Today, I had an encounter with someone who invited me to sit with her for lunch at my workplace. I informed her I will go to other place to eat because I needed to do something. She mentioned something like this, “Be careful, if you don’t sit with us, it will be on your reputation.” I believe she was teasing me but it does make me think about how people perceive me as a person and as a Christian. Made me examine myself to see if I do have anything that could damage the cause of Christ because of my “reputation.”
If you would like to, you may read 2 Timothy 2:22-26 here.
First, the passage Paul wrote to his son in the faith Timothy stated that Christian leaders ought to flee from youthful lusts but ought to become an example of believers in different areas along with others who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Then, Paul exhorted that the leaders ought to avoid foolish discussions (I could think of many things that are considered “foolish discussions”) knowing that the foolish discussions will lead to endless disputations that will only end in bad terms.
Paul gave the charge for the leaders (“servants of the Lord”) that they must(interesting that almost all conservative versions translated “must” not as “ought to” but “must”) not be fighting (quarreling with words) but rather be gentle to all people, apt to teach, patient, and in meekness discussing with others (“instructing those that oppose themselves”) in hope that those people who disagree will understand the truth eventually., unsnare themselves from the trap of the devil. To be honest, I have heard several Deaf preachers that are not like what the verses charged the leaders to be. Some of them were yelling at the people without using the Word of God (the SWORD of the Spirit) to convince the hearers. The verses are clear that the preachers/leaders must be not fighting but be gentle and apt to teach those who disagree. Perhaps the leaders decided to “yell” in their sermons just plainly because they are not able to teach? Some preachers just pick one verse that matched their churches’ problems then just yelling and preaching down at them without teaching them with gentleness the WHOLE Word of God!
I know I might offend some Deaf preachers/leaders with this post, but the Word of God ultimately inform us that we are to be gentle and teaching others rather than yelling and preaching down to them. Yes, we are to be commanded to stand strong on the truth but yet be gentle! Yes, I am young and not very experienced in the things of the ministry but the passage challenged me to be a gentle servant of the Lord with meekness teaching others from the Word of God.
