Perturbation!

Why is it that so often I return

From social converse with a spirit worn,

A lack, a disappointment—even a sting

Of shame, as for some low, unworthy thing? 

—George MacDonald

Paul writes, “Flee youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will (2 Timothy 2;22-26).

“Youthful lusts” are not sexual lusts, but the passions of the young to engage in “foolish and ignorant disputes”—to wrangle and worry themselves and others with their disputations.

Rather, we should seek righteousness, faith, love and peace as the outcome of every conversation. We should ask ourselves, as we step away from every encounter: “To what extent have my words nudged my brother or sister toward  righteousness, faith, love and peace, or have they added to the sum total of unrest and rancor in the world.”

In a word, we must not “strive”—a Greek term that refers to fist-fights or word-fights depending on the context. We must be knowledgeable (able to teach), but we must also be kind and gentle (the Greek word, epios, means both), patient and humble in our demeanor. If others are delivered from error, it will only be because we have been kind, gentle, patient and humble. The medium as well as the message is the message. 

And, in all our conversations we must bear in mind that those who oppose the truth (as we see it) are not our enemies, but, if deceived, are victims of Satan, our true enemy, who has “taken them captive to do his will.” 

Or it may be—perish the thought—that we’ve been duped as well. 

David Roper 

July 8, 2020