With Justice for All

I Timothy 5:21-25

I enjoy working with horses and other livestock. In every group there is a pecking order. One animal takes what he wants. Another animal is constantly on watch, yielding whenever another wants what he has. The lowest ranking animal is usually thinner and less healthy, because he is deprived of adequate food, and companionship. A colt or lamb who has no strong mother to defend him may become the whipping boy for the entire herd. As a result, he may avoid contact because he expects abuse.

People tend to behave in much the same way, preferring some more than others. Historically, race, finances, family reputation, and gender have been some of the sources of preference. In the church there is to be no such attitude. Galatians 3:27-28 stresses that in Christ there is no basis for superiority. “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Colossians 3:9-11 tells us tha at spiritual man will see Christ only, not the race, gender, education, finances, or family background. “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.”

This should affect our treatment of other Christians. The rules apply equally to the pastor, to the janitor, or to the guy from the other side of the tracks, to the banker, and to the garbage man. The preacher who said “we need to get a better class of people in our church" had rejected God’s command. There is to be no preference.

“I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.” (I Timothy 5:21-22)

As Christians, there should never come a time of physical strife. Even physical punishment of children needs to be carefully administered. The old “fighting fundamentalist” of a few years ago demonstrated a disregard for God’s commands. Violence does not demonstrate God’s love. It does not demonstrate humility, nor forgiveness.

We are not to allow ourselves to be drawn into the sins of others. We need to check out the facts and not accept the person statements. Several years ago, a man left his wife for another woman. About a year later, he divorced his second wife, and several accused his first wife of doing wrong in not taking him back, ignoring Deuteronomy 24:1-4, and supporting his sin. As we’ve seen, encouraging those who are doing wrong in what they are doing is taking part in the sin from II John 10-11.
While we have a responsibility to set a good example before others, not allowing any thing to consume us, whether drinking or physical fitness or diet, it is appropriate to use medication or eat foods that are beneficial in preventing problems. AaaaaIt is not sin or a lack of faith to do so. As I Timothy 5:23 advises Timothy, “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.” God has given certain knowledge to help us avoid some problems. Refusal to use it is also a lack of faith.

Sin will not be permanently hidden. Jesus said, “For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad,” in Luke 8:17. As a result, every person will receive exactly what they deserve. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” (Galatians 6:7-8) Many work really hard to keep up appearances, but the truth will be revealed eventually.

“Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.” (I Timothy 5:24-25)

We need to be very careful in taking sides that we are not supporting the wrong, partaking of their sin. We also need to be careful not to judge others for things that God has not forbidden. As James 2:9 says, “But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.”