Paraphrase: (2/6/03)
3 Along these same lines, the mature woman ought to behave with propriety, neither spreading vicious rumors and lies, nor being captivated by alcohol. They, too, should be using their time to teach the younger women what is good, 4 and so encourage them to live right.
Key Verse: (2/6/03)
2:4a - It is the duty of the older to teach and encourage the younger to righteousness.
New Thoughts (2/6/03-2/7/03)
3 Older women likewise are to behave in ways which befit one who is sacred to God, not devils, not causing unwarranted division, not bringing false accusations. They must not be reduced to bondage by wine. Wine easily becomes an enticement to idolatry. [We are to be enslaved to God alone. We dare not give allegiance to mere earthly pleasures, especially such as may tempt us to sin.] They must not become dependent on the dulling of their senses. Their time should be spent in giving instruction as to what is good and virtuous, what is right. 4 In all these ways, they will serve to restore sanity to the younger women. The younger must be held to their duties, admonished and trained to propriety.
The message is clear: teach by both word and example. Last night, we began some in-depth studies at church, one of which is focusing on sound doctrine. In the course of introducing this class, the instructor commented on the four possible combinations of belief and action. One's beliefs may be wrong, and his actions wrong as well. The instructor noted this as a form of hypocrisy, but I'm not so sure that's quite right. I suppose it depends whether the actions match the beliefs or not. They could just as easily be wrong in the same direction. I look at it more as a matter of being wrong by instruction. The second possibility is that one's beliefs are wrong, and yet one's actions somehow manage to be what is right and proper. This is a form of hypocrisy, surely, for action and belief are not aligned. Yet, it is error in the right direction, if you will. In this hypocrisy, one can see hope that belief will be corrected, and eventually align with action again. Then, there is that most vile form of hypocrisy which we all, perhaps, are subject to in one degree or another, where belief is quite correct and yet our actions fail to align with our beliefs. "For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish," writes Paul (Ro 7:19). This is exactly the issue: actions out of alignment with what we know in ourselves is right.
The goal for us all is to reach the fourth possibility, that in which our beliefs are right and true, and our actions properly reflect our beliefs. I suppose one could define insanity as a state where mind and action are no longer connected. In a way, then, we are trapped, along with Paul, in a state of insanity. We know what is right, and yet… We want what is right, but what do we do? In large part, this is the dilemma of Christian life, we know the way, but find ourselves constantly wandering off to one side or the other. It does get better. With age comes the wisdom of experience. With proper training and reinforcement, the ways of righteousness do become part of our nature. As God works more and more upon us, we do find it possible to do as we ought with greater regularity. The Holy Spirit works upon us to restore our sanity, and with that, He passes on that same task to us: You, whose sanity has been restored, restore it in those youthful ones around you.
This plague of wrong action seems to be heightened in the young adult. Children are born, it seems, to disobedience, but being subjected to parental control, their actions are restricted (hopefully) in a fashion that reflects what is expected. They are trained in one degree or another to obey the will of their parents, for better or for worse. But with the arrival of adulthood comes a removal of these somewhat artificial restraints. It is a first taste of freedom, and that freedom seems entirely inclined to be interpreted as license.
Isn't that the way of it even in this Christian walk? We arrive in the body of Christ, rather uninformed, trying to feel our way along in the midst of these holier folks. We're trying to pick up cues as to what is expected of us, and so, we are quite circumspect in our behavior. We place ourselves on a tight reign, hoping to fit in. Eventually, we learn of the freedom that Christ has purchased for us. All at once comes the dawning realization that these restrictions we've placed on ourselves were largely unnecessary. This isn't what it's about! Now comes the danger. Like the typical sophomore, we suddenly think we know more than we truly due. Given half a clue, we think we've solved the riddle of the ages! So, we cast aside every shred of restraint and restriction. Hey! We're free, right? We can do whatever seems good to us, and it must be right because we're saved! Oh! But, we've only seen part of the picture.
Many heard Paul's message and came away with this half understanding. They heard freedom from bondage, and understood only that they had license to do as they would. They didn't grasp the significance of submission in freedom, they didn't catch the nuances of liberty. What Paul spoke of in the previous verse, regarding placing limits on one's own freedoms, speaks to this issue. The freedom we have been brought into is freedom only because it is slavery. But our slavery is a matter of voluntary submission to the will of God, not the slavery of addiction. Because our wills are submitted to Him, our desires may be freely pursued, because our desires - if truly aligned to His will - can only lead us to pursuit of righteous behaviors.
In our youth, we had plenty of opportunity to pursue the 'freedom' that sin offers to us, and most of us doubtless did our utmost to avail of that freedom. We've had time enough for that, says Paul. Put it behind you. Recognize the insanity of the path you once pursued and have no more to do with it. Don't you dare to think the freedom that Christ has brought you resembles the license you once participated in. Licentious living remains just as sinful as it ever was. We know that nothing is sinful in and of itself, it is the use we make of it that gives it its moral quality. Do we really think we can pursue the habits we once did from a pure heart? Do we really think we can keep on as we were and please God? What purpose, then, salvation? If we were fine as we were, why did such great effort have to be expended to save us? What were we saved from?
We were saved from our own insanity. We were saved from the ambitious pursuit of death! Here, Paul is commissioning the more mature members of the church family to save the younger ones among them. It is the insanity of youth to think oneself immune from death. Youth dreams of its immortality, but it views that immortality with a wrong perspective. Youth thinks it has that immortality in itself. In Christ, the immortality that we dreamed of in our younger days is made true and available, but not because of this flesh, and not to be found in this life. No, this corruption must put on incorruptibility. This sinful man must put on righteousness. This insanity must put on reason and sobriety. This is the power of salvation - the complete remodeling, the transformation, the metamorphosis of the soul, the mind, the will!
It seems so impossible to us that we can ever really be free of our past, free of our habits, free of our sins. But, in God all things are possible. That is the Truth of God, spoken to us in His word, by the Word, and imprinted upon our spirit by the Holy Spirit. It is Truth. Will we believe it? Will we live in accord with that belief? We are forever declaring God's promises to be yes and amen. We are ever declaring the faithfulness of His words, that what He has declared must surely come to pass. Inasmuch as we say this, we speak truly. But do we believe it? Do we live it? If life is a test, then we should be pursuing every day as if it were the final exam. We should be expending every effort to live in accord with what we know to be true. If this is our pursuit, if this is our belief, then surely we must accept that we can do it because of Christ who strengthens us.
Jesus forgive me for taking so lightly what You have done on my behalf. Forgive me for insisting on continuing to pursue the death You died to save me from. Forgive me for treating the great promises You have made as if they were no more than pretty words. Father God, you have shown me, even in the last few days, just how powerful and real Your promises are. Truly, they are yes and amen. Truly, You have saved me from my sins. Oh! Let me face the temptation to return to my own vomit like the man You have refashioned me to be. Let me behave as one made in Your holy image. Let me live my life out this day in a fashion befitting one You have declared holy unto Your Name. I know it is Your will, Your desire, and I know, because You are with me that it is possible. I want to live, Lord! Set this spirit free to worship You in every word and action! Make my life a living psalm to Your goodness!
