Week 13:II Timothy

II Timothy has historically been treated as Paul’s farewell letter. Historical evidence shows that Paul was long dead when this letter was written, but we aren’t going to focus on that today. Instead we are going to focus on why we believe/confess/teach matters in the 21^st century.

The author of this letter knows that people are easily led astray by bad theology. He warns his audience to be vigilant against anything that might lead them away from the faith-away from Jesus.  How much has changed since this letter was written? Are we still easily led astray by false teachings? What methods do we use to determine false teaching?

There are some reading this who will say that they have never gone astray from what they have been taught. Others who will admit to having gone astray. And others who won’t or perhaps can’t admit to having gone astray.

We like the original audience of this letter, have been taught to love our neighbor, to take care of the widow, the orphan, and the alien in our land, and to love the LORD our God. But what happens when we stray from that? What happens we don’t love our neighbor as our self, when we fail to take care of the widow, the orphan , and the alien in our land, when we don’t love the LORD our God?

We all probably have different answers to that question. I’d argue that the faith we have been taught affirms that families belong together, that children don’t belong in cages, and that Black Lives Matter. Christians have inherited a story, a history full of racism, slavery, oppression, and genocide because far too often we have gone astray from what we have been taught. May we in this time of chaos, despair, and death live lives reflective of the faith that we have learned from childhood. Amen.

1. How does your faith impact your life?

2. Are the teachings of the church important in 2020?

3. If you were teaching someone about your faith what would you say? How would you summarize what you believe? Why do you believe what you believe?