#298 CCS, Citizen Rights & Protecting Sovereignty

2 Timothy 2:23-26

”Stay away from all the foolish arguments of the immature, for these disputes will only generate more conflict. For a true servant of our Lord Jesus will not be argumentative but gentle toward all and skilled in helping others see the truth, having great patience toward the immature. Then with meekness you’ll be able to carefully enlighten those who argue with you so they can see God’s gracious gift of repentance and be brought to the truth. This will cause them to rediscover themselves and escape from the snare of Satan who caught them in his trap so that they would carry out his purposes.“

This is such a good word - it reminds me of those seemingly contradictory passages in Proverbs 26:4-5 - which in one case instructs us not to answer a fool according to his folly lest we become like him. And then goes on to say do not to let a fool go unanswered, lest he become wise in his own eyes. The scriptures want us to have discernment in where we wade into disagreements and how to handle tough situations. 2 Timothy 2 gives us help with how to discern that by saying that we should stay away from the foolish arguments of immature believers. We’re supposed to have patience with those who are immature in Christ -- because they need to be brought to the truth, so they can walk in the purposes the Lord has for them. But this is not how we handle everyone. Later on in the next chapter Paul talks about those who infiltrate the body of believers to bring corruption and sin. And they are to be handled differently to protect the vulnerable.