Let's Get Spiritual (1 Timothy 4)

Recently my husband showed me a short video that looked to be from the ‘80s and featured a very mature band singing a startling rendition of a very secular-sounding rock song. The adaptation, if I remember correctly, spoke of the “hotness” of God’s holy Word. It was interesting, to say the least, but if I had to guess, it was an early attempt by the demonization to interest young people in the music of the church. I have to say if I had been a youth in that church, I would’ve been hard pressed not to just laugh out loud at the absurdity of the performance that also featured back-up singers dressed like Jackie O and swaying in the background. In all seriousness, much of what churches do today to appeal to people, to just fill their pews, might one day be just as laughably absurd as that video was to me, but it really isn’t a laughing matter, this pull to make the church just like the world.

Today as I was rereading 1 Timothy, the thing that jumped out at me is Paul’s mentioning of spiritual fitness. I told my husband all I could hear in my head was Olivia Newton John in full ‘80s’ gear bellowing out “Let’s get spiritual, spiritual, I wanna get spiritual; Let’s get into spiritual; lemme hear your spirit speak” to the tune of “Let’s Get Physical,” popular in my teen years. Me getting up to belt out that tune decked out in tights and leg warmers and a headband with new lyrics in church would be quite as ridiculous as the elders performing rock songs like it was a concert in the video he showed me earlier in the week. Sometimes our ideas of how to win people to Christ go out on frail limbs that shouldn’t be traversed. ‘Nuff said! However, we do live in a world that attempts to seduce all of us who live in it, young or old, regardless of the type of music we enjoy or favor (which ironically enough may also cause divisions within the church, which just helps drive people away). 


In 1 Timothy 4, which begins with the warning that in the times to come, men will turn away from sound doctrine and pay attention to the “seductive spirits and doctrines of demons” and be “misled by the “hypocrisy of liars,” Paul deals with the idea of spiritual fitness (AMP, v. 1-2). The Amplified version of the Bible draws out the idea that men’s consciences will be “seared as with a branding iron [leaving them incapable of ethical functioning]” (v. 2). Part of the problem is that the people of God are not being nourished by good food. They are eating “junk” and it always tells.


Right now we are in the holiday season, and I don’t know where you live, but here in the South, we tend to center everything around food anyway, so the holiday season is ridiculously overblown in the temptations offerd and excuses made. Self-control, against which there is no law (Gal. 5:23), tends to fly out of the window, and we eat WAAAYYYY to much. Then we get all concerned with physical fitness so that we can lose the pounds packed on during the weeks from Thanksgiving thru New Year’s.


Paul’s admonitions to Timothy in this chapter begin with being constantly nourished by studying the words of faith and the good doctrine he has already been given. Then he warns him to avoid “folklore and silly myths” (v. 7). In order to by spiritually fit, Timothy is told by Paul that he should be constantly in training spiritually, stretching out his spiritual muscles, building them as is needed to grow and walk worthy in this world full of seduction (whether it be food or greed or gossip or pride or sexual immorality that tempts us). Godliness holds the value—spiritual training over physical. Not that physical training is bad. 


We need to take care of our bodies and are told in 1 Cor. 6:19-20 that our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit living within us. My point is this: we should be more concerned with being pleasing to God than with anything else in our lives. If we are, we will value godliness and holiness and God’s words will penetrate our hearts and minds and being to the point that we will be convicted by the other areas that need conviction as He works in us. 


Everything flows out of the spiritual aspect of our beings; if it is out of kilter, everything is out of kilter. Paul admonishes Timothy to fix his hope on the Savior, devoting himself to the public reading of Scripture and preaching and teaching and using the spiritual gift he has been given (v. 8-14). Paul continues to push Timothy to “practice and work hard on these things” (v. 15) even to the point of being “absorbed” in them with the result that he will have a testimony and that testimony will draw others to Christ, to salvation (v. 16). It sounds like training to me. Maybe more of us need to encourage each other spiritually—be spiritual trainers. Sounds familiar and an idea already presented to us (Heb. 3:13). 


The LORD knows I struggle, and I will continue to struggle as long as I live in this flesh. 


I war. 


I battle. I lose sometimes.


I don’t want to give in, so I will keep reading, keep believing, keep hoping in God my Savior, who is my strength when I have none. I want to be fit for His kingdom, and I want someday to hear Him say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:23). 


So, “Let’s Get Spiritual,” y’all!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

An Uncertain Affinity (2 Cor. 4:7-11; Gen. 3:16)

Letting Go Is Hard (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Under Construction (All of the Bible . . .)