But As For You…
2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
October 13, 14, 2007

Some of you may have seen this “Top Ten” list that has been zapped around the Internet. The list is titled: “The Top Ten Signs You May Not Be Reading Your Bible Enough.”
The preacher announces that the sermon is from Matthew—and you immediately turn to the table of contents.
You think Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were members of a folk group that had a few hit songs during the 60s.
You open your Bible up to Psalm 23 and a World War II Savings Bond falls out.
Your favorite Old Testament Patriarch is Hercules.
You think that Paul was a first century real estate agent because he wrote I and II Condominiums.
You become frustrated because you can’t find Charlton Heston listed in either the Concordance or the Table of Contents.
You catch your children reading the Song of Solomon and scold them, saying “Who gave you this stuff?”
You think the Minor Prophets worked in the quarries.
You think the epistles were the wives of the apostles.
And the number one sign that you may not be reading your Bible enough?
Your children keep asking too many questions about your favorite Bible bedtime story.
“Jonah the Shepherd Boy and His Ark of Many Colors.”

IN TODAY’S TEXT, WE HEAR AT LEAST THREE EXHORTATIONS FOR REMAINING STRONG IN THE FAITH. I am well-aware that there is much debate about II Timothy’s authorship. Some people believe that it was actually written by Paul to Timothy. Other people recall Paul’s martyrdom around the 6th decade of the 1st century. They remember that Timothy was a 3rd generation Christian.
So they believe this letter was written by a church leader for the general edification of late 1st and early 2nd-century congregations. Paul did not work alone—there are about 40 coworkers listed in the writings. There was already a Pauline school in place while Paul was still alive—and which continued after he wasn’t. Either way, for our purposes, I’ll use the names of Paul and Timothy. Hopefully, we will hear the echoes of encouragement in the text. Encouragement to grow in our understanding of scripture, to trust our upbringing, and to live out our faith.

II TIMOTHY 3:16 SAYS: “ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED BY GOD AND IS USEFUL FOR TEACHING, FOR REPROOF, FOR CORRECTION, AND FOR TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Do you believe that? I have heard many people quote this verse to support the infallibility of the Bible. But just because someone says something is true, does that make it true? There are lots of politicians and people in power and preachers who would like us to believe that every word that comes out of their mouths is the truth. But we know enough today to realize that there were lots of scripture written. Some made it into our Bible. Some didn’t make it into our Bible, but made it into the Bibles you’ll find in the Catholic Church down the street. Some didn’t make it into either. Some has only been discovered in recent years.

And in Timothy’s case, “all scripture” must be referring to the Jewish scriptures. Timothy did not have access to the Bible we have today. When we pick up our printed, bound, red-lettered, leather-backed, and cross-referenced Bibles, we have to remember that Timothy had nothing like them. The words and the Word inside were first carefully put to papyrus or parchment by human hands. Each phrase was crafted and each letter turned by someone wanting to convey the personal story of God’s creative love affair with humanity.

But there were alternative teachings floating around at the time. And there were folks with “itching ears.” Paul warned Timothy about those who were being distracted by and attracted to unsound doctrine. We also need to recognize that the phrase in verse 16 can be translated another way in the Greek. You may have a footnote in your Bible about it. “Every scripture inspired by God is useful…” Not, all scripture is inspired by God. Do you hear the difference? The same words…just a different order. Who cares? Does it really matter? Mark Twain had an insightful line about words: There is a “difference between the right word and the almost right word.” “It is the difference between a lightning bug and a lightning bolt.”

For me, the latter translation makes much more sense—especially when we consider Timothy’s situation—and ours, for that matter. Is it possible that there is scripture that is not inspired by God? Is it possible that there are teachings that are not “God-breathed,” but breathed by individuals or institutions or organizations with their own agendas?

Ellen and I just saw the new movie, Elizabeth, The Golden Years. Some excellent actors and actresses help tell the story of Queen Elizabeth. But a painful part of the story was what was proclaimed to be a “God-inspired” war between Spain and England. What’s the “take away” from all of this? For me, it is to hear the echo of encouragement to read scripture seriously and regularly. We are challenged to be good students of the Bible. We are not only to read the text. But we are challenged to try to discern the source of the inspiration and determine its usefulness for living out our faith.

How many of you read your Bible at least once a month? Once a week? Daily? Surveys indicate that over 90% of the homes in our country have a copy of the Bible. But only one in five adults report reading it every day. Eight out of ten folks believe in the 10 Commandments, but only a small percentage can name as many as four of them.Jay Leno asked his audience to name them one time and one man shouted, “God helps those who help themselves.” Half of all Americans cannot identify Genesis as the first book in the Bible. But we hear today that scripture inspired by God is useful. Those who read it regularly report that it is useful in these ways: “Reading scripture helps me feel closer and more connected to God”—that’s the number one reason mentioned. Others say that reading the Bible helps them feel at peace, provides meaning for their lives, or gives them strength to stand up against wrongs in society. The Bible is the center of our devotional life—it bears witness to the acts of our loving, faithful, graceful God. The Bible helps us grow in the likeness of our Creator and in the likeness of Jesus. Timothy, friends, read the Bible…because scripture inspired by God is useful.

WE ARE ALSO ENCOURAGED TO REMEMBER OUR UPBRINGING. The first and last verses from our passage today sound like a line from a lecture I used to get from my mother and father. But as for you!I can hear the echo of some of my “discussions” with my mom and dad. “I don’t care what your friends say!” “I don’t care how your friends behave!” “I don’t care what other parents allow their kids to do!” “If your friends jumped off a cliff—would YOU jump off a cliff?!” “As for you—we expect something different!” I used to really dislike those lectures and those lines of reasoning—because they made too much sense.

And I have to confess that what our parents passed along to Ellen and me—we are now passing along to our children. “Heather, Chelsea, Brandon—as for you, we expect something different!” “Why? Because we said so—and because you are a Bond.” “And more importantly than that—you are a child of God.” Paul tells Timothy: “As for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed—knowing from whom you learned it…from childhood.

A couple of weeks ago we recognized that Timothy was brought up in a Christian home—a part of a Christian family. Do you remember the names of Timothy’s grandmother and mother? Thank God for Lois and Eunice! Remember what your Momma taught you; remember what your Grammie taught you! Remember what your Dad and Granddad taught you! Remember your spiritual mentors and heroes of the faith! Never forget the impact that the faith had on those people you love and trust and respect!

GROW IN YOUR UNDERSTANDING, REMEMBER YOUR UPBRINGING—AND LIVE OUT YOUR FAITH. Why do we affirm our upbringing? Why do we study the scriptures? So that we become proficient! So that we are equipped for every good work! So that we are able to carry out our ministry fully! We can tell when people take matters of faith seriously. Can you tell who in your workplace is committed to serving God? Can you recognize your neighbors who are living out their faith? Can you point out your classmates who are willing to be different? Usually, you can’t hide that kind of light in the lives of people. We know it by the respect they show for others. We know it by their acts of kindness and compassion. We know it because of their willingness to help those in need.

There was an article in last week’s USA TODAY about an intriguing new book. The Year of Living Biblically was written by A. J. Jacobs—a self-proclaimed agnostic. Just to see what would happen, Jacobs tried to live out the teachings of the Bible as literally as possible. He consulted with a multi-faith board of advisors to try to determine what he could and couldn’t do. He didn’t shave for 381 days, wore a white robe and put on sandals, herded sheep, and ate crickets (although they were chocolate-covered). After a year he shares some interesting insights. He says, “I learned to be more tolerant.” “I discovered that refraining from all the little sins like coveting and lying and gossiping was really difficult, but completely transforming.” And what was his most important discovery? Jacobs says, “Your behavior shapes your beliefs—if you act like a good person, you eventually become a better person.”

Now I wonder—if it can work for an agnostic, can it work for you? For me? As for you, you’ve been equipped for every good work—become proficient—carry out your ministry fully!I love that old story that is told about the minister who was about to retire. He had served the church faithfully and well for several decades. He had been an excellent pastor and was beloved by the church family. As the date for his retirement approached, church members would often come up to him and say, “When you’re gone, who is going to take your place?” The old pastor’s response was always the same: “You are.”