Today I'm Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. How do you follow Jesus in a culture that is hostile or even suspicious of your faith? How do you follow Jesus when people at work or even your neighborhood just think that because you say you follow Jesus, you must have some agenda. There must be something suspicious or wrong about you. We're going to cover that today.
Stay with me. We live in a world that's more divided than ever, and Christians are not immune. Today, Chip Ingram unpacks 1 Timothy 2 and challenges us to pray for all people, including the ones we'd rather write off. I'm Dave Druy, and this is Living on the Edge with a series called You Can Make Disciples: Personal Coaching from the Apostle Paul. Today's lesson, along with all of Chip's teachings, can be found anytime at livingontheedge.org.
Now, if you have your Bible with you, please open to 1 Timothy 2, verse 1, as we join Chip Ingram for a message titled, Step Down. I urge that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made. In behalf of All people circle the word all in your Bibles. Give thanks. I urge you to pray for all people, for kings.
Everyone in charge, pray for them. What kind of prayers? Ask God to actually bless their life. And then notice the purpose clause so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. In other words, I want you to pray for the cultural chaos and the pressure and the persecution so that God would allow peace because more than your protection is we want to have the kind of lives that would be attractive to the gospel.
And then notice he goes on. He says, this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who wants, circle the word again, all people to be saved. And I'm thinking, Timmy, even Tim's going, Nero? Yeah. Christ died for him.
and to come to a knowledge of the truth. And then here's the big purpose clause. Why? Why? Why should I pray that way?
I don't want to pray that way. Paul, are you crazy? This is not good advice. I don't want to take your advice. For there is one God and one mediator.
That's someone who stands between two groups. Between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, and what did he do? Who gave himself as a ransom, put a box around that word. For then circle the word all again. The Apostle Paul is saying to this young pastor, I want you to intercede and pray and give thanks, and I want you to stand between the living God of all time and eternity, and I want you to pray for kings and those in authority and people that you disagree with.
In fact, people that you might find even hate in your heart toward. And so that's the context. And now he's going to apply it to two groups. Notice verse 8: it says, Therefore, therefore I want the men in every place to pray. Lifting holy hands.
It's a picture of purity and earnestness. In other words, you're praying like you mean it. And then notice without anger and without dispute, or literally arguments and contention. And now these little house churches are starting, and the Apostle Paul is speaking into them and saying. Uh I want the men to adorn themselves with prayer without anger and disputing, and then notice what he says in that context.
Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modesty and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive apparel, speaking of the high society, but rather by means of good works as is proper for women making a claim to godliness. He says, I don't want you don't come off like those high society ladies. A woman Must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. That was true in the Greek and the Roman culture. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.
For it was Adam who was first created and then Eve. And it wasn't Adam who was deceived, but the woman who was deceived and became a wrongdoer. But the women will be preserved through childbirth if they continue, here's our phrase, in faith, love, and sanctity. with moderation.
Okay. What you need to get here is don't read our current world back into this text. His instruction to women fundamentally was You can't act in these little house churches in ways where the Roman government thinks you're undermining a culture. You need to understand that 50% of the Roman Empire was slaves, and about 80%. were of the church were slaves.
And so now you have these You had these transformational cultural things where a slave might be an elder in a church. and his master might be in the church. And then they got to get up on Monday morning and he has to treat his master like the owner. And he's saying, you know, we have these cultural norms about how life and women, he goes, we want to bring about change. But the big change has to start with the gospel.
And you know, it's interesting, but there's multiple translations, opinions about this passage. There's only about three legitimate ways you can go. One, you can say a woman could never talk in any church meeting ever. And gosh, the seed now, Philip. He had daughters that prophesied.
I guess that one doesn't play out too well, right? Or there's You know, there's no justification whatsoever, but Paul makes some of his arguments about there is a role between men and women, and as Christ is the head, the man is the head, so there's a servant leadership here. Here's the main point of this passage that we often miss. The main point of this passage to men. What if you wanted to bring about change as a man, how do we tend to do it?
We power up. I'm going to bring about change, and this is the way I'm going to do it. And what's he tell them to do? Pray up. And if you're a woman and you want to get your way, There's a couple ways, right?
I mean, women have been doing it for centuries. Is your sexual attraction or your adornment to be impressive. And see underneath both of those The real issue is about power. The real issue is about how do you exert power to bring about change? And yes, we have rights, yes, we have opinions.
And what Paul's really helping Timothy do is say, you got to back away and understand there's one mediator between Mankind and God, and it's the man Christ Jesus. Make sure we do the number one priority, and if we do that, guess what? Over time, slavery gets abolished. Over time, women are viewed equally. Jesus was the greatest liberator of women in all of human history.
But what could have taken the entire project down was if women were acting or men were acting in ways, you go against the Roman government, I got news for you. You just die.
So he says, we want to live these quiet, peaceful lives. We don't want to make waves of some of the cultural issues that are so systematic yet. What we want to do is, we want to, from the inside out, be light and salt and light and love. And what happened over time? Was we change the Roman Empire.
In 300 years, the emperor becomes a Christian. And it wasn't because of external power, it was because of an internal transformation. Yeah. And I think there's probably some pretty big application for us, especially. In America.
Here's the truth. He says, this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who wants, circle the word again, all people to be saved. And can I just, I mean, I know I'm pounding on this a bit. All men. Could you just bring to mind some people that Maybe emotionally you don't really want them saved.
But you just have anger. that when you talk about them, you talk about them like they're the devil incarnate. And they voted for so-and-so. Or they didn't vote for so-and-so. Or can you believe it there?
I mean, I'm watching Christians and this vitriol coming out of people's mouths about secondary issues. That's not exactly The agenda. Come to a knowledge of the truth, for there is one God. Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for. Who?
Ah. That includes the people you don't like and I don't like. The people that are different colors, different orientations, different political views, different countries. It's why the gospel transformed the world. Our response is: I want men in every place to pray, lifting holy hands without anger or dispute.
arguments or quarrels. And so what I would ask you, and I kind of know the answer, Are you praying for all people? You're listening to Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram, and we'll continue this lesson in just a minute. If you've been blessed by this program and you'd like to discover more of Chip's Bible teachings, we invite you to check out our YouTube channel. Search Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram on YouTube, and be sure to subscribe while you're there.
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Now let's continue today's message. I mean this would be just a great application to think about whatever the side of the political aisle you are to start praying for the other side. Whoever in your church who's super ticking you off. Start praying for them.
So, what's really going on? You'll notice in your notes, Paul's coaching for us, you know. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, All scripture is profitable for doctrine, proof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, that the man of God. The woman of God might be fully equipped for every good work. And so, all I want you to know is that all this stuff talking about women and hair and whether they speak or don't speak in these first-century house churches or men, there's application for us.
The subject here is power, and it's how to fight the good fight in a culture of persecution and suspicion. And this is for the glorious gospel as our number one priority instead of our tribal interests, and we all have them. I mean, I live in the most highly diverse city. in America, more than New York City. And it's been one of the most wonderful places in the world because we all come with our backgrounds.
And God has allowed me to be there for a lot of years and to recognize that, you know what? Everybody from everywhere is just in desperate need of Christ. And what they need is someone to listen to them and not judge them and make assumptions about them. Just like I don't want them to make assumptions about me. The underlying issue here is love from a pure heart.
And it's revealed in our conduct and our practices that promote the gospel ahead of our personal agendas. You never pledge on truth. But when you move to the middle toward understanding, and how could we bring about some unity? How can we care about one another? How can we agree to disagree on seven minor issues but agree on this big issue and treat each other and how we speak and what we do?
I will tell you, you'll get blasted from both sides. Just like Jesus did. And God will really use your life. The underlying question here is: Am I willing to follow Jesus' example of love? and return good for evil to those in positions of authority in my life.
I mean, that's what he was asking those women. Position of authority in your life. Are you willing to voluntarily do what Jesus did? Jesus said, I could have brought down angels. Bam, we can solve this in a New York minute.
But his power was in his surrender to the Father. His power is like a grain of wheat falling into the earth and dying. and therefore it brought much fruit. The action required You have to step down. You have to kneel down.
You have to release anger and resentment. and you have to refuse to verbally attack or disrespect those who oppose you. Post about Convictions you have, don't attack anybody. It doesn't accomplish anything. We're not called to be American Christians, hopefully, to get our way.
We're called to be followers of Christ. And you do understand. I mean, this isn't rocket science. You understand the people that were most antagonistic toward Jesus were Israelites. Powerful religious people.
Who, even after they saw Lazarus risen from the dead, many believed, and the texts, and some of them went to the religious leaders. To plot to how to kill him. And then these were their words: because he's going to take our power and our nation. And a lot of what we see in America is Christians concerned about your power and your nation more than the calling of God for the gospel. The unspoken need is to develop humility.
How do you develop humility? First of all, you have to know the truth. I would encourage you, Matthew 5. 43 to 48. I want you to listen to the words of Jesus.
You have heard it said: you shall love your neighbors and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and Pray for those who persecute you.
Well, why would you do that?
So that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For He causes His Son to shine on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Therefore, you are to be perfect. The word is teleos. You are to be mature, you are to grow up.
Even as your heavenly Father. is perfect. Have this attitude in yourselves, which is also in Christ Jesus. Philippians. Chapter 2: Who, although he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped.
that emptied himself, literally veiled. his attributes taking the form of a Bond servant And being made in likeness of men, being found appearances of man, he humbled himself. becoming obedient to the point of death, even death. on a cross. For a long time I wanted to be humble and I tried to be humble and my pride would go out the door and then it would come in the window and then it would go out the window and come in the attic and I just, I was such an arrogant young man and then I was an arrogant middle-aged man and then I'm fighting becoming an arrogant older man.
And I'll never forget a wise mentor said, stop trying to be humble. Really? He said, be a servant. Just be a servant. Get up and say, what's my wife need?
Be a servant at work. Be the guy that brings... coffee and donuts. Be a servant. Let someone else go first.
Be a servant. Just develop a mindset. See, consider others as more important than yourself. Just be a servant. And you know what?
It's this weird kingdom principle, like so many other things. Give and you receive. Need a friend, be a friend. Be a servant. And I don't understand it.
It's just the economy of God. As you become a servant, God says, I will lift you up. I will exalt you. And he'll give you a reputation of someone that People talk about in coffee shops different than other people. You know, he's He's the kind of guy when everyone else is leaving is taking down the chairs.
He's the guy that no one knows that secretly is, man, that family that couldn't even get in, he paid their way. The only reason I know is because the little girl behind the desk said, I can't believe that man did that. You just become a servant. Second is know the truth and then live the truth. For even the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, Mark 10, 45.
But to serve. and give his life a ransom for many. The Philippians 2 three through five passage is one I memorized and It both haunts me and encourages me. Do nothing. from selfishness.
Our vainglory is the old translation. or empty ambition. But consider others as more important than yourself. By the way, rather than doing that way out there, Get up and say, What's my wife need? Honey, why are you doing the dishes?
Uh Being a servant? How come you took the trash out? I didn't even ask you. How come you actually lined up the babysitter and asked if we could go on a date? Are you okay?
Yeah. Why did you say, you know, I think we need to sit down and look at our bills together. and think through our plans for the future, because most wives take care of all that stuff. In most marriages, and they feel the weight of that instead of a man saying, I own the provision and the protection and the planning.
Now, she may be much better administratively than most of us, but meeting with her every two weeks, I meet with my wife, and we have a folder, and we pay all of our bills, and then we talk about where our money's going and why. And I didn't do that about the first three or four years, and she felt crushed under the weight and the responsibility because she saw all the numbers, and I didn't. Finally. Let me encourage you to practice. With a head we know the truth, with our heart we live the truth, and with our hands we share the truth.
After Jesus lived this out in Luke chapter 10, he sent them out two by two to do the very thing to heal. to cast out demons. And then in Romans 12, 14 to 21, perhaps my favorite passage on this, Bless those who persecute you, bless and curse not. Later on, it'll talk: if your enemy's hungry, feed him. If he's thirsty, give him a drink.
Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God toward the end. Do not be overcome with evil. Overcome evil with... Good. And what we you know when when evil confronts evil, it's like gasoline on the fire.
And that's what we have in American culture today. And it's happening in the church. I understand it out there, they're lost. They haven't met the mediator yet. Lord, will you forgive us?
Please, all of us. for being so culturally numbed. By our American consumeristic mentality. That when we don't get our way. that we pout.
And we cast stones. And we take our money and leave. And we say evil and negative things, even about other brothers and sisters in Christ. And friendships of five and ten and twenty and twenty-five years have been broken over secondary things. Will you have mercy on us?
Would you grant us the grace to seek first to understand? rather than be understood. Would you give us the grace to Figure out why people do what they do when it doesn't make any sense to us, but it does make sense to them. God, would you help us be bridge builders of reconciliation? Your church is in peril.
Help us to step up and then step down. In Christ's name, amen. People You're listening to Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. And a message titled Step Down from a series called You Can Make Disciples: Personal Coaching from the Apostle Paul. Every message in the You Can Make Disciples series is on the Living on the Edge podcast.
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Atlanta, Georgia, three zero zero two four.
Well, Chip, you mentioned some of the negative Christian stereotypes that are out there. What does it look like practically to start changing that perception in our own communities?
Well, Dave, we do live in a very divisive culture. I don't need to list all the things that Christians are accused of or the stereotypes. And I think we need to be very honest that, you know, some of these stereotypes we've brought on ourselves by the behavior of some of us as followers or some of our leaders and some moral failure. But I think if we're going to reach people today, we need to change the paradigm and our attitude. And what I mean by that is we need to ask a lot more questions about where people are coming from before we tell them what we believe and why we believe it.
The title of this message was Stepping Down. I think Paul is saying to Timothy in a hostile culture, kneel and pray. I think he's saying, instead of being, you know, angry and resentful toward this culture that doesn't understand you, the fact is they're not Christians. They're not going to understand.
So release your anger and your resentment. Refuse to verbally attack. Or disrespect those who oppose you. You know, we're living in this toxic communication on Twitter or Facebook or Instagram, and I cringe when I see people that I know are believers making these comments, and I know they're sincere, and I think they think they're standing for Jesus, but it's undermining our faith. I think the Apostle Paul is teaching Timothy in that day the number one thing is to develop humility.
Yes, the truth never wavers, but we need to present the truth in life. In word and in attitude with humility. And those people that are really reaching the next generation or people hostile to the gospel are not people yelling and screaming and fighting. It's people who lean in and realize whatever people who are anti-God or anti-Christian, they're coming from somewhere and they've had some experiences and they have some presuppositions or assumptions that it makes sense to them. We need to find out what those are and care for them as people first.
And I think God will give us an opportunity then to speak to someone who's open to hearing. I'm Dave Druy. That's a wrap on today's program. More practical, life-changing Bible teaching from Chip Ingram is ahead on Living on the Edge. Yeah.
Today's program is produced and sponsored by Living on the Edge. Uh
