Teaching Otherwise

1 Timothy 6:2-5 KJV

And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.

If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

Verses 2-5 contains an interesting piece of spiritual instruction that has application in our day.

Albert Barnes writes concerning it,

"Any otherwise than that respect should be shown to masters; and that a more cheerful and ready service should be rendered because they were Christians. It is evidently implied here that some might be disposed to inculcate such views of religion as would produce discontent and a spirit of insubordination among those who were held to servitude. Who they were is not known, nor is it known what arguments they would employ to do it. It would seem probable that the arguments which would be employed would be such as these: that God made all people equal; that all had been redeemed by the same blood; that all true Christians were fellow-heirs of heaven; and that it was wrong to hold a Christian brother in bondage, etc. From undeniable principles, it would seem that they drew the inference that slaves ought at once to assert their freedom; that they should refuse obedience to their masters; and that the tendency of their teaching was, instead of removing the evil by the gradual and silent influence of Christian principles, to produce discontent and insurrection. From some of the expressions here used by the apostle, as characteristic of these teachers, it would seem to be probable that these persons were Jews. They were people given to subtle disputations, and those who doted about questions and verbal disputes, and who were intent on gain, supposing that that which conduced to mere worldly prosperity was of course religion."

I am not at all pleased with the direction our country is taking.

• I am opposed to the legalizing of homosexual marriages.
• I am opposed to stricter gun control
• I am opposed to government forced health insurance
• I am opposed to the state mandating employers pay for an insurance that pays for abortion
• I am opposed to a socialist political agenda in general

But I am also opposed to a type of preaching rhetoric that tends to feed on people's opposition and stir them to a rebellious spirit. The believer's goals are neither earthly nor political and they cannot be won through carnal weapons or political maneuvering. They are only attained through patient continuance in well doing; even in the face of suffering.