timothy was directed to remember
and follow. It is these writings, learned at the feet of his mother and
grandmother “that [were] able to instruct [him] for salvation through faith in
Christ Jesus” (v. 15). Imparted, lived, experiential knowledge of God’s
salvation had brought Timothy to where he was, and it was enough to complete
the job.
First
of all, scripture has the “power to make [us] wise and lead [us] to salvation through
faith in Christ Jesus” (V. 15). Scripture is inspired by God, God-breathed. Not
only does it speak of God, but God speaks through it. God’s word speaks to us
uniquely of God—as the collected oracles of the community of faith in whom God
has acted and through whom God has spoken.
Secondly,
scripture bears witness to this divine-human dialogue. It’s ultimate origin is
God and may be said to come from God. We are told that scripture is inspired by
God. This does not mean that scripture is God-spoken, but that it is
God-inspired. God did not open a hole in the writers’ head and just pour all
the words of scripture into it verbatim. Rather, it has the stamp of God’s
presence in its being. There is the human element in the writing of scripture,
while noting the divine inspiration that informs the process of writing
scripture. Like all good storytelling, most of the biblical accounts are rooted
in truth with some artistic license for emphasis. The focus isn’t so much on
how scripture was composed, but on the use to which it may be put. The passage
isn’t trying to define the nature of inspiration but to show the usefulness of scripture.
I
can’t help but think back to the creation account in Genesis. “God…breathed
into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being:
(Genesis 2:7). Then in John’s gospel we hear these words, “When Jesus had said
this, he breathed into them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’” (John
20:22). These are but two examples of the way God breathes in the Bible and how
that breath is creative, life- and faith-giving.
For
the practical life of God’s people, scripture is useful in four aspects:
teaching-as a source for positive instruction, reproof-as a source for refuting
error, correction-as a source for guiding people’s lives and training in
righteousness-as a source to provide discipline in right living. Although aimed
at Timothy and others in ministry, scripture is suited for “everyone who
belongs to God” (v. 17).
Today’s
reading from 2 Timothy contrasts the inspired scripture and its proper
interpretation by church leaders with self-serving, dissident teachers who
attract “itching ears.” In other words, those with itching ears are looking for
that which sounds good to them, piquing their interest.
Authority
in matters of truth and doctrine does not come from charismatic speakers who
may charm an audience, or from propositions that may make one’s life easier.
Real authority comes from the experiences and insights of those who have lived
their faith and shared it with the church. It is their instruction, model of
fidelity and insight (such as the Apostle Paul), to which Timothy is urged to
turn.
Timothy
is to counter false teaching by being consistent and persistent in proclaiming
the gospel. This does not mean he was to stand on a street corner, demanding
that people must follow the truth, as only he understood it. Rather Timothy was
to patiently teach people. In this way, the body of Christ would be built up
and its members would be able to manifest their various gifts.
The
final charge to Timothy was, “always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of
an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully” (v. 5). Timothy could do and be
all these things because of the Word of God being at the very center of his
life and being. Everything he did would emanate from that.
What
was true for Timothy is true for us as well. Reading, studying and reflecting
upon the Holy Scriptures leads us toward a more grace-filled and holy life. The
means for following God’s ways are revealed in the living Word. Through God’s
word, we begin to understand the call of the Lord, the power of the Holy Spirit
and the works of God we are asked to do. Just as Timothy was, so we too are
equipped as God’s servants.
Today
we encounter many with “itching ears.” People seek perpetual novelty and
continuous entertainment that “suits their own desires.” When God’s people do
not witness about the faith, a vacuum is formed into which come dazzling,
glitzy sounding messages. When we place our faith in the latest book on Oprah’s
list, we will always be waiting for the next “new” message to come along and
save us. Although we may seek the new and novel, it is only God’s grace that
satisfies our longings. This is the sound doctrine referred to in Timothy.
Our
relationship with scripture is often faltering because most people in today’s
church have little more than a childhood, Sunday school knowledge of the Bible.
They believe the Bible is God’s word, but not many read it, let alone study and
heed it. The state of biblical illiteracy is such that even several of my
professors in seminary were shocked at how little new seminarians knew of God’s
word. After all, the Bible is one of the key tools in the ministry. It is also
one of the key tools in the call to the Christian life to which God has called
each of us in our baptism.
When
we read the Bible, the Bible reads us. But reading it is not an end in itself.
We are to engage with scripture to heighten our awareness of ourselves in
relation to God. Thus our relationship with God is enhanced.
Are
you depressed? You’ll find something in the word for you especially in the Psalms.
Are you excited and rejoicing. Again, you’ll find what you’re looking for in
scripture. If you feel far from God, go to scripture and let God’s love
surround you. If you haven’t perused the pages of scripture recently, the
Psalms are a good place to begin. You’ll find lyrical poetry to match all
moods.
Read
scripture not only in seclusion, but in community. Get together with other
people of faith and listen and discern together God’s message.
We
may feel like we are not good enough Christians. We try and keep failing.
That’s ok. Scripture is full of stories of wandering and returning. We can see
our lives reflected in these biblical characters of: David who had the husband
of a woman he desired killed, the prodigal son, Zaccheus, a greedy tax
collector recognized by Jesus for his latent generosity as well as the
disciples who denied Jesus as he faced the cross. The list goes on and on. All
of these wandered, but returned.
God
is relational and so is God’s book, holy scripture. Imagine a bicycle wheel,
with scripture at the center, as the hub. Various spokes emanate from that
center. When a spoke becomes disconnected from the hub, it breaks. The only way
the wheel will continue to work well is if all the spokes are fully connected.
Our
lives are the wheel. With God’s word at the center, we are able to function
well with each of the spokes or activities of our lives connected to the
center.
Let
us pray. Holy God, you have revealed your will for us in your Holy Word. Open
our hearts and spirits that we may be equipped to do your good works this day. Amen.
Resources
Consulted
Bruce
Epperly, The Adventurous Lectionary, patheos.com
Beverly
R. Gaventa, Texts for Preaching: A
Lectionary Commentary Based on the NRSV
Carl
R. Holladay, Preaching Through the
Christian Year C
Karl
Jacobson, Matt Skinner
Joseph
L. Price, Olive Elaine Hinnant, Lewis R. Donelson, J. Peter Holmes, Feasting On the Word: Year C,
Volume 4: Season After Pentecost 2
Gail
Ramshaw, sundaysandseasons.com
David
Westphal, Pentecost Devotions III
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