Kirk M Wellum

This is an exposition of 1 Timothy 1:1-11 with an eye to the misguided attempt on the part of what can be characterized a kind of "neo- Reformed Christianity" to politicize the Christian gospel. This material was originally presented at the Grace Pastors' Fellowship on January 15, 2024.

This article was orginally published in the Gospel Witness Magazine in 2022. It examines an aspect of the Christian Church that is often overlooked in the present day. It argues that such an oversight is serious because of the link that exists between a biblical understanding of the church and our task as Christians in the world while we await the return of the King.

Preface: I wrote this article and published it in the Gospel Witness magazine over 12 years ago. Divisiveness was a problem then and it continues to be a problem now. But sadly, from my perspective, it is worse than ever. Christian congregations have been torn apart by differences of opinion when it comes to the recent global pandemic and the response of governments to it. Social media has fueled the paranoia, and some high-profile leaders have fanned the flames of suspicion and division with their vitriolic pronouncements. Some politically savvy pastors and other church leaders have seized the opportunity "to stand and be counted" as they would describe it, promoting themselves as the faithful ones who are not afraid to speak up while everyone else cowers in silence. If only it were that simple! Some, no doubt, really believe their own rhetoric, and find the adulation of their fans irresistible. Others are finally getting the attention they have always craved in a time when noisy political protests of all sorts are ubiquitous. Thinking they are standing against the spirit of the age they have been swept up in it apparently unaware that they are just the latest grievance group to insist they be heard.

Public Civility Sometimes it is difficult to know how the time in which we are living differs from previous generations because our understanding of our contemporary situation is limited by our closeness to what has transpired, and our memories can distort what we think we know about our own lives. But over the course of my life, and especially in recent years, I have noticed that something has changed in the way people speak and relate to one another in what is commonly called the 'public square'. This something, as far as I can discern, can be described as a lack of civility. The Oxford dictionary defines civility as formal politeness and courtesy in behaviour or speech. Civility does not mean that we necessarily agree with everyone, nor that there is no room for critique and debate, rather it describes a degree of respect and humility that transcends our personal agreements and disagreements and makes human discussion and interaction possible without it degenerating into a shouting match marked by name calling, rudeness, profanity, and personal attacks. Civility makes it possible for people to discuss differing points of view, and in some cases, strongly held opinions, and to remain focused on the issues being discussed and not veering off into peripheral concerns that take away from the main areas of contention. If my assessment is correct, it raises the question: Why? What has happened to make the present atmosphere surrounding public discourse so toxic and why are people so intolerant of others and determined to impose their perspective on those around them? Why do people think it is permissible to refuse to listen to anyone who differs with them, to call them unkind names, to routinely use profanity as part of their everyday discourse and particularly when they are trying to make a point? I think there are many reasons for the change, here are a few that come to mind. One reason for the current lack of civility is the politicization of human interaction. We are living in a time of sweeping moral, spiritual, theological, and philosophical change when it comes to the governing worldview that has more or less regulated our society in previous generations. Consequently, there is a noticeable conflict between the previous worldview that was more closely tied to Judaeo-Christianity and the Bible, and a newer one based on naturalistic and evolutionary explanations of the world and the role of human beings within it. In recent

Serving God is what we were made to do as his creatures, but our service has been corrupted by our sin and rebellion which has rendered us unable to please him. An important part of the gospel is that in Jesus Christ we can begin to serve God again with the promise of being able to serve him perfectly and forever in the age to come. This Christian service is our privilege and delight.

In this chapter we look at what it means to trust God by observing how trust relates to saving faith. Then we will trace how trust grows out of a knowledge of God, his promises, and his actions. We conclude by looking at some biblical examples of trust and how it should manifest itself in our lives as Christians.

Review of "Letters Along the Way" (Second Edition) by D. A. Carson and John D. Woodbridge.

https://www.booksataglance.com/book-reviews/kirk-wellums-review-of-letters-along-the-way-from-a-senior-saint-to-a-junior-saint-by-d-a-carson-and-john-d-woodbridge/