Pentecost 15 (5)

2 Timothy 3:10-17 (NIV) 10  You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11  persecutions, sufferings--what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12  In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13  while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14  But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15  and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17  so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

How is a man in the WELS trained to become eligible to receive a call into the public ministry? In some ways that training begins in infancy.

Taught about Jesus by parents, grand parents, and fellow Christians even before going to Sunday school.

Learn the Bible stories in Sunday school and/or LES.

Many of our men attend an area Lutheran High School like NLHS or a synodical high school like LPS.

Most of our men attend our college (MLC) in New Ulm, MN but some are second career students but they also have to have certain course requirements from MLC.

The “finishing school” is WLS in Mequon, WI which combines in class and on the job training for four years although a handful come from another church educational system and join by colloquy.

The result is someone who well trained in the Holy Scriptures but has also received practical training in caring for the souls to whom they will preach, teach, and counsel.

It wasn’t always like that. The relationship between St. Paul and Timothy is one example. How did they meet? (see passage).

Acts 16:1–5 NIV84

1 He came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek. 2 The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

He is mentioned several other times in Acts including this last one.

Acts 20:1–6 NIV84

1 When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said good-by and set out for Macedonia. 2 He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, 3 where he stayed three months. Because the Jews made a plot against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia. 4 He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. 5 These men went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. 6 But we sailed from Philippi after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days.

Paul refers to that here. Timothy had a religious background through his mother and grandmother. He also heard firsthand from Paul the wonderful gospel message of Jesus and the trustworthy saying of Paul concerning Jesus. He came to believe in Jesus as his Savior and to respect Paul as one who could teach him to become a pastor as well.

We have many instructions of Paul to Timothy in first and second Timothy (known as two of the three pastoral epistles). In these letters Paul emphasizes . . .

The Value of Christian Education.

We have already reviewed the relationship between Paul and Timothy. (verse 10-11). Paul continues with a reminder which is also a warning. (verse 12-13).

The book of Acts gives us many examples of the persecutions that Paul and the other Apostles experienced. A classic history book on the subject (Foxe’s Book of Martyrs) exposes the persecution of Christians in history up until that book was written in the 1500s.

Did this happen for Timothy (research)?

Foxe's Book of Martyrs Chapter II

Timothy was the celebrated disciple of St. Paul, and bishop of Ephesus, where he zealously governed the Church until AD 97. At this period, as the pagans were about to celebrate a feast call Catagogion, Timothy, meeting the procession, severely reproved them for their ridiculous idolatry, which so exasperated the people that they fell upon him with their clubs, and beat him in so dreadful manner that he expired of the bruises two days after.

Does this still happen today?

FOR THE MARTYRS IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT SEEKS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE CRISIS OF CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION, ADVOCATE FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, AND PROVIDE AID TO SUFFERING CHRISTIANS ACROSS THE GLOBE. OUR WORK FOR THE PERSECUTED AND OUR MARCH FOR THE MARTYRS HAS BEEN FEATURED ON EWTN, THE DAILY CALLER, THE EPOCH TIMES, THE CHRISTIAN POST, CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY, AND MORE.

5.  Data with respect to Christian persecution in the top 50 countries where it’s hardest to follow Christ:

260 Million: In the top 50 World Watch List countries alone, 260 million Christians in the world experience high levels of persecution for their choice to follow Christ.1 in 9: Christians worldwide experience high levels of persecution.6%: The rise in the number of Christians in the top 50 countries on the 2020 World Watch List (WWL) who experience high levels of persecution. (from the 2019 reporting period to 2020’s)2,983 Christians killed for faith-related reasons in the top 50 WWL countries.3,711 Christians detained without trial, arrested, sentenced and imprisoned in the top 50 WWL countries.9,488 churches or Christian buildings attacked in the top 50 WWL countries.6 out of 7: In seven of the countries in the World Watch List’s top 10, the primary cause of persecution is Islamic oppression.11 countries scoring in the “extreme” level for their persecution of Christians. Six years ago, North Korea was the only one.19 Consecutive years North Korea has ranked No. 1 as the world’s most dangerous place for Christians.

6.  Main reasons why Christians are targeted for following Jesus:

The Authoritarian governments view Christianity as a threat to power.Suspicion of anything outside the majority cultural faith.Extremist groups want to destroy Christians out of hatred.Official and cultural domination of a single religion.

Are we vulnerable?

Fox News

At campuses throughout the country, outspoken Christians are regularly demeaned, debased and targeted for their beliefs. Academics, social groups, and college organizations regularly ridicule Christians by calling them hateful, bigoted, and privileged, among other labels. They conveniently forget that Christians have historically been among the most persecuted religious groups in the world and are still persecuted at ever-increasing levels throughout countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

Incidents like these demonstrate how Christians are being targeted in the United States for adhering to their values. When will we realize that the threat of religious persecution isn’t as “far away from home” as we may think? We need to take a stand and be vocal proponents of our rights, starting today.

I would say that as long as we remain within our cocoon of like minded and believing Christians, we will be safe. But when we interact with those with opposing views, we need to be ready to face mixed reactions including forms of at least verbal persecution. Most likely not physical . . . yet.

The other warning Paul gives is that evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

Time does not permit to go into detail the moral and ethical decay that is happening in our society.

Vulgar language is rampant.

Immoral actions now defended and promoted.

The recent reaction to Texas’ abortion laws is worth further study and discussion.

Jesus was correct when he warned: Matthew 24:9–14 (NIV84)

9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Know that Timothy lived during very immoral times among the heathens. Historically, the church was able to reverse those trends in many cases but it seems that the pendulum has not swung the other way. Attempts by Christians to live according the Ten Commandments and to rebuke those who refuse to do so or repent will face stiffer and stiffer opposition.

Paul’s warnings to Timothy can be used as an example of how the Christian will face the storms of life Jesus refers to in our Gospel lesson.

WARNING: Storms will come. Just as those living in New Orleans cannot avoid the more than occasional violent and destructive hurricane, the Christian (unless they decided to live in a cave) cannot avoid persecution. We will be susceptible to it until we reach heaven.

How to respond?

Can’t leave.

Can’t give up. Warnings in Hebrews about that approach.

Stand firm.

Matthew 10:21–23 NIV84

21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV84

58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Philippians 1:27 NIV84

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel

1 Peter 5:8–9 NIV84

8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

God gives us the means by which we can stand firm.

2 Timothy 3:14–17 (NIV84)

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

It is “back to school” time. We understand the value of education and do all that we can to provide a good, solid education for our children believing that it will prepare them for a long and productive life. Hopefully, you value growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through the education that comes from the Bible. I encourage you to use the opportunities you have to grow in your knowledge and faith in God so that you are prepared to stand firm in the faith in the face of the opposition God warns that you will face and trust his promise that God’s word is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness so that you will be thoroughly equipped for every good work.