Becoming What God Intended

I Timothy 1:18-2:4

Many of Zane Grey’s books were centered on or near the Navajo Reservation. In reading them one might well conclude that Grey was an atheist. Some of the missionaries he describes were using their position to seize control of reservation land, to bring Navajo people into near slavery, and to control who was allowed to live and work in the area.

Fifty years after Grey wrote his books, when my family went to the reservation, we saw many missionaries still doing the same things, although Tribal and federal laws restricted some of the abuses. Today, so called missionaries are still doing many of the same things. Sadly, many have come solely for the money. One, who is still active, stated that if he could find any other job that paid as well, he’d take it because he hated mission work. Despite his comments, he is one of the few who even tried to start a church. Many have come with the intent of taking over an existing work, pushing out the original missionaries, and taking credit for their accomplishments. Some have taken over land without approval, and some have persuaded families to give everything they have on false premises, much like many television evangelists.

Just three years ago, a nationally known missionary was arrested fo soliciting homosexual acts from a police officer. Another was taken to court for not paying his bills, and a third was found to have had several mistresses. A man in our church attended a missionary school. He had been concerned about his brother’s alcoholism, but was shocked to learn that it started when some of the teachers in the Christian school started buying liquor for the teams after winning sports events. I sometimes wonder how we can manage to have any Christians among the Navajos as a result. The biggest hindrance to mission work on the Reservation has been the missionaries.

Paul was sending Timothy out to work in the churches. The instructions he gave were help Timothy avoid some of the things we have seen on the Reservation, and to help him in selecting and training those who would continue the work. Most if not all of the problems we have observed would have been avoided if Paul’s instructions had been followed.

“This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.” (I Timothy 1:18-20)

Hebrews 11: 6 tells us, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Why one who doesn’t believe in God or doesn’t trust him would even take a job as a Christian worker is a mystery to me, but I know many who have. Hymenaus and Alexander appear to have been like those in I Corinthians 10:1-11. Hebrews 3:19 tells us, “So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” Because they did not believe, they blasphemed God, both by their actions in worshipping other Gods, and in their words by accusing God of just bringing them out there let them die. Paul had expelled Hymenaus and Alexander from the church in hopes that they would recognize their sin, as the scriptures direct us.

If Timothy wants to please God, he must adhere to his faith. As James 2 states, “Faith without works is dead.” The actions we take either confirm the reality of our faith or demonstrate our lack of faith. It will be impossible to lead others to a real faith without demonstrating such faith in our own lives. We show our faith by our actions.

It is common to complain about and condemn or political leaders for bad choices and the resulting impact on our lives. In doing so we ignore Romans 13:1-4. “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.”

If we truly believe they are ordained of God, and that he has placed them there for our good, we would not spend our time complaining about them, or encouraging rebellion against them. Instead we would be praying for them to make proper decisions, and trust God to resolve their mistakes, and to care for us even when they do wrong. Notice the exhortation:

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (I Timothy 2:1-4)

Our prayer should be to the end that we would be able to live in a manner is pleasing to god freely. Our prayers should not just be for our leaders but for everyone around us, so that we can offer a testimony they can believe. It is not God’s choice that anyone go to hell, but that everyone be saved. As II Peter 3:9 tells us, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”


Our actions and attitudes toward others is the first indicator of our faith many will see. What do they show?