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             On October 5th I began a new study in my Wednesday night auditorium class called, “Life Lessons from Timothy & Titus.” It will involve my attempt to analyze these books from the standpoint of application. Application is where inspired scripture crosses over into your town. How do you take a 2,000-year-old document and bring it home? Yes, God’s Word is timeless. This study is driven by that conviction. How do you apply what you learn about Jerusalem, Corinth or Ephesus to Mabelvale, Arkansas? How can you take eternal truths spoken in a different time and culture, and dealing with matters foreign to us, and apply them to today? There will be personal applications, congregational, and to our society and culture.
            An example of this study is seen in how we approached 1 Timothy 1:3-7, As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.
             This section presents the marks of a trouble maker – those who disturb congregations. Trouble makers and false teachers were/are basically the same. The term “False teachers” is not one I use lightly. I know the tendency of some people to label you a “false teacher” if they take issue with anything you say or disapprove of the Bible version you may use.
            I know the tendency of some tip their toe into troubled waters who may not necessarily be false teachers. I know the damage done by hobbyists who can take a particular truth or an opinion and push it to the point of a schism or division. I know the tendency of harsh or caustic platitudes in the name of truth to cripple a congregation beyond repair. I know the tendency of some to use Facebook to voice criticisms in a subtle and slightly underhanded way.
            What do church trouble makers look like? First, some are driven by the desire for novelty (Vs. 4). The ESV renders it “myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.” Are people today enticed by religious ideas that promote speculations? It’s very easy for people to engage in religious speculations of all kinds. Speculation is enticing to people because it takes them into the world of the unknown where they might explore secrets and hidden things.
            Second, some love argument over action (Vs. 4). These cause “disputes rather than godly edification” (vs. 4). Disputes are one thing and godly edification another. God’s work is not being carried forward by such disputes. An example of this sort of thing is in Mark 9:14. All the scribes could do in the presence of suffering was to argue. Do we have more of an opinion to be expressed than an open hand to be extended?
            Third, some have a dogmatism above knowledge (Vs. 7) – “things which they affirm” (NKJV), “they make confident assertions” (ESV). For “confident assertions” we might use the word “dogmatic.” One who is dogmatic is given to expressing opinions very strongly as if they are facts. It may be that the cause of Christ has suffered more from ignorant dogmatism than anything else. It is strange, but true, that those who know the least are often the most vocal. Truth firmly stated is one thing. Dogmatism is something else.