One's Purpose / Personal Confession

Good Monday morning. I spent a restful Sunday since I had a missionary speaker fill in. (The week of the conference would be a hasty preparation for a sermon for me. God's Word and my flock deserve better.)

It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. (1Ti 1:15)

This is one of the most simple and straightforward statements on Jesus' purpose in all of Scripture. He came to save sinners. (Reading this, I usually think something like, "Praise God He didn't leave until 'mission accomplished.'") The verse also adds a well known and referred to prepositional phrase, "among whom I am the foremost of all."

Paul will go on with his thought without explanation this time as to why he believes that. We know from v. 13 Paul was "a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor" against the Christian movement and I'm certain he often felt remorse for hi earlier life. But why does he say it here?

I agree with several scholars I've read that it was quite possibly literally true: of all who had come to faith that Paul knew, he considered his own sins against God to be the worst he'd encountered. Contextually, educating a young pastor, his statement should remind all shepherds that we too are sinners -- the worst kind. Leaders who sin must bear the burden of having defamed the cause of God on earth, invariably taking others with them, and humiliation even in "the world." ... ... ... I paused there, led to pray for you and me.

Back in 2005, a local pastor revealed a five-year sinful affair. He left unwillingly. The church split. Very little good comes from such things, but "all things to work together for good to those who love God" (Ro 8:28). One good thing was an admission on the part of some pastors that they too were weak and must do something about it.

A few months after the initial announcement, I and two other pastors began weekly meetings. A lot of confession. Numerous expressions acknowledging God's grace and mercy. Admissions of personal weaknesses. Some tears. Testimonies of victory over temptations. Complete trust in one another. Accountability to one another for the sake of being better accountable to God. Prayer. Praising God for "mission accomplished."

Actions Speak Louder than Words

I'm back. Our mission had a great conference this week. Pastor and author R. Kent Hughes and his wife Barbara were great speakers. Their challenge to us was based on their book Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome. What constitutes success to the human mind is far different from God's definition. I highly recommend the book.

I could not find the time to write here during the conference. Sorry. This morning's missive is based on Paul's next few words to Timothy.

Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. 1Tim 1:13b-14

After thanking God for selecting him as a messenger (1Ti 1:12), Paul makes a statement we could all echo. Despite my ignorance God grants mercy abundantly and it's based on Jesus' faith and love.

Paul's letter is to a pastor. Among pastors who deserves to be where he is. Not-a-one, none, and no one. Why we were chosen was a decision in the hands of our Sovereign. We're called then, to be obedient and faithful. In 1986 one of the first of the great hymns of faith that REALLY spoke to me was "Trust and Obey." At the time those words became meaningful I began... and ever since I've tried... to rest there. Trusting and obeying.

If you, pastor, want to thank Him for making you the shepherd at _______ Church, then trust Him. Obey Him. Actions speak louder than words.

Thanking Him

Early morning, Monday. Got to head to Missoula today for an 8:30 meeting of planners for the Bible Training Center of the Rocky Mountain Bible Mission. It's the first of a series of meetings leading up to the Rocky Mountain Shepherds' Conference. Here's Paul's next thought.

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. 1Tim 1:12-13b

Following the first command in v. 3-4 to stay and instruct then making several comments in support of that, the next thing Paul does is thank Jesus for his ministry. And Paul is particularly grateful considering his former lifestyle. Who among us shouldn't be as grateful? I lived my first 36 years battling God.

I can't say I actively fought as Paul had, but I was nonetheless an active player in the world... sinning without remorse. When I consider His decision to choose me, I cannot help but thank Him. Often wondering, "Why me." And then... why place me in ministry?

The answer comes when I consider the fruit of His work through me. Salvation experiences, discipleship, leadership, ministry of the Word, worship, fellowship, teaching, etc. My one regret and an area I still need to work on is my ministry here in my home. Please pray for me as I strive to minister more effectively to those closest to me.

Through His example, Paul is reminding us as ministers to say thanks to a mighty awesome God.

The Law Is Good If...

Good morning. I've been busy getting ready for next week's Rocky Mountain Shepherds' Conference.

But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted. 1Tim 1:8-11

Since He’s contended the straying men suppose to teach the Law, Paul clarifies why we have it.

Used the way God intended, the God-given Law is good. Paul made the same assertion in Romans 7 where he added it is holy.

Paul here reminds us that he knew for whom the Law was written. The righteous don't need it; the others do. Gay advocates have to ignore this passage since it lumps homosexuals in with murderers and kidnappers. I don't think serious science has stooped to the level of saying murderers were born that way; but they may have.

Wrongly used as it was in the hands of the Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day, the Law was oppressive, but that was not God’s intent. In our own ministries we must understand and serve God’s intent with Scriptures. My adult Sunday school class spent the last two weeks speaking about church discipline, which can be misused but works every time when properly and graciously applied.

Pressing on, Ed

Checking on the Teacher

What a glorious Resurrection Sunday morning. We had a service to praise and thank God for His Son's resurrection, breakfast (pastor-fried eggs we're a big hit), children's sermon & egg hunt, and then did our regular Sunday schedule. Long, busy ministry morning. Praise the Lord.

For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions. (1Ti 1:7)

Those teaching strange doctrines and paying to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, well, their spinning their wheels and wasting time. but more seriously they have these confident assertions--Paul implies these assertions lead others astray when he says they are wanting to teach the Law.

Do you have, pastor, someone or a small group of men who check on you are your teaching? I love the Bereans in my congregation--there are several. it never bothers me to be checked up on, especially when it's done in love. Twice in my 11 years here, both times while making spare of the moment comment on the next I have erred in some minor way without realizing it. Praise God for those who check--pastor or not.

Clearly Stated Goal

I didn't get to write yesterday. For her April 9 birthday Carol wanted to see a zoo. Of the six we found within 400 miles of Hamilton, none closer than 300, Billings was having the best weather on Friday. So Thursday off we went. We had a great time. Carol and I agree on a recommendation for you: if you're in Billings with a couple hours to spare, go see the zoo. But don't go to Billings to see the zoo unless that's what you want to do for your birthday. :)

I like clearly stated goals. Paul gives Timothy three. But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:5

Our staying on to instruct (the command in vss. 3-4) will serve three purposes: love, a good conscience (free from guilt), and sincere faith. (Does anyone feel a sermon coming on?)

Love, especially when flowing from a pure heart, can't be beat for mending wounds and furthering the Kingdom. I see countless examples of this from my ministry here. When considering moving to Hamilton, Carol and I sat briefly with a trusted friend who was familiar with happenings in this congregation. He told us to simply, "Go up there and show them they are loved. They've been used and need to see that God still loves them." That's what we've tried to do. Been in Hamilton 11 years now.

A good conscience. If we're instructing others in the things of the Lord we're going the right thing. And doing the right thing is never wrong. The difficulty arises when we do something wrong. But never forget that making mistakes is okay. Believers are forgiven. Here's a tried and proven formula for recovery:

• Confess any wrongdoing to God and anyone else who may have been hurt. Seek forgiveness from all.
• Deal with your own guilt - let it go. (If that's hard for you, just act like you're guiltless and allow God to work it out, He will.)
• Learn not to make the same mistake again. (The hard part.)

It seems to me that a sincere faith easily grows by learning more about God. Look at history. He's created, provided for, kept every promise, sustained, loved, and answered prayers (and those are quite general, broad categories of His work for us). As we learn to trust Him and see His faithfulness consistently demonstrated, our faith increases-becomes more sincere.

Speaking of promises, that's what 1 Timothy 1:5 is. You, pastor, obey the command (stay and instruct) and He will grant you love, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.

Pressing on, Ed

Why Stay in Ministry?

This is my first really close look at the pastoral letters of Paul--to my great shame. I decided as I started reading them again that since it started out with a command, that I'd catalog the commands here. Then it occurred to me that others may benefit or that I may benefit from others; thus the blog. Here goes… a sentence by sentence (using the NASB) look at Paul's Pastoral Letters starting with his first command to Timothy.

1 Timothy 1:3-4 As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, 4 nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith.

The command to the pastor: When there are strange doctrines or people are giving more attention to myths and endless genealogies, remain in that ministry.

He says stay (in the ministry location) to instruct against false and useless teachings because they serve no useful purpose other than to distract from the furthering of God's Kingdom on earth, which is done by faith. Focus on faith issues, not waste-of-time, unending projects and certainly not strange doctrines.

I recognize this is not the only reason to "stay in ministry," but if God commands, it must be a good one.
Where are today's time-wasting projects? Strange doctrines? Myths?

Are we acting by faith to further God's plans?

Pressing on, Ed