Sermon: Controversy Lovers vs. Godliness

This morning first Timothy chapter 6 verses 1 through 10. This is a holy inherent sufficient word of God. Let all who are under a yoke as Bond servants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor. So the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. Those who have believing Masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers. Rather, they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service or Believers

and beloved. Teach and urge these things if anyone teaches a different Doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that Accords with godliness. He is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy. And for quarrels About Words, which produce Envy. sentient slander evil suspicions and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind.

And deprived of the truth. imagining that godliness It's a means of gain. godliness with contentment is great gain. We brought nothing into the world and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation into a snare into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. The love of money is a root of all

kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith. Pierce themselves the Pains of death Though the grass withers. The flower Fades word of God is forever. Thanks be to God. amen

starts here this morning that I think. Much of Life comes down to perspective. Comes down to rightly or wrongly viewing something. My poor son Ethan this week on Monday. He had five teeth removed. Welcome to Summer Sun as he had his first week off of school. and as I took him there and I took him back and the surgeon had him in a chair there the surgeon approached him and before he gave him the Laughing Gas he Said to him you're going to fall into Twilight's sleep.

And let me tell you how to approach this. He said if you think happy thoughts. When you fall into Twilight sleep you will wake up. Pleasant If you think bad thoughts as you fall into Twilight sleep. You will wake up crying like a baby.

Just a little perspective. How you view a thing matters? Paul gives Perspective in our passage this morning and I want to look at it in three ways. The very first section what he does says he is encouraging us. Let us have a right perspective of relationships in Christ. Let us have a right perspective of relationships in Christ. Here we have Paul at the very outset of our passages taking the most difficult of all relationships that could

possibly be had in this present world where one person owns another person. And he is addressing Christian Bond servants or Christian slaves at the very beginning of our passage. Now, we don't have time to this morning do a deep dive into everything that the Bible has to say about slavery. But let us say simply that the Bible is very clear that slavery is not something that is to be condoned is actually an evil. And I think that is very clear.

In the scriptures posed no stranger to it as he's writing this. Was everywhere during his time? There is at this time the Roman Empire depending on what historian that you listen to will say that anywhere from a fifth to a third of the Roman Empire were slaves at this time anywhere from three to six million people were slaves at the time of the Apostle Paul. But it was not race-based slavery as you and I think of it. We have the American Experience in our

mind and the transatlantic slave trade and the the cattle slavery the shadow of slavery of the American South in mind. That's not what was occurring in the Roman Empire at this time most slaves in the Roman Empire were those that had been taken as prisoners of War were they were men and women that had sold themselves for because they were in debt in the slavery so that they could pay back their debts and Roman law allowed for most slaves

to be free after seven years of service and almost every slave was freed by the time that they were 30 years of old. They were often as slaves. They were so my skilled laborers. They were Artisans. They were Physicians. They were artists. They were lawyers in what? Were allowed to do under Roman law is that they were allowed to save some of the money that they accrued through the labor that they did. Usually they would be able to save a third

of all that they were paid in 2/3 would go to their master and they were used that third to eventually purchase their freedom. It was heinous, but it was not quite the same institution that you and I have in mind when we think about that transatlantic slave trade. which was an Abomination Beyond Abomination, but I think regardless We can all agree that. slavery is not a good thing. None of us would rather be a slave than be

free. And that's the first sign. It's horrific. That's evil one person owning any other. And yet it's interesting isn't as we hit these verses Paul doesn't attack slavery head on but rather he encourages a slave to honor his or her Masters. Why? Well, we have to take a little bit of a step back so that we can have some perspective as we think about this. It's not that Paul's somehow doesn't see human slavery is evil again. Let's be very clear slavery is evil.

And yet what Paul has in mind is he has a greater view in mind. He has the honor of God and the teaching of God in mind. And so he's saying to the slaves show honor to your master. Why well, he tells us so the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. Well, that's easy for you to say Paul. You're not a Slave.

Why not say slavery is evil. Destroy it everywhere that you find it. run away from your masters Again, let's get a little bit of perspective taking a step back. Paul Like Jesus Does as well in his preachiness Paul will do throughout his letters. He is sowing the seed that provides the foundation for seeing all people set free in the world and the world to come. He's taking a bigger view. He cares about slavery. As Christians we care about all suffering

all suffering. But especially Eternal suffering. And by caring about eternal suffering, we actually address presence suffering. how I'll take some perspective. Pull here is laying the groundwork for the abolition of slavery. If Christianity had become a social movement in these early centuries of the church in these first couple of centuries and simply aimed at destroying slavery. The greater message of the Gospel would have been laws.

But you see when the gospels preached. The groundwork is laid for every single social ill and every single social injustice. to be undone and to be rectified

and Paul's letter when he writes the letter to the church there in colisee and in Colossians, he will address slaves. And as he writes that letter to the church in colisee, there will be at least one slave that's standing in the midst that church anessimist. We know that from the book of Philemon. Most likely a lot of them were slaves as he is writing that and most likely here in emphasis. A lot of the church's slaves in the early church. The

church was often accused of just being a place for the poor and women and slaves. Because so many slaves came to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and those early centuries of the church. And so when he's writing these letters this is not lost on Paul. And as he's thinking about this, they like every Christian has been transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of Light. They have been made a new creation.

And he knows and as he teaches every slave is to know that as they are made a new creation. There is now in the church neither slave nor free. They're on the same level ground with their masters at the foot of the cross. They even are to call them brother. Can you imagine? How socially offensive this was in the first century World let alone the 19th century American context that a slave would call his master, brother.

That's what the Christian faith says. So one can see how a Christian slave might think well, I'm United to Christ and this frees me from my service to my master. I have one master. That is Christ. And Paul doesn't want Christian slaves mistaken their freedom in Christ as an excuse to create a breach between themselves and their Earthly authorities and thereby disparage the teaching and the Very name of Christ.

But the seeds were sown. Seeds are sown for upending the institution of slavery. And how are they soon? They're sown by the preaching of the Gospel? And they're sown by living in light of that gospel.

Who take time? We could rightly say it took. too long of a Time

for Christians and for people to eventually see that the truth of God and the ethics of Christianity were incompatible with slavery.

You still wish the poet taken more of a frontal Soul upon slavery. Maybe understand that one theologians said it this way. He said in such circumstances a pragmatic quietism. Was the most effective means of gaining room enough to develop the quality of personal relationships which would establish and build microcosms of transformed communities. And you know what those microcosms of transformed communities are churches

Where it's begun to be reflected here. And no matter what socioeconomic class you come from or what race you come from or what your background is? That as you come together here, we're on level ground. And here there is mutual dignity and mutual worth a mutual respect and mutual love for one another and that has a transforming effect.

And it undoes evil Institution.

As the kingdom goes forward social and justices and equalities will be rectified. By the right relationships here.

It's no mistake. It's not a mistake in history. It was in the western world that slavery first in. And it's not a mistake in history that it's in the western world as it is led by people such as William Wilberforce and the Wesley is in John Newton and Harriet beechers Stowe Christian.

A slavery was abolished in the western world.

It's a fruit of the seeds that Paul had planted.

Make no mistake. It was Christianity that destroyed slavery. Christianity

and it was destroyed by the church continuing to proclaim the gospel and then live the ethics of that gospel in relationship with one another.

Should I know I know there are a lot of there's a lot of heartburn today rightfully. So we look at different social ills and our culture. and

and it's troubling.

Are you concerned? a different social issues right now

or concerned about the future of our country.

I want to be pointed.

Let me ask it this way. How many people have you shared the Faith with this week? And I say that to myself.

Maybe if we spent less time on Fox News and MSNBC and CNN. Use some of those minutes share the faith.

is some of these social ills Would be addressed. If we weren't lasting change, it occurs through change lives. That are living this week demonstrate that we're different that we're a new creation. That witness actually works lasting Reformation Freedom both now and forevermore.

Now we can tackle this or that issue. I hope some of you are very much. I hope all of us are Salt and Light in our community and I hope there are many of you that go out and you start. Different non-profit organizations and you get involved politically and you lead protests and you lead marches and you're involved in this endeavor and that endeavor Christians need to do that. But the ultimate answer in the real answer is not

nonprofits. It's not. You being a politician? It's not voting for the right person. It's Christ. And it's the gospel being proclaimed and people being transformed by that gospel and then us living in light of having been transformed by that gospel that works real lasting change.

Are you actually concerned? About the ills in our society the injustices in our society if you are and I say this to myself as I say to you. Then you're an evangelist.

And you're not just an evangelist, but you're seeking to live out your life and Light of Christ and all of your relationships with people even a slave to a Master. It's reflected in that. I'm going to show honor to him or to her so that when they see me they see something different. and they ask what is it that makes you so different.

You sure that gospel?

Again, just want to be frank. You and I have no. No grounds on which to complain about the trajectory of our society if we're not evangelists.

No ground to stand.

It takes a little perspective.

All our relationships even the most difficult or be seen in Light of Christ. second Let's have a right perspective of Doctrine in Christ. Let us have a right perspective of Doctrine in Christ. It seems very unconnected as Paul says teach and urge these things what things will the things Paul has been teaching. He says if anyone teaches a different Doctrine, he says different from what from the words of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here's the issue. There were obviously loud and incredible gifted leaders and teachers maybe in the congregation among the lay people maybe some that were serving in the office of Elder. We don't know that we're proclaiming things that were a false Doctrine. And suppose to Timothy take a step back and recognize it something different from the words of Christ are be our being spoken here just as the gospel in the name of

the Lord can be threatened by us not living rightly in relationship with one another. So here is a threat on the teaching of Christ in the name of God by teaching false thing. Let's be on guard. What are those words of the Lord Jesus Christ? The Paul wants to me stick close to only the words that Christ spoke. No, I think it's more than that. It surely the words that Christ spoke, but I think Paul was also here referencing himself.

The words that he has written he understands his own words as being the words of Christ. Remember when Christ descended and or when he sent out the 70 before he ascended he said to them when they were sent out. He said he who listens to you listens to me. and when he ascended he Gave the gift of apostolic Ministry to Paul and to Peter and to John and to these early Apostles. So that what they wrote was the very Words of Christ.

That when we read Paul we hear Christ.

Stick close to this Doctrine Timothy. The teaching he says verse three Accords with godliness. How do you recognize it? How do you know whether what you're hearing is true or not? Well, right Doctrine produces right living godliness. They were false teachers present who were producing something else. Well, how how do you recognize that take a step back Timothy? Look these false teachers are recognizable verse 3, he points

out. There's a soundness and good teachers. And now he says there's a sickness and these false teachers. You can notice them by their quote unhealthy craving for controversy. He says in verse 4. A sickness he says for controversy and for quarrels about words. He says in verse 4 that they understand nothing.

It's not that they don't have anything to say those who love controversy those who love quarrels or often some of the loudest people that you'll ever meet. They have an opinion on everything and they let you know they seem to overflow with knowledge. And yet Paul says in verse 4. Some translations put it they're conceited idiots. They're no nothings. Why? Because they lack IQ. No usually quite smart. If they know nothing.

How do you know it Timothy? Well step back. Look at it. Look at the fruit. With sound teaching Harmony is the fruit slaves honoring their masters false teaching causes division in the body verse 4 Envy dissension slander evil suspicions and constant friction among the people false Doctrine leads to disrupted Fellowship.

So in distrust and suspicion is absolutely ungodly. Listen, it works in the world the stir the pot a little bit you can get ahead. But it's abomination in the church.

beware of persons We're always questioning always quarreling about definitions words. It seemed to be the person with the right way and the Right View and they desire to show everyone else their way and want everyone else to know their view. They routinely succeeds the suspicion in the mind about others. Listen, they're whoa.

It's a wolf. Seeking to Devour the Sheep.

Some cause as he says constant friction. Maybe they don't cause Church splits everywhere. They go. Maybe they don't cause people to leave a church, but there is a wake behind them of constant friction. As Paul says they rile people up they so dissension. And Paul says they are evidencing quote depravity of mind and they're demonstrating that they are quote deprived of truth. The truth of Christ owes the Peace of Christ.

Take a step back. Let's see.

I don't care how entertaining they are.

I don't care how bright they are. I don't care how many followers they have on. Twitter or Facebook or Instagram or whatever is the new thing of the day?

They so disunity there to be run from policy.

Wrong living will destroy. And wrong teaching will destroy.

The right perspective on your relationships have a right perspective on Doctrine. Cling close to the people of God and clean close to the teaching of scripture.

finally Let us have the right perspective of our present circumstances for Christ. Just have a right perspective of our present circumstances for Christ. Why? because discontentment also destroys

He's false teachers were. promoting the idea that godliness would produce Financial blessing the first wealth and health teachers of the Gospel right here in the church in Ephesus

Paul's saying no. godliness with contentment is the end godliness is not a means to an end. It is the end. It pays dividends forever and ever. It has blessings forever and ever. Itself is an end to be sought. godliness with contentment the gift that you and I are given in Christ.

When an albatross discipline is when you don't have it? I've sat over the years with a lot of different people. obviously pastoring and that have just made a train wreck of their lives and different sins. Not tell you I haven't sat down with the person yet. That's had an affair. And they weren't first discontent. I haven't sat down with the person yet. Who's become a drunkard or a liar or a thief or an idolater? That doesn't allude

to having been discontent?

It's contentment is an entryway. for your adversary It is a place that he just establishes a little foothold and then he makes it a stronghold. And this entire society and culture is built. At least in the last hundred years to inflame within you a feeling of discontentment. You need more. You don't have enough. You need the happy life. This is how you get it. You need this they have it. Why don't I have it? always upward

Jesus said take care. Be on your guard against all covetousness for one's life does not consist in the abundance of The Possession. That takes perspective. Take a step back. To Paul reminds us in verse 7. You can't take anything out of the world and you are leaving this world. So be content, but I don't have

again Let's take a step back. little perspective Oh says yeah, you came into the world. You didn't have anything. When you leave the world you won't have anything.

As job said naked I came from my mother's womb and naked eye. Shall Deport. Take the low perspective. I heard a story about a pastor that was doing a funeral for a rich. old woman in the congregation who had died and the congregants were very curious about where she had left her stuff to and so one of them approached the minister and they asked and they said well how much? as she left behind the minister said everything.

All of it.

If we have food and clothing with these we are to be content poses. That is the Necessities are enough. You didn't bring anything in you can't take anything out now. Can we have more than the necessities? Of course? Notice that Paul did not say money is evil or that it is the root of all kinds of evil. He says the love of money is and he says is a root of all kinds of evil. Some of the wealthiest Christians I have known have been

some of the most Godly Christians because they are not loving money. And they are giving away and giving away and they're seeking to use the resources for the benefit of the Kingdom. Listen. The poor can have as much a love for money as the rich can have both have to be on guard against the Love of Money.

Paul tells us here comes with the warning sign that's written in large letters above it. There are many that have gone this way.

They've made a wreck of their lives. Even lost their faith by hitting this way.

And how silly that is.

Gain, a little perspective. It's all disappears when you gain a little perspective. sitting with two of our older Elders more seasoned Elders this morning praying and we got to the end of praying and I was telling them it was two years. It came up on my Facebook feed two years ago yesterday was.

The day that we came back in the midst of covid finally to in-person Services. We started with five morning Services two years ago yesterday. That we could get everybody here. and we're saying just ah, these two years have gone by and a Flash and one of these more seasoned Elders said he said, you know, I'm Keep thinking about Ecclesiastes and just realize life is a vapor. The other one said doesn't it feel like just yesterday that

we were at Michigan State University as students? in their 70s now Flash

how absolutely silly to give up Eternal Treasures. For trinkets that are temporal. so silly

and yet we will allow discontentment to grab a hold of us and we will fall in love with money. And there are those opposes of abandoned the faith because of it.

height of stupidity have the right perspective of your present circumstances.

Paul was saying Colossians. I've learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger and hunger abundance and need I can do all things in him who strengthens me. Here's the secret of being content posing. This is not a verse about getting a touchdown or hitting a home run. This is a verse. about contentment

and Paul has the secret.

one can consume wealth can consume or Christ can consume it's Christ.

Read this weekend about a man visiting someone in the hospital. They Were both immigrants. from country and Africa here in the US and one of the man that visited the man in the hospital he was talking to him and the Man in the hospital beds stopped him. and he said I hear my country in your voice. You're my country in your voice.

the man that had been talking wrote He said that man places entire country upon my being. So it reflected in my being.

Christ is so have a grip on you and I so have a grip upon us. That when people hear us the hear our country. That when people see us. They see our country.

Swirled needs you and I to live Heaven before them.

We know. As Christians that we have all in Christ.

Thinking upon this last night. freedom I've come that you might have life and have it abundantly said Christ security. The name of the Lord is a strong tower of the righteous run to it and are safe. Love. He said just as the father has loved me. I have also loved you friendship. Jesus said I have called you friends family for whoever does the will of my Father in Heaven as my brother and sister and mother companionship. He says lo I Am

With You Always even to the very end of the age Justice you want Justice righteousness and Justice or the foundation of your throne. The psalmist says peace. He says my peace I give to you not as the world. Do I give to you let not your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Are you hungry? He's the bread of life. Are you thirsty? He's the Living Water. Are you naked he covers you with his righteousness rest. He says come to me all you you are

weary in heavy. Laden and I will give you rest riches my goodness. We're coheirs with him. All that is his for all of the eternity is yours Christian for all of eternity. What is lacking? And we could go on for the rest of today in detail things. What is lacking? nothing nothing

That is why Paul says he is our yes, and our amen. Everything is in him you have everything

that changes everything.

Changes your relationships with one another and everybody in the world.

It changes the way that you live before the world. It changes how much you value this word and stick close to this Doctrine.

and it changes Where you find your pleasures forever more and where you are content? and him

I want to see your lives and my life. transformed by the beauty of Christ I desperately want to see our world change. And I know that it will only happen by Christ working through you.

Let's pray.

Father we do. Thank you this morning. You are God of all truth.

You are a God who is active in this world? Will give you praise the Lord Jesus Christ. The new is hidden all things. That all things are ours in you. Pray that we would live in light of it for your glory and for your praise. in Christ's name amen