Focus on Essentials

Scripture: As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. 1 Timothy 1:3-4

Observation: Timothy, a young man called to lead one of the most important early churches, is being given a very difficult assignment: To properly focus the conversations of the entire church to God's faith-based work, and away from various other subjects that distract from that work. In modern-day terms, we now call these the "non-essentials" - those elements of Christianity that are not associated with the core tenants of the lordship of Jesus and salvation through faith in Jesus.

How hard will it be for Timothy to successfully keep the church focused on Jesus?

Application: Here's how hard it was ... we STILL fail at this!!

Just this week, someone who served in a ministry with me decided to leave our church. Why? Because before every service, the worship band plays an instrumental "jam" to a "secular" song. They do this because a) playing three minutes of music is a polite way to tell people to take their seats, and b) playing a popular song helps non-believing visitors feel comfortable as a first impression. However, my friend is leaving the church because he disagrees with the leadership on this issue, tried to engage with a debate on the subject, and finally has decided to leave his church family over this one issue.

Now THAT is a "non-essential" issue! If our church were to debate this issue, we would be creating "controversial speculation" as Paul puts it. And all time and energy in such a discussion would distract from REAL work of our church.

When mature Christians study the word of God, meditation on the Bible is very healthy. In such a setting, discussions on such questions as ... Did the ENTIRE world flood in the time of Noah or just Persia? ... Did creation happen in 7 days or did God use a long evolutionary process to make it happen? ... Since Joseph isn't Jesus' father why care about his lineage to David? ... How does the author of Job know about a conversation between God and Satan ... these can be healthy conversations. However, in the broader church context, we need to focus on a unified message that promotes the core Gospel:

-- God created the world, but mankind rejected God and fell into sin.
-- We cannot reconcile ourselves to God regardless of how good we try to be.
-- However, God loves us and wishes us to have eternal life in heaven basking in his love.
-- Therefore God created a way for us to be forgiven of sin and reconciled to God.
-- That way is to believe that Jesus is God's son who came to earth, died on the cross, and was resurrected to life.

On these items - the true message of love and faith - there must never be debate.

Prayer: Lord, our church is active in our efforts to make Jesus known - to change the lives of our neighbors - with your message of love. I pray for my brothers and sisters serving at our Christmas Lights event this month. May the true Gospel be continually on their lips, and may your message of love be shared into the hearts of thousands of people this month. Amen.