We continue our exploration of Church Hurt in 2 Timothy at the beginning of Chapter 2. Paul encourages his disciple by staying committed to God’s work, by reminding him that God is in control, and once again telling Timothy that he is not alone in his struggle.

At the beginning of Chapter 2, in the second verse, Paul gives Timothy advice on what he should focus on to both combat and overcome his present difficulties. He gives him an assignment and a ministerial purpose, by instructing him to commit what Paul had taught him “to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” “You must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ,” is the next line Paul offers to Timothy, before telling him he must obey the one he serves (God), follow the rules (Gospel truth and resulting consequences), and look forward to his reward (Salvation, II Tim 4:7-8).

Observation #4 – Being committed to the cause of the Gospel, having ‘skin in the game,’ takes our focus from the successes, failings, and disappointments of others, and puts it on the higher calling. Our service is to our Lord.

Paul spends the rest of Chapter 2 and half of Chapter 3 talking about the failures of men who walk in the faith and are members of the church.

• Participating in profane and idle babblings
•         Conspiracy theories, doubt, denial
• Pursuing youthful lusts
•         Much church hurt is caused by sex and lust
• Knowingly generating strife through foolish and ignorant disputes
•         Social media
• Chapter 3, verses 2 and 3 contain a long list of men’s failures.
  

As he writes these things, Paul subtly reminds Timothy of the consequences of intentional sin. In 2:19, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” In 2:25-26, “…be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition…that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” In 3:5 Paul gives us an insight into the hearts of these people: “…having a form of godliness but denying its power,” adding, “…but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all…,” in verse 9.

In verses 12-14, Paul delivers his message clearly to Timothy: “…all who desire to live godly in Christ will suffer persecution. But evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived (read Eph 6:12). But you must continue…”

As we review this, we should realize that the failures of men and women should not be shocking; they should be expected. Remember that not all who proclaim Christ are of Christ (Mt 7:21-24). Paul is writing to Timothy about the same people Jesus spoke about in Matthew 7. Timothy and Paul are experiencing it firsthand, and Timothy is in a current struggle with it.

Observation #5 – God remains in control. Those that cause harm are not our responsibility. God has already accepted that responsibility. This frees us to serve Him by continuing in His work here: our praise to Him, our service to others, and our proclamation of the Gospel.

To start Chapter 4, Paul reminds Timothy again that he needs to get to work. “Preach the word!” he exclaims in 4:2. He informs Timothy that time is running out and the doctrines of the world are dragging people off to hell at a rate that will increase exponentially as time passes. He then reminds Timothy that his own time on earth is coming to an end, “…the time of my departure is at hand,” and that Timothy is part of the next generation that will pick up the torch that is the light of the Gospel and continue to run with it.

In verse 9, Paul builds his protégé up by communicating that he is important to him. “Be diligent to come to me quickly,” he writes. In other words, I need you here, Timothy. I want you here. You are important to me. After praising God for His provision and protection, Paul makes another list of people; those who have been faithful (even mentioning the household of Onesiphorus), to remind Timothy that he is not, and never will be, as alone as he feels right now. God always leaves a remnant (1 Kings 19:18, Isaiah 1:8).

Romans 11:5

5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

Observation #6 – If you have walked away from the faith, or from all church bodies, come back. There is a remnant for you. God is faithful. Re-open your heart to Him and pray. He will lead you to it. God is the loving Father, who watched with a broken heart as His children walk away from Him to find their own path, but His arms are forever open to you.

Most of us know somebody who has stepped back, or entirely away from, their faith because they experienced hurt by the words or actions of someone in the church. Surprisingly, Paul’s second letter to Timothy shows us that this is not a contemporary issue, but one that goes back to the first generation of believers.

Let’s explore the Word and see how the Bible guides us through “Church Hurt.”

In this 2-Part series, we’ll cover 6 points:

• Strength in the sacrifices of those before us

• Encouragement knowing we are not alone in our current struggle

• Serve Jesus, not men

• Commit to God’s work

• God is in control

• A remnant waits for you

Paul opens his letter with an eye-catching statement that should cause us to pause and consider why he is writing it. After reassuring Timothy that he is praying for him, he includes in verse 4 that he is doing so while being “mindful of your tears…”

Timothy is struggling. Therefore, we need to keep this in mind as we read the entire letter.

To conclude this sentence in verse 5, Paul artfully builds up Timothy by reminding him of his family’s strong Christian legacy, saying, “…the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice…” Remembering that others who have passed through the fire of persecution and pain before us should give us strength to endure as we desire to honor that legacy.

Think about Paul’s “great cloud of witnesses” from Hebrews 11, and this verse about our Savior from Hebrews 12:3.

3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

Observation #1 – What we experience in our faith is not only about us, what we feel, experience, or how we interpret the scripture. We must also consider the sacrifices of the believers who came before us, and most importantly, the sacrifice made by the One we bow the knee to; Jesus Christ.

In verse 8 of chapter 1, Paul brings Timothy back to the present. He continues to remove the focus from self, but reminds him not to be ashamed. The shame isn’t of his own doubt or lack of courage, or of the persecution and ridicule against him. Paul says, “Do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord…”

We get another glimpse of Paul’s concern for Timothy’s struggle in verse 12. After a quick review of the Gospel, Paul writes:

For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
When he writes “…I also suffer these things…,” he does not conclude it with a list. He is telling Timothy that he suffers the same things as he is experiencing. Essentially, telling him to take heart because he is not alone in his experience, struggle, and doubt.

Paul solidifies his point by telling Timothy to keep by the Holy Spirit “That good thing which I have committed to you…” That “good thing” is the gospel of Jesus that Paul shared with Timothy. Paul calls it “the pattern of sound words,” which must be kept “…in faith and love which are in Jesus Christ.”

Observation #2 – We all experience struggle in the journey of faith. It should encourage us that we are not alone in this experience.

In the final verses of Chapter 1, Paul further reveals that his intention for this letter is to build Timothy up in his hurt by sharing his own story. He tells his protégé how he has been hurt and betrayed; to the point of dropping names. Paul states that everyone in Asia had abandoned him. He names Phygellus, Hermognes, and the household of Onesiphorus, a man who “refreshed” Paul, and “ministered” to him at Ephesus.

Paul mentions others who have damaged the church, the gospel message, his work, and the faith of fellow Christians throughout the letter. In chapter 2 he points out Hymenaeus and Philetus, who were actively making false statements about “the truth.” And again, in chapter 4, he lists Demas as one who “has forsaken me, having loved this present world…,” and Alexander the coppersmith who “…did me much harm.”

Matthew 26:41

41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Observation #3 – Remember why you serve. It is not for the praise of men, but for the praise of God. All men and women will fall short of perfection and our expectations. If your faith and trust are in other men and women instead of Jesus alone, you could be crushed by hurt and disappointment.