Pastoral Epistles

Hi Friends,

I would like to share some thoughts I have been dwelling on as a result of our Pastoral Epistles Class. They have affected some of my held perspectives and it now calls for some action to see further positive effects. The following issues derived out of my study in the book of 1Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus.

True Son in the Faith
Paul called Timothy his true or loyal child. I asked myself this question: How many true and loyal sons in the faith do I have? We need to recognize and accept the fact that not all in our congregation are our true and loyal child. Not even all leaders can be said are our true and loyal children. If all your leaders are your true son in the faith, then, I must say that you are greatly blessed. Not everyone whom we have been ministering to in the ministry or serves under my leadership is a true son in the faith. Being able to recognize who our my true sons in the faith is necessary for effective ministry. With this heightened awareness, I would like to give more time and more focus to concentrate on growing true sons in the faith so that I can pass the ministries onto them. They will be the one to continue the ministry I will be leaving behind.

Christian Slaves
There are no Christian slaves in our Singapore society today. However, there are Christian workers in places of employment. Christian workers must avoid disobedience, talking, answering back or even argue even if they possess better knowledge and abilities over their bosses and superiors, and stealing in their workplace. Instead, they are to obey orders and not talk back. They must not steal anything from paperclips to equipments. Time must also not be stolen as they are paid time to be engaged in their work. Taking time to chat long hours over the phone, surfing the internet, starting work late and some others are ways Christian workers can steal from their employers. When Christian workers serve their bosses faithfully and proved themselves as trustworthy workers, they beautify the Word of God and make it attractive to unbelievers. We are flooded with a huge number of Christian workers in Singapore. My wonder is: are Christian workers performing to this standard of practice in our workplace? If the answer is a resounding “No”, then the need to address this issue without delay is important.

Leadership Qualities
Looking at 1 Timothy 3: 2 and 3, I response with ready acknowledgement that my
life is not without faults, and am not at all there yet. However, I desire to continue my pursuit of it. At times, it may be with lesser struggles and at time with more struggles. One significant quality I have experienced is being temperate. I can recall a number of past happenings God used to bring me to experience His divine enablement to keep calm, composed and peaceable in pressing situations only stir hope within me that God is working and beautifying my life so that I can reflect these qualities more evidently. Another quality I see is the quality of being hospitable. Originally, I am by nature a rather reserved person, but now I not only find better ease but much enjoyment in administering hospitality to others. Right now I am in the season of life whereby I have to relearn how to be firm while yet to be gentle. Having to go through some rather
exhaustive and painful experiences in life, I have somehow and somewhere resigned myself from being firm in some needed situation. I would just let people do what they want most of the time than to administer firmness in my pastoral role. I have to relearn how to be firm while being gentle in some called for situations and not to be engaged in excessive gentleness without balancing with necessary firmness.

Church Discipline
Church discipline especially public discipline is hardly seen in churches today even in necessary situations. Much is swept under the carpet with overly thoughts of not wanting to hurt or embarrass the concerned persons. However, this verse needs to have its place in the church life not only for the benefit of the person concerned but also for the edification of the general congregation. I pray that God will give us boldness and wisdom when situation calls for such doing. Revelation 3:19 and Hebrews 12:4-11 comes as a good reminder to administer church discipline. Our discipline is not something we do to the person involved but for the person with the hope of bringing the person back to restoration.

Women as Ministers
Do women have a place in ministry? Many have used the Pastoral Epistles as ground that women must not teach, preach or given leadership positions. Some others advocate that women can only teach children or in the rural places. A good understanding from the Pastoral Epistles will help one to understand this issue in right light. A good knowledge of the background of those days when the Pastoral Epistles were written has to be considered. Paul’s instruction is for the situation present then. Galatians 3:28 clearly teaches that there is no male or female in Christ Jesus. The Lord gave the church gifts of whom the recipients are not only men but women as well. Women were some of the leaders in the early church. A considerable amount of study reveals that women had been mightily used of God in every conceivable capacity of leadership through history. The next time you hear people teaching that women should not be in ministry, should not teach or preach, refute them and present to them scripturally teaching as it ought to be. It must be commended that Bro. Casey has done a great job to clarify this issue with much scriptural support.

That’s all for now.