To live transparent

NORSK
I did not like the new building that houses The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters until I five years ago heard the philosophy behind. General John Gowans had a clear purpose when the new IHQ was constructed in glass. Gowans wanted the building to be a signal that the Army desires to be completely transparent.

This is also the desire behind the “Journey of Renewal” campaign that is currently ongoing, and which also is the base of the study I am doing on how Paul made Timothy accountable for the mission entrusted to him.

Today I read:

The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.
1 Timothy 5: 24-25

“It cannot remain hidden forever”, my grandmother used to say. As a child I was unsure if it was a comfort or a threat – today I think it was both. 

A few days ago Obama pardoned Chelsea Manning who in 2010 was arrested for having leaked extreme amounts of confidential information to WikiLeaks. Manning was sentenced to jail for another 28 years. I do not know if the pardon was given exclusively on humanitarian grounds, or whether Obama has become aware of the fact that in our time “nothing can remain hidden forever”.

I believe Paul wrote this to Timothy at least two reasons:

1. Timothy should be aware that among those he was appointed to lead would be people who both lived openly with sin and people who did things in secret - but, Timothy you need to know: “nothing can remain hidden forever”.
2. It was given as clear advice to Timothy to live transparent.

Paul wrote about on this subject in several letters, like here: “everything exposed by the light becomes visible” (1).

I believe that my quality of life is best when I dare to live in the light - in other words live openly and transparent. The one who does not have secrets, has no fear of exposure. This is the liberating gospel believers are entrusted to preach.

'Manna' for today:

Dare to live transparent in the light of the world

-------------------------
(1) Ephesians 5:13

Affirmation and accountability

NORSK
I feel that I know Paul well, and although I have read the letters he wrote to Timothy many times, I'm looking forward to getting to know Timothy better in the weeks to come. Paul called him:

"my true son in the faith"
1 Tim 1:2a

If I translate the Greek directly, it reads ‘my legitimate child’, but most translations prefer to use "my true son in the faith." It is evident that Paul and Timothy knew each other well, and it is likely that Timothy viewed Paul as his spiritual father. Paul and Barnabas came to Lystra on the first missionary journey, and it is not unlikely that Timothy and members of his family came to faith in Jesus during the first visit.

When Paul again came to Lystra with Silas, Timothy was already a disciple, and Paul wanted him to join the team of missionaries. The fact that Paul, because of the Jews, chose to circumcise Timothy because of his Greek father, supports the thesis that the two knew one another and that Timothy had deep respect for the decisions Paul made (1). The strange thing with the circumcision of Timothy is that one of the tasks that Timothy should do, was to convey "the Statutes for the Gentiles" which had been approved at the Council of Jerusalem. These statutes announced that there was no need for 'Gentiles' to be circumcised. It shows how Paul put mission first and used pragmatism as his strategy (2).
 
Although Paul calls Timothy for his true son in the faith, this does not necessarily mean that he was the one who led Timothy to faith in Jesus. Paul's way of addressing him in this way, may have rested on his desire to affirm Timothy in the faith as his mentor - in the same way as a father affirms a son:

But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.
Phil 2:22 

The letters Paul wrote to Timothy are full of affirmations, but also of exhortations and reminders about the good habits. That is why they form a good basis for a study of discipleship as journey of renewal. A journey that lasts a lifetime. Affirmation and accountability are the keys to make this happen. Regarding affirmation, I can hardly imagine anything better than being affirmed as "a true child in the faith."

Today 'manna':

The mentor must hold the disciple accountable through affirmation.

-----------------------------------------
(1) Acts 16:1-3
(2) See: "Fanaticism and pragmatism"

Journey of Renewal

NORSK
Accountability is high on the Salvation Army’s international agenda. It is important that we, as a church and corporation, are accountable and transparent in the management of all we have been entrusted with. The Accountability Movement is presented under the name ‘Journey of Renewal’. If you want to learn more about what it is all about, you can watch the references in the footnote (1).

Yesterday I focused on developing good habits, and the importance of being held accountable in a process towards a life-style characterised by holiness. The relationship between Paul and Timothy is an excellent example of an accountability relation. Paul gave Timothy advice on his ‘Journey of Renewal’, and he held him accountable:

Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care.
1 Tim 6:20a

At the same time, Paul made himself accountable to his young friend with regard to how he lived his own life and finished his journey (or race) of renewal:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2 Tim 4:7

I realise that I, as follower of Jesus, am entrusted a lot. In addition, the opportunity to work within the frames of the Salvation Army’s mission is a great trust. Therefore, I think I will benefit from using time together with Paul and Timothy for some time. It is likely to be a small journey of accountability and a 'race' of renewal.

‘Manna’ for today:

I will guard what has been entrusted to my care.

--------------------------------------------
(1) Journey of Renewal and Facebook