What Should Christians Be Known For?

Introduction

Are we known for the right things?

One of the issues that our culture has today with the Church is that they perceive us to be hypocritical, overly concerned with politics, angry, racist, greedy, bigoted and small minded, anti-intellectual, anti-scientific, and the list could go on.

In some ways, our reputation isn’t unjustified.

How different is it from the reputation of the early church.

One Roman governor of the region of Bithynia, Pliny the Younger, about 112 A.D. wrote to the Roman Emperor Trajan for advice on how to handle this curious group of people in the region.

They were being accused of treason against Rome because they wouldn’t sacrifice and pay homage to Caesar as god.

So Pliny has some rounded up, even some deaconesses in the church, and tortured and interrogated and is trying to figure out what to make of them.

Here’s what he wrote about their reputation:

Evidence for Christianity 5C. Pliny the Younger

They were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to do any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food—but food of an ordinary and innocent kind.

That’s what the Christians were known for… worship, holiness, simplicity.

Are we known for the right things?

This question is a huge one that leaves so many in our culture saying, Church; why bother?

As we keep studying 1 Timothy, Paul is instructing Timothy about how the church should be ordered and operate.

He’s talked about the main thing the church should be devoted to, prayer… and now he begins to dig into the reputations of the men and women of the church.

Are we known for the right things?

Key Question: What should Christian men and women be known for?

Big Idea: Christian men and women should be known for their gospel-centered behavior (and reject cultural stereotypes).

Men should be known for their spiritual passion (1 Tim 2:8)

1 Timothy 2:8 ESV

8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;

Okay - so let’s start with the men. That’s where Paul begins to address the church and particularly how the church gathers and behaves.

I want to point out something that’s important to our understanding and application of this passage to our lives at the beginning of this verse.

“I desire that in every place…”

So where is Paul talking about what he explains happening? --- everywhere.

This passage, our understanding of it, and it’s application is not only speaking to one culture, one context, one community.

It’s scope is broad… this is true for all Christians, for the church in every place every where.

What’s the instruction?

“The men should pray, lifting holy hands.”

Here’s a positive call to the men of the church. We should be leading and engaged in the work of prayer, especially the kinds of prayer that Paul spoke of at the beginning of this chapter.

Men of the church should be active, engaged, even leading prayer.

How or with what posture?

“Lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling.”

The act of lifting hands was an act or posture of worship and dependence. To lift your hand was to express need and reach, as it were, to heaven for assistance and devotion.

Paul calls men to pray lifting holy hands - our lives should be of reverent godliness and holiness, depending on the Lord.

Now, there’s an action or posture that this calling speaks against.

The end of the verse:

“without anger or quarreling.”

The Holy Spirit is saying men, you can do something with your hands. You can fight with your fists and brawl and dominate others with your hands, or you can humble open your hands lift them to heaven and depend on God.

What are we known for?

This is where Scripture is speaking against the cultural stereotypes of Paul’s day, and of ours.

What’s the definition of manhood?

Culturally speaking there are a couple of views of masculinity right now:

On one hand, masculinity and femininity are to be denied - neither are to be affirmed or elevated above the other or even distinguished. Gender is a social construct, it should be eradicated, and you should be able to identify however you please.

On the other hand there is a response to that that says, no masculinity is important - men should be men defined as protectors, providers, warriors and kings.

One modern prophet of masculinity describes it this way:

The masculine perspective is you have to understand that life is war. It’s a war for the female you want. It’s a war for the car you want. It’s a war for the money you want. It’s a war for the status. Masculine life is war.

Now before you dismiss this as just one guy who is outrageous and on the fringe of culture, understand that he is discipling millions of men, especially young men, teens boys through the internet more than anyone right now.

His name, Andrew Tate, was the most Googled name in 2022 and he had over 11.6 BILLION views on TikTok before his account was banned for violent content.

You may call it toxic masculinity, and it is, but his perspective is how masculinity is being pushed in our culture today and how men are being discipled to live.

The philosophy is that true men are fighters, they are waging a war against liberalism, feminism, even authority as a whole.

So any attempt to strip men of what is theirs is met with violence and aggressive domineering.

The MMA fighter is the example of this kind of man.

Jordan Peterson is the philosopher of this kind of toxic masculinity and Andrew Tate is the popularizer of the philosophy.

And it’s anti-Christ!

What should Christian men be known for?

Spiritual passion.

Not the anger or raging passion of a man trying to gain power by dominating his world through his competitive ability, his wealth, strength, his being the Alpha!

Prayer is a humble posture, it’s a posture of dependence, weakness even.

Prayer is a call to open our fists and reach out and admit weakness and cry out to God for his help and power.

Men - this is the thing that we as Christian men should be known for, our spiritual passion for God. Our prayer should display our desire and dependence for God.

We’re called to be the leaders in prayer. Not aggressive, toxic, alpha masculinity as the culture defines it but humble, spiritually passionate leaders.

Our spiritual passion should look a lot like Jesus’ spiritual passion…

He was dependent on his Father and lived in communion and prayer.

He was a servant and humbly gave himself… instead of taking power through violence and domination he laid down his life, he lost power (so to speak) through his humiliation and death.

What about Jesus making a whip and flipping over tables in the temple. Wasn’t Jesus fighting about the systems of oppression?

Yes - he did do that, but it was in righteousness and holiness.

He was removing the wealthy-getting, poor-exploiting, toxic legalism and religiosity of the temple so that people could get to prayer.

He never validated or authorized aggressive, violent, power-grabbing to get what you want.

He said whoever would follow me must deny yourself, take up your cross, come and follow me. Die to yourself!

Men - we’re called to be spiritually passionate. Leading in prayer! Leading in denying ourselves and taking up our cross.

Here’s the thing that concerns me, both as a pastor and a man…

It’s that men aren’t known for spiritual passion… we’re maybe known for spiritual passivity.

We’re known for either abdicating what it means to be a man of God or apathy towards the things of God.

But men, imagine with me, what would our church be like if we followed the lead of Jesus as a spiritually passionate man.

There would be SPIRITUAL PROGRESS among us… our sons and daughters, the next generation, would grow up following Jesus and seeing his life modeled for them by the sacrificial, prayerful men of the church. Women would flourish in their lives because the men of the church aren’t exploiting them, but are uplifting them and causing them to grow. Discipleship would flourish across the entire church.

There would be SERVICE. The needs of the poor, the weak, the frail, and the needy would be met. There would be engagement and service in teams around the church and in the community. We’d care more about advancing the gospel and serving the needy than we would be filling our own bank accounts.

It starts by men rejecting the cultural definitions and stereotypes of what it means to be a man and by embracing the savior, Jesus, the perfect man, and following him as spiritually passionate leaders.

Men should be known in the church for their spiritual passion.

What about the women? Here the Holy Spirit says that,

Women should be known for their gospel substance (1 Tim 2:9-15)

So he says in verse 9 “likewise” - or just as I’ve spoken to men about spiritual passion, so now, to women, here’s what you should be known for.

We need to remember the scope of where Paul speaks here. Just as he said in verse 8 “in every place” - giving the context of his comments to every church, so that carries over into these statements in verses 9-15.

So women, in the church everywhere should be known for their gospel substance.

This should be displayed externally; with regard to the world

and internally; with regard to the church.

So Paul addresses first the external, outward facing view of women in the world.

1 Timothy 2:9–10 ESV

9 likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, 10 but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.

Okay - these two verses aren’t terribly controversial in the church

Culture presses us to put emphasis and value on what is external, our appearance and fashion.

For women in Ephesus, and in the Roman society what mattered, what defined and gave you status, was your wardrobe—fashion!

The women of Paul’s day in a secular context would go to the temples of their gods and goddesses in the most extreme, lavish, and sensual garments they could to attract notice and attention.

For a women in the Roman Empire their value was considered only as much as being a sexual object for men.

So, to have dignity or value or attract notice a woman had to make a statement. Specifically a fashion statement so everyone would be talking about them.

Spiritual devotion was measured even by the expensive, gaudy, sensual, “putting yourself out there” types of fashion that attracted attention and notice.

One first century Roman Philosopher wrote,

1-2 Timothy & Titus

“Immediately, after they are fourteen, women are called ‘ladies’ by men. And so when they see that they have nothing else but only to be the bedfellows of men, they begin to beautify themselves, and put all their hopes in that” (Ench. 40)

All their hopes… in getting attention and being noticed as valuable for a man’s pleasure.

Culturally, value had to be earned through appearance and attention… fashion was the means to that.

Paul was speaking against the immodesty and attempts to earn value and attention through fashion by saying Christian women should be known for their modesty, respectable apparel and self-control.

The word here “self-control” is important - Paul will use it again at the end of this paragraph to form a book-ended section.

The word literally could be translated “soundness of mind” or the “exercise of care and intelligence appropriate to circumstances”

It is similar to the idea of wisdom.

This “self-control” was one of the four cardinal or key virtues that human beings should possesses.

Here Paul is saying that woman should not be known for her external passions and attire, but for her deep soundness of mind and godliness exhibited in her good works.

Later in chapter 5 Paul will talk about the kinds of good works that faithful widows will have displayed:

1 Timothy 5:10 ESV

10 and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.

These aren’t the sum total of good works, but an example in the life of a widow what good works and soundness of mind look like.

I want us to see how Paul is actually elevating the unique dignity of women here.

Against the cultural expectation that women should be sex objects, plastic “barbie dolls” that are merely about external appearance, fashion, and nothing more Scripture gives women new dignity.

They are to be people of spiritual maturity and substance, they should pursue virtue including wisdom and godliness and these virtues should be on display in the godly way they live.

Focus more on how you live than what you look like.

That’s the instruction for a woman as she engages and is lives outwardly, in the community.

But what about in the church?

That’s where Paul turns in verse 11-15.

Let me just say before I start to explain them that our tendency is going to be to impress our cultural values and lenses on these verses. We’re going to hear them through the bias of our time and it’s going to sound like something we should reject.

There has been no shortage of controversy, especially in the last 50 years over what these verses mean and how they should be applied.

Before we dismiss or rage against these verses let’s listen for the heart of God for his people, and for women!

1 Timothy 2:11 ESV

11 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness.

In the context of the church, God opens the door for something that was unheard of for women in the Greco-Roman culture, the education of women.

Remember Paul here is speaking directly to Timothy… instructing him how to order and lead the church.

So, Timothy, let women learn! Let them get Bible’s and hear teaching and be equipped and grow and engaged. They have brains in their heads and should discipled and trained and taught. Let them learn!

Furthermore, let them learn literally “in quietness” - now, that doesn’t mean they should be silent, and say nothing, and raise no questions and be mute.

Paul is talking about the environment for their learning.

There shouldn’t be shouting matches and one group talking over another and chaos in the teaching of the Scriptures.

There should be someone preaching and teaching, and an environment where everyone can learn, even women.

Did the early church have preachers?? YES! This was the way this was practiced.

Women should be able to come to the gathering of the church undisturbed, unencumbered, undistracted and be able to learn as the Scriptures are taught.

Unlike what the Taliban is doing in Afghanistan where women are excluded from university education and in the Muslim world like Iran that shut women out of education, Christianity supports, and opens the door for women to learn.

Her posture is the final phrase in v. 11 - ‘with all submissiveness”

That is, as the Bible is taught, women (and indirectly men too) should be humble and receive the Word of God with faith and obedience.

Here is dignity provided to women - they aren’t just chattel for men to dominate and objectify. They aren’t just baby-factories to supply workers for a man’s empire.

Women are image-bearers of God and should be allowed to grow as disciples of Jesus being trained and educated in the Word of God.

Women are to be learners, theologians, and knowing the grace and wisdom of God!

Women: be encouraged to press into knowing God, learning.

The church should provide the environment for you to come and grow in your faith and knowledge of God and the word.

Have the posture of being humble and receptive to the word of God, as we all should so that God’s grace transforms your life.

It’s probably another reason men should be downstairs serving with Kids so that their wives can learn unencumbered way.

Men, - your wife spends a ton of her time with your kids… how about taking the lead and serving downstairs so on Sunday she can be refreshed by the word of God.

Adults without children, retirees especially, please don’t have the “I did my time” mindset and decide that you should opt-out of serving.

Jesus never said lay down your life, and follow me until you hit retirement and then you’ve got a free ride on the way to heaven.

Help these younger families and younger Christians and make an impact in the next generation. Leave a legacy that will outlive your retirement now.

Women can’t be known for gospel substance if they don’t have a space for gospel training!

Which leads Paul then to tell Timothy about the order or structure of who is leading in the church.

This is where this passage connects with chapter 3, which we will get into next week about who leads the church, and what qualifies them to do so.

If the church is to provide a space and environment for women to learn and grow alongside men, who is leading that environment?

Paul tells Timothy it should be a qualified man.

1 Timothy 2:12 ESV

12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.

So in the church, in the public gathering the prohibition is that a woman should not be the one teaching and exercising authority as the leader over the congregation.

The terms “to teach” and “to exercise authority” are connected - two distinct yet shared responsibilities. Teaching is instruction, preaching. Exercising authority is leadership and oversight.

These are the responsibilities of elders in the church.

That’s why in 1 Tim 3:1 Paul talks about the office of an overseer/elder and the qualifications for men to serve in that office.

Simply put, the role of pastor/elder is a role that is only open to men.

Instead, Paul tells Timothy that a woman at the gathering is “to remain quiet”, which is a brusk translation.

Literally, “she should be in quietness”

Again, it’s about the environment - a woman should be able to come, learn, grow, worship, and believe because there is order and stillness for her to do so.

She should be able to come and learn because she has dignity, is respected, and not objectified but given space and opportunity to listen and receive.

Now what’s Paul’s logic for this? Why does Scripture prohibit women from being elders in the church?

In verses 13-15 Paul goes back to the Bible and makes his point from the logic of Scripture itself.

He wants Timothy to lead well in Ephesus and create this environment and space where women can grow in dignity and gospel substance by their faith.

I think this is a poetic piece of Scripture.

Paul in poetic form takes us back to Genesis 1-3.

Here’s what his poem based on Scripture says:

1 Timothy 2:13–15 (ESV)

13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 15 Yet she will be saved through childbearing.

So follow the building reasoning here…

Verse 13 sets up the created, God-given responsibility of male leadership.

“Adam was formed first, then Eve;”

Adam bears the responsibility of being the one to care over and flourishing of his wife. He must be the one to create space for gospel-substance for his wife.

Verse 14 shows if that responsibility is neglected, brokenness comes in.

“Adam wasn’t deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.”

The question is why was Eve deceived?

Two options have been offered, one is from culture, the other from the gospel.

Option 1 - because she’s the “weaker vessel,” women by nature are more gullible and susceptible to false teaching and so therefore they shouldn’t be elders or teachers.

Option 2 - because Adam didn’t do his job in leading, teaching, protecting and working for the gospel-substance of his wife.

Now if option 1 is the correct, then we are saying there’s something wrong with women that there isn’t with men, and women and men do not possess the same intellect, discernment, and capacity.

Furthermore, if women are more susceptible to false teaching than men, and therefore shouldn’t be teaching… WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD WE LET THEM TEACH ANYONE, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN AND OTHER WOMEN??!

Paul’s logic is that the MAN didn’t do his job and the woman fell because of it.

He failed in his responsibility, she was the victim of cunning lies.

Which leads to the last line of the poem:

Verse 15 God redeems by taking responsibility and giving a leader

“Yet she will be saved through childbearing.”

Still talking about Eve… singular pronoun she.

Paul is not saying that women in general are saved by bearing children, or that their value and dignity as creatures is tied to have children.

The reference Paul is making here is still in Genesis - Genesis 3 specifically.

As God confronted Adam and Eve’s sin, he never cursed Eve.

Yet he said that one of the results of the fall would be multiplied pain in childbearing.

And it’s through this pain, the pain of childbearing, that curse wold be lifted.

In the curse God said to the deceiver, Satan…

Genesis 3:15 ESV

15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

It was the child born of the woman who would come and deal a final fatal blow to Satan and his offspring.

So God sent his Son, born of a Virgin, Jesus Christ who came and suffered and died for our sins.

Jesus came and took the responsibility for seeing that women are esteemed with great value, that women are given dignity, that women flourish in knowing and walking with him.

Jesus took the responsibility that Adam abdicated and taught women and elevated them above their cultural stereotypes and systems.

And Jesus set things back in order, by leading the way and calling men to lead and serve and oversee so that women flourish and are able to go deep in gospel-substance.

That’s why the church is to be led by elders who are men - the gospel-order itself; so that all can flourish.

Now, how do women go after gospel-substance and depth? The last line of verse 15

“if they continue in faith, love, and holiness with self-control.”

Paul goes back to the congregation.

They will grow if they continue (or remain, persist) in three things:

Faith - that’s how we get in on God’s grace. It’s where we start and where we remain. Trusting the Lord, believing his promises and putting your hope in him.

Love - faith develops love, it’s how we relate to God and the world. Christ formed in us creates a life and people of love.

Holiness - set-apartness, sanctification and Christ-likeness.

With self-control, that word here again, that key virtue - “intelligence appropriate to the circumstances.”

That’s the kind of thing women in the church should be known for!

Gospel-substance.

Conclusion:

Our cultural narratives and stereotypes about men and women distort the truth.

They give us either extreme and distorted views of our genders or attempt to erase any difference between us at all.

Discount the lies!

Big Idea: Christian men and women should be known for their gospel-centered behavior (and reject cultural stereotypes).

Men, don’t bank your life on being a warrior man, an alpha male who goes and gets what he wants and aggressively dominates his world.

Bank your life on Christ who humbly came and served, suffered, and died.

Be a man of spiritual passion and prayer!

Women, don’t believe your value and worth is a result of your appearance and external looks.

Bank your life on Christ who died to set thing right and give you status, dignity, and worth in his household and community.

Be a woman of gospel-substance and wisdom.

The church should be known for it’s spiritual passion and gospel-substance. Our roles of men and women should play out in a church that is eager and passionate for the things of God and going deeper in the reality of gospel itself.

It’s what we should be known for!