On the arena of faith

NORSK
Yesterday, I wrote that the order of the arenas on which we are challenged to set an example hardly can be random. At least it seems obvious with the first three, but shouldn’t the arena of faith be the first instead of the fourth?

“…set an example … in faith…”
1 Tim 4:12

If it is about receiving the gospel, I believe it would be correct to place the faith earlier, but this is about setting an example. Therefore, I dare claim that the placing gives meaning. I am convinced that Paul writes about the mature faith. A fresh faith may easily become haughty, and I speak from experience. When I as a young teenager experienced that faith was life and not just a set of dogmas and rules, I was convinced that I had seen not just “the light”, but all of it. The faith I conveyed did not necessarily have its base on the arena of love.

When Jesus came he was “full of grace and truth” (1). In many ways grace represents love, and faith truth. If grace does not precede truth, the encounter with truth can be brutal. If love does not precede faith, even faith can be brutal because the faith may be conceived as demanding.

“There is a difference between demands and demands, and must and must” Tomas Sjødin writes, and continues: “I call the necessary demands for ‘love's demands’, and I do this because of observation made of what happens when we draw closer to love. In a subtle way the demands are transformed to longing or desire. In relation to the one I love, there are many things I must, but the demands are far from dull duties. ‘I just must hear your voice!’ ‘I must see you.’” (2)

That is how it is supposed to be with faith. I act in obedience because of love to him who loved me first.

‘Manna’ for today:

Love is the main entrance to the arena of love

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(1) John 1:14
(2) In the book: «Det er mye man ikke må», Vårt Land forlag, 2015 p 11

A smile on the arena of love

NORSK
It is one year ago today, since Magna and I were on the arena of terror in Istanbul. My first desire was to communicate a message of love, and God immediately gave me opportunities to do so during the following hours.

My first entry on the blog after the incident expressed the same: ‘I have to speak about love’ – and since then the opportunities to focus on God's love have lined up like a queue.

However, to speak and write about love does neither make me or other people to an example in the way Paul referred to:

“…set an example … in love…”
1 Tim 4:12

I do not think that the order Paul gave the arenas is a coincident

1. speech
2. conduct
3. love.

I not be surprised if the order illustrates a spiritual development. Anyway, I am convinced that if my words and my conduct are to be experienced as a greeting from God by people I meet, it is essential that they are driven by love.

Although Paul in the famous “chapter of love” confessed that his understanding was very limited, at least he understood that love is the most important ingredient in Christian life and living (2).

The role model above all role models, Jesus, said:

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
John 15:13

After this statement there is no need for additional comments.

‘Manna’ for today:

Without love, role models become idols who love to be worshiped

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(1) Occasionally God’s love can be manifested in an unexpected “smile”
(2) 1 Cor 13

On the arena of conduct

NORSK
The arena of speech, which I wrote about yesterday, is definitely very important. An equally strong testimony will arise from taking today’s challenge seriously:

“…set an example … in conduct…”
1 Tim 4:12

Normally I start working on the blog for the next day every morning. Yesterday, I had made the decision to quote a verse Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, because 'conduct' is the core theme in the letters he wrote to them, and this verse does in many ways confirm why:

“You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry”
2 Cor 3:2-3  

Some hours later I took part in a funeral. We were gathered around the open coffin of the 33-year-old Sergeant Major in Botanica corps. Vladimir died after a very short illness and is survived by a wife who is expecting their first child in near future. There was a lot of tears, combined with gratitude for Vladimir's life and his very strong testimony and clear focus. His focus on salvation was also very evident during the entire ceremony. 

Among the speeches of gratitude, there was a retired officer who read the verse quoted above, and she concluded: "Vladimir lived as Christ's letter of recommendation." 

In a brief glimpse I saw his wife smile through the tears. She knows that it is true, I and many others know that it is true. Vladimir was an example for the believers, but also for the family and other friends who had turned up to say goodbye. They heard a clear message of faith, hope and love.

At the last meeting Vladimir attended at his corps a short while ago, the corps officer asked the congregation a rhetorical question: “Can you confess that you are ready to meet God?” - Then Vladimir declared out loud: “Yes, I'm ready!”

Vladimir has gone home to be with the Lord, but we will continue to read the letter he leaves behind.

‘Manna’ for today:

Role models are letters read by all

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* The ribbon we all pinned on our jackets, states: "Until we meet in heaven"

On the arena of speech

NORSK
When Paul encouraged Timothy to be an example, he identified five arenas where it is important to be a role model. Today I will look at the first one:

“…set an example … in speech…”
1 Tim 4:12 

It shouldn’t be a surprise. Paul had already told Timothy to have nothing to do with myths and old wives’ tales (1), and like James (2), Paul often encouraged the disciples to be careful with their speech. In his letter to the Ephesians, he wrote:

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children … Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.”
Epf 5:1 & 4

It has happened that I on the arena of speech has uttered things that are out of place, but even though it did amuse the listeners, it made me unhappy. God is the Creator of laughter, and I love to laugh. Fortunately, there is an abundance of humour that makes me laugh which is not out of place.

However, the arena of speech is not only about what kind of talk I should avoid, but just as much about words that build us up:

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Col 4:5  

It is amazing how much words of grace build up. That is exactly what my role models do. They build up others. It is part of a disciple’s calling to “encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (3).
 
‘Manna’ for today:

Role models build up others

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(1) See «Godless myths»
(2) See James 3
(3) 1 Thess 5:11

Examples of all ages

NORSK
I expect that the vast majority of those who belonged to a Christian community while they were young, more than once had the exhortation Paul gave to Timothy quoted to them:

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.
1 Tim 4:12

In addition to being an exhortation, it is also an encouragement, and today I will dwell on the encouragement. I had the verse quoted to me on several occasions, and I received it solely as an encouragement: "Hang on, Jostein, your young age doesn't matter!". 

I needed that encouragement, for even though I was a junior among the youth in our church, I was made a leader for the youth group at the age of 15. Fortunately, I already had some leadership training from being a scout. 

Of the 104 cadets entering the “Overcomers” session at William Booth’s College in London on the 9th of Oct 1974, I was the youngest in addition to being a foreigner. When I was ordained scarce 20 months later, I was still a teenager and for nearly a year I was the youngest officer in the world. 

Therefore, it was good to know that being a role model is not about age or position, but about how I live as a disciple. That was what it was all about when I was young, and is still the standard when I have turned 60.

For the same reason I have down through the years learned from examples of all ages. I learn from a child’s trust in God. I learn from a young person’s enthusiasm and desire to spread the gospel. I learn from a man who through conversion is transformed in such a way that he can break away from his destructive lifestyle and help others to do the same. I learn from colleagues of the same age and older Christian leaders who have kept the fire through a long life. Because they give me a glimpse of Jesus.

‘Manna’ for today:

To be an example is about living

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The mentor's humility

NORSK
One of the reasons why Paul was so concerned that no one should be excluded from access to the good deposit (1), was his personal experience. In a passage at the beginning of the first letter to Timothy, he described himself as "the worst of sinners" (2).
 
His argument is certainly valid - if it were possible for him to be saved, it must be possible for everyone. It also characterizes his role as mentor and example:

But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.
1 Timothy 1:16

Paul did not view himself as an example, but what Jesus had done for, and with him, is an example. I think this is a fantastic base for mentoring in a Christian context: I am not the example, but what Jesus has done for, and with me, is. This also maintains the aspect of the dependency that evolves from mentoring. It is not a dependency on the mentor, but on the source of the mentor's experience. Therefore, it is also clear where the honour should go to:

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 1:17  

Today 'manna':

The source of the mentor's experience is the most important!

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(1) See: "The good deposit"
(2) 1 Tim 1:12-17

He lived as he taught

NORSK
That was the reason why Paul had credibility as mentor. Timothy had witnessed how Paul lived his life. He had seen how Paul returned to his home-town, Lystra, a town where he had been stoned by the mob and dragged out of the city and left for dead (1).

A person who voluntarily returns to such a place, knows who he believes in, and also in the love that has overcome all evil. Therefor will all he said and wrote also be credible.

When he wrote:

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

Timothy knew from all his dealings with Paul that it was true. Therefore, he was also ready to accept his exhortations, because Paul had lived just as he taught Timothy to live:

pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
1 Tim 6:11b-12

Many have given me advice down through the years, but those I “listen” to, are they who live as they teach.

‘Manna’ for today:

Credibility depends on the congruence between life and teaching

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(1) Acts 14:19-20