(P)Review Bible Study: 2 Timothy 2:8-15. Never Wrestle With A Pig

    Beginning ministry is a difficult thing.  Based on my experience with seminary one would think that ministry in a congregation was principally about Biblical studies and liturgical worship.  In real life it can be a rewarding communal experience with people who share your passion for the Gospel...or it can be and endless morass of politics and petty squabbles.  I am blessed to be ministering where I am, as I am enjoying what it feels like to be in the rewarding sort of setting. But, I certainly did my time in the trenches with congregations that were in turmoil and conflict before I came to serve where I currently am.   
    To be fair I can't complain, I actually volunteered to become what my home denomination, the ELCA, called a Mission-Redeveloper.  

For those of you who don't know the ELCA is the: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

A Mission-Redeveloper's job was to go into congregations that were on the brink of collapse and help them get back on their feet. Why that sounded like a good idea to me I will never know.  I will say this, I learned some valuable lessons, although some lessons I really had to work to take to heart.  One of them I actually framed and hung on my wall to remind me of it's wisdom on a daily basis. The proverb, penned by George Bernard Shaw,  goes like this:

Never wrestle with a pig...You both get dirty, but the pig likes it. 

    Rare was the day that went by that I didn't have to reference that placard and remind myself not to engage the trolls.  I still remind myself of that daily.  Especially now that I post my thoughts and reflections online...which is a good deal like sending your kids river rafting on New York's East River.  You really never know what (and who) those words will encounter. 

   
     I have to remind myself of this fact often.  Some of you read this directly on my blog Pastor Rus Ministries. Others of you link to it via an email or Facebook post.  There are lots of opportunities for people to comment and discuss the posts and some of you write lovely, thoughtful things.  And then there are the Christian hating Trolls.  I have to remember to not feed them.      
    When I first began this online thing I had an irate woman write in the comments section wanting to know why a Christian thing should show up in her "suggested feed" from Facebook.  After all Christians are "money grubbing, hateful scum".  I did my best to point out how my congregation was nothing like she thought Christians were and maybe she should give us a chance.  With every thoughtful explanation of how we live out our Christian love I gave her she would answer back with even more venom and hate. Eventually I said that though we don't agree, obviously, I would pray for her and then said, "may God bless you".  She reacted like I had thrown battery acid on her.  She was livid that I would dare offer her a blessing.   I then remembered that it had been too long since I looked at my pig poster last.  Don't feed a Troll, and never wrestle with a pig.  I felt like I needed a shower for days, she probably went to brag to her friends how she told off one of those evil Christians.  

    Words...I love them, but they sure can be sticky. In today's Scripture Paul is talking to his young protege Timothy about how to deal with the struggles of church leadership. Struggles back then were a little more tangible than they are today.     
    When Paul says that he is sacrificing for the Gospel "for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal," it isn't metaphorical, he is writing from prison. Timothy likewise is facing strong resistance and is in danger daily.  Paul cautions him to remain strong and focused.   He says:

2 Timothy 2:8-15
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David--that is my gospel, for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful-- for he cannot deny himself. Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.

    So before "Gold Five" says it in Star Wars, the apostle Paul says it to Timothy:  Stay on target! In case you forgot that memorable scene from Star Wars (the original), the forces of good are swooping in on the forces of evil and all they have to do is shoot one little target and the whole evil plot to subjugate the universe will be defeated.  The only problem is that the enemy keeps firing at the good guy's ship.  A character, who is only ever identified by his pilot call sign, "Gold Five",  keeps reminding everyone not to get distracted by all the enemy fire but to "Stay On Target".   So too is Paul telling his young apprentice evangelist Timothy to do likewise.  Most important to Paul is that Timothy remembers that of with the things flying around him, and at him, all he has to do is stay on target with his message.  
    When death and destruction looks imminent, Paul says, remember that "If we have died with him, we also live with him." Don't worry about all the distractions of this world that seem so frightening, Jesus has already taken care of them.  You just focus on proclaiming the Gospel that Jesus is with us, has redeemed us, and loves us.  
   Most worrisome to Paul is that Timothy will be tempted to wrestle with pigs.  He says to his young friend, "warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening".  In other words, don't get caught up in pointless controversies and distracted from proclaiming the message of God. 
    I remember reading about a church in Florida that split. Church splits are not all that uncommon and sometimes the outcome can be healthy for both parties.   Most of the time though it is something silly... and this time it sure was a doozie. You see, they had painted a mural in the entry way that included a picture of Adam and Eve.  The artist had failed to include belly-buttons for them, since, well...why would people created without human umbilical cords have belly buttons.  Some said that since they were the models for humanity they must have had them, others agreed with the artist...a flurry of words followed with much "wrangling" to be had.  The resultant split was both silly and detrimental to the overall ministry of the congregation.  
    When we speak words we need to ask ourselves, "is this on target?"  Is it "rightly explaining the word of truth" or will we wind up feeling "ashamed" and "ruining those who listen"?  In this era of political correctness and (ironically enough) political wrangling how do we choose our words when talking to others, even if we are online.  Do we choose words that stay on target with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, leading others to the love and forgiveness of God?  Or do they just inflame and irritate? When faced with others who just want to inflame and irritate what role do we choose?  Do we wrestle the pig or do we step away from the sty and refuse to get muddy?

Please understand that I am not talking here about not facing down injustice and evil speech with courage and conviction.  We are all called to do that.  I am asking HOW we do it.  Do we stay on target standing on the high ground next to the cross of Christ, or do we roll in the mud?  Your answer matters.