Protecting Others from Themselves

II Timothy 2:22-26

How often have you heard that the only foolish question is the one that doesn’t get asked? Unfortunately, that is not true. Several years ago, I had been teaching from I Timothy 2, and in verse 9 mentioned the fact that modesty is the Biblical standard. I mentioned that the modern interpretation of the world as not sexually revealing was not the original meaning. Older dictionaries define it as not calling attention to oneself. Strong’s defines the Greek word as ‘orderly’ and lists decorous as a synonym. It is translated as ‘of good behavior,’ or ‘modest.’

Using that definition, dressing in a manner to call attention to our religiousness is immodest, some what like the Scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23:5 were doing. “But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments.” The Catholic priest’s robe or the clerical collar, the Mennonite women’s head coverings, and a pastor wearing a suit when all the others are wearing jeans all call attention to us just as the girl in the revealing clothing does, and as James 2:1-4 points out, can become a point of sin. Our clothing ought not attract attention.

A young man asked if that meant that if you were witnessing on a nudist beach you should not wear any clothes either? Such a question falls in the category of unlearned and foolish questions, It ignores God’s command to “Abstain from all appearance of evil,“ in I Thessalonians 5:22. Just being there is likely to be seen by others as being voyeuristic. Being there also exposes one to the temptation to lust and as Jesus said, “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart,” in Matthew 5:28. I Corinthians 6:18 tells us to “Flee fornication,” not embrace it.

The question was not a sincere effort to learn truth but an attempt to justify his own position. Paul advises to avoid natural desires and focus on the things God wants to produce in our lives. Such foolish and unlearned questions are used by Satan to foment conflicts and strife. I Corinthians 3:1-3 points out that the strife is a result of an unspiritual attitude.

“Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” (II Timothy 2:22-26)

To serve God, we must not get caught up in conflict. As Proverbs 13:10 states, “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.” God hates pride, and as both James 4:6 and I Peter 5:5 state, “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

As a small boy, one of the men who came to our church had lived near a large river, Fascinated by the flowing water, every time his mother put him into the yard, he would climb over the fence and go to the river. His mother tried tying him so he couldn’t reach the fence to keep him away from the river, but their dog chewed the rope in two. Spanking the boy had no effect, so one day his mother spanked the dog.

Never again did the boy get to the river. The dog would chew the rope loose, but when the boy started to climb the dog would get in his way and prevent him from climbing. He couldn’t get out of the yard. The dog gently stopped him every time.

This is exactly the concept Paul gives, in meekness or gentleness instructing those that oppose themselves. Just as the boy endangered his life by going to the river, there are some who endanger their spiritual life by choices they make. Our job is to try to prevent their getting into trouble, while not hurting or destroying them in the process. The goal is to help them become what God wants rather than falling into one of Satan’s traps. I Corinthians 5-11 give some specific guidelines as to how this can be accomplished in various situations. With God to advise us, there should be no problem.