A simple training plan for avoiding foolish, ignorant controversies
By Dean Collins
There are many things most of us would agree we should avoid. They have high risk, little value, or both. Illegal drugs would be a category where some of us have horror stories of addiction and abuse among friends and family who made a mistake without realizing the potential of even deadly consequences. Criminal activity in general might also be a point of agreement.
But there are probably other activities or pursuits some readers want nothing to do with while others might enjoy. Skydiving or bungee jumping come to mind.
Toward the end of 1 and 2 Timothy Paul starts a sentence with the same words, “Have nothing to do with…”
• “irreverent, silly myths” completes Paul’s thought in the first letter.
• “foolish, ignorant controversies” completes the sentence in the second.
Peering into today
It sounds like Paul may have been peering into 2021 with these instructions. Lately it seems that many have unfortunately had something to do with all of the above!
Sadly, social media and national media perpetuate a lot of irreverent, silly myths and foolish, ignorant controversies. What’s worse is we are often duped by these stories because we trust the person who posted them. I read recently that it’s likely that more than half of the articles on social media are reposted based only on the headline without anyone taking time to read the article or verify the information.
A commitment to training
In 2 Timothy Paul spends some time explaining that participation in ignorant controversies results in quarrels and fights and destroys unity in the church while creating an embarrassing witness for Christ.
In Paul’s first letter to Timothy, he gave the actions that can prevent being duped by silly myths and foolish, ignorant controversies. It’s not actually very difficult, but it requires some investment of time and energy. The answer is training. We all know Paul is right about the benefits of exercise for the body. Exercise can improve sleep and circulation while building muscles, all of which may give us a few more years with family. But physical exercise and training has no eternal consequence.
However training and focus on godliness has benefits here and now as well as In the next life. If our hope is truly set on our eternal God, then the time we invest in spiritual discipline will strengthen us and bring God glory. The investment in gaining wisdom and discernment will also minimize the amount of time we might accidentally waste on ideas and activities that end up being myths and ignorant controversies.
I won’t start an argument by trying to name all the false information we see every day. But I am confident that time with God in prayer and the study of his Word will minimize the number of times we get caught up in cultural nonsense and misinformation.
Your time with God’s Word
1 Timothy 4:7-10; 2 Timothy 2:23-26 ESV
Photo by Victor Freitas on Unsplash
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