Stay Clean Out There

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:23 – “Have nothing to do with stupid and senseless controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.” (NRSVUE)

We live in muddy times. No matter what we do, it seems like we cannot avoid people who love stirring up trouble. This is true even in churches. We have this romanticized notion that in the earliest days when people still remembered walking with Jesus, all Christians lived in one accord.  

But this was never true. There have always been disagreements and accusations against “false teachers” who were ruining everything. For example, consider the Second Letter to Timothy. This is one of the so-called Pastoral Epistles because it gives advice about how to be a good church leader. In the time the letter was written, there seemed to be a lot of “wrangling over words” and “profane chatter” that was confusing people and pulling churches apart. The letter advises to avoid quarrels and controversies and to show kindness, patience, and gentleness in correcting those who disagree with you.

The squabbles over the timing of the resurrection from the early Second Century may not seem relevant to your life today, but the attitudes 2 Timothy has towards them are. The first piece of advice that I think is important is not to get involved in pointless debates. As the expression goes, “Never wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it.” As entertaining as it might be to get into a knock-down war of words with your “enemy”, very little truth and light comes from the encounter. We must avoid the trap of shouting things that make us feel good but just alienate others.

At the same time, 2 Timothy still condemns false teachers. It never says to avoid conflict, but rather to do so without anger and confusion. It is too easy today to look at all the contention in our lives and just say we should live and let live. There are still things we hold to be true, things we have received from the Bible and from our faith and from the things we were told by our families and teachers. We cannot forget those truths just to avoid upsetting people.

Luckily, 2 Timothy gives us a path forward. “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient, correcting opponents with gentleness.” This requires grace and experience; if it was easy, the letter wouldn’t have to mention it. But this is the lesson we must carry with us today.

This week, look for opportunities to speak the truth with love. Resist the temptation to mud wrestle and look instead to listen and share what matters to you in a way that others might hear. In doing so, you might find greater peace within you and about you.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to be kind and patient while holding fast to your truth and love. Amen.

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