I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. (1 Tim 3:14-15)Paul planned to return, but if he didn't (and, by the way, history does not record that he did), he was writing down instructions on "how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God." That's good; that's important. Why? He says why. The household of God is "the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth."
Think of that. The "church" refers to the "ekklēsia," literally the "called out ones." It's not that corner building; it's all believers. It refers to those whom Jesus said had been granted by the Father (John 6:65). They were the sheep who heard His voice and believe (John 10:26-28). This body of "called out ones" have the singular task of supporting, buttressing, holding up the truth. Singular in the sense that no one else is doing it. It is our assignment. We are to know it, hear it, preach it, defend it, and live it for all to see.
What truth? In the next verse, Paul references "the mystery of godliness" and recites what is clearly one of the early church hymns (1 Tim 3:16). What is this hymn about? What is the mystery of godliness? Well, godliness refers to how it is we come to and live in a right relationship with God. That, he says, is a great mystery. Why? Because the hymn is all about Christ. He came in flesh, lived a sinless life, was observed by angels and proclaimed among the nations, was believed on and was taken up in glory. Birth to death, resurrection, and ascension. Unique. And sufficient. It is in Christ that we have this "godliness." It is in Christ that we are made holy and, as such, live changed lives from changed hearts that live and express and defend the truth. The reality is it's all about Christ, "the Word" (John 1:1), beginning to end. That, Paul said, is how we are to conduct ourselves in the household of God.
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I know it is only tangentially related, but it's been bothering me ever since I learned that Paul discipled Timothy for 20 years. I grew up with youth pastors and school chapel speakers constantly pointing to Timothy as encouragement for us teens to live as leading Christians. Especially referring to Paul telling him to not let people look down on his youth. Except, he had to be in his late 30s early 40s. While that's not old, that certainly isn't teenaged. It now bothers me that Timothy is presented to teens as an example for the young. It feels like I was lied to all those years.
Ah, the young. You're still young enough to think that way. At 65 or 70 40-year-olds are "still kids." But more to the point, Paul told Timothy not to let OTHERS despise him for his youth. We sought that at our last church when the younger group hired a new pastor that was younger than my youngest son. Mind you, he had years of training, experience, education. But the older generation looked down on him because of his "youth." Then go back to Paul's time when "elders" were venerated, not ignored like today, when the older generation were respected and were the leaders. So Timothy, at, say, 40, was a "young pup" and could very likely be looked down on by the leaders of the church there for it. You weren't lied to. You just misunderstand "youth" in the broader, more relative sense.
I get that 40 isn't old, and that Timothy would be repudiated for his youth, but the teaching at my time was aimed at teens. Would you say the same thing about being a church leader to a teenager compared to a 40 something? That's how I felt lied to. The impression was given that us teenagers shouldn't allow the older generations to ignore our leadership simply because we were teens, just like Timothy. But Timothy was no teen.
If the message is "God can use you at any age; don't be discouraged by your age," I don't know why it would be lying to say it teens. I never understood Paul to be saying, "Don't let them despise you because you're a teenager. Did you?
I did when those pastors and speakers said it.
Merely curious at this point. Do you think you may have misunderstood, or do you believe the youth speakers you heard were intentionally lying to you? (I am merely curious because I don't think, in the least, that God's Word is lying.)
I don't think they were lying to lie. I think they were trying to use Scripture to encourage us younguns. I just think they were misapplying the references for a positive attempted result. I don't think that's how Scripture should be handled.
I also think it was informed by the pervasive thinking even 20+ years ago that the youth are the ones with the answers. Don't rely on your elders.
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