Guard

I Timothy 6:20-21

Towards the end of my time at the prison, National Geographic sent a television crew to film a "documentary" about our prison. I use the word documentary very loosely. Just like most "reality tv", much of it was staged. There were times where we had to escort the TV crew. While the show was staged, the inmates were real, and we had to guard these civilians who really did not understand the gravity of their situation. There was one particular day when things hit the fan, and they had to be taken outside the facility. They were running towards a riot trying to get footage. We had to remove them because they were a prime target for those who could have taken them hostage. As annoying as it was, our job was to guard them, even from their own foolishness.

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“O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.”

I Timothy 6:20-21

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Paul, in his final words of this letter, tells Timothy to "Guard" something valuable. That which he was to guard was the truth of God's Word, and the ministry to which he was called. This seems like such a simple task. That is, unless you are really involved in ministry and are paying attention to the world around us. Then, you realize just how much the world is assaulting truth, and how little truth is present in the world around us. Truth is not a simple thing to guard. It truly is combat.

America used to be considered a Godly nation. Biblical principles once guided our leaders. Now, the truth of God's Word is called foolishness, hateful, bigoted, homophobic, old-fashioned, and any other slanderous term that can be thrown at it. Our nation has embraced sinfulness with all of their strength, and they push back against those who stand for righteousness. So, how do we guard the truth?

First, Paul told Timothy to avoid "profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge". In other words, if it is against God's Word, we should stay away from it. One example of this is the theory of evolution. Many parents underestimated this theory being taught in school. They gave their kids too much credit for being able to withstand this so called "knowledge". Year after year their kids endured the constant brainwashing. Then the kids went off to college. In college, many of those same kids stopped attending church regularly, and at the same time the heat was turned up on evolution. Sadly, many of those kids succumbed to the pressure and accepted evolution as truth. Some tried to blend it with their faith. Others abandoned their faith. Paul did not mince words. He said to "avoid" these teachings.

The word “avoid” comes from a Greek medical term. The word "ektrepo" literally means to turn or twist out; as in to dislocate a joint. These ungodly teachings should be dislocated from our lives. One might say that we should break our necks in trying to avoid them. This is even more true in guarding the truth in the minds of our children. We should never take for granted that the faith of our kids are great enough to withstand a full scale attack from the enemy of our souls. Most of us would not send our children out on the front lines of the war on terror to face the Taliban. The battle for their souls is even more intense, the enemy is more fierce, and the stakes are far greater.

We must also guard the truth in our churches. In a recent survey, Barna found that only 50% of Evangelical churches hold to a Biblical worldview. In mainline protestant churches that number drops to about 25%. In other words, "by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith" (v. 21). They did not guard that which was committed to them. A church that does not hold to a Biblical worldview is not a church. It is a social club to present those in attendance with a motivational speech and take their money. As Christians, our rule of faith is the Bible. To espouse anything else is to deny the faith and to bring shame upon the Son of God (Hebrews 6:6).

We must GUARD the truth that was committed to us! This is true for pastors. This is true for deacons. This is true for parents. This is true for everyone who has come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. There is not a middle ground for this. If we are committed to Christ, then we must hold dear the things He taught. If we really understand the scriptures, then we understand that He taught Genesis through Revelation. ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD... (II Timothy 3:16)

Father, Paul charged Timothy with guarding the truth that he was given. Strengthen us to do the same. Give us faith, courage, and boldness to stand for the truth. May we never fall under the pressure of this world because we are standing in the "power of Your might" (Ephesians 6:10). Impress upon us the importance of taking this charge seriously. For the sake of the truth. For the sake of our faith. For the sake of our children!