In Deuteronomy 6:4-7, Moses establishes a principle for the Israelites
that many modern Christians should take note of and apply in their own
lives. Speaking of the commands of the
Lord (commonly called the Ten Commandments), Moses reminds the Israelites of
who God is (6:4), instructs them to love God completely (6:5), the commandments
of God were to be in their hearts (6:6), and they were to diligently teach
their children of these commandments and God through both consistent
instruction and example (6:7). From this
passage, we learn that God’s commandments and will was to be the most
influential factor in an Israelite’s life.
This wasn’t something that they did once or twice a week, but rather it
was a way of life.
A similar principle is established for us in the New Testament as well;
consider Titus 2:1-8 where Paul instructs that the older members of the church,
both male and female, are to instruct the younger men and woman as to their
character and respective duties as Christians.
Consider also how 1 & 2
Timothy were written to Timothy and Titus
was written to Titus, both of whom seem to be young(er) evangelists (1 Timothy
1:1-2; Titus 1:4). Note especially in
Titus that Paul not only instructs the older men and women of the church to
instruct the younger, but also instructs THEM in how THEY should live and in
what they should teach the younger. In
other words, the older men and women have lived faithfully and shown themselves
to be sound in doctrine (Titus 2:1).
Unfortunately, it seems that in the modern church, the older generation
does not teach the younger generation as much as they should. Please note: there ARE older Christians who
strive to do so, but their efforts seem to be greatly outweighed by those who
do not. Another downfall seems to be
that many older Christians who have faced spiritual battles (such as the battles
over institutionalism in the 1950s and 1960s) may have passed down the truth on
those subjects, but have not passed down why
it is the truth or how they arrived at the conclusion that they reached. Now we have a generation (or 2…or 3?) that
have been told that things such as “institutionalism” is wrong (this is just an
example, by the way), but they are not shown why it is wrong, nor how to properly divide the word of truth so as
to ascertain for themselves.
Younger generations need to learn how to properly question and seek
counsel from the older generations; this means that they need to recognize
their own shortcomings in Bible authority and seek out older men and women with
whom they can study. Titus 2:1-8
indicates that we, as the younger generation, need to seek out qualified brethren to study with, and
not simply someone who presents an argument or reading that we like.
In other words, we need to seek out older Christians that have properly
proven themselves to be a worker of God who has no need to be ashamed (2
Timothy 2:14-16). We should ask
ourselves whether the person(s) we are seeking advice from have successfully
raised families in Christ (Titus 1:5-9), have they diligently preached,
convinced, rebuked, and exhorted (2 Timothy 4:2), and have they fought the good
fight (2 Timothy 4:6-8)? We, as younger Christians, have to remember that some
have shown themselves worthy of being asked for advice and teaching, while
others have shown themselves continually to be “always learning and never able
to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:1-9) and have made “their
folly” apparent or “manifest to all”.
Some who ought to be teachers need to be taught again the first
principles of the gospel (Hebrews 5:12-14); are we to seek advice from those
who have proven themselves unable to establish Bible authority on multiple
occasions?
There ARE well-qualified older Christians in the church today who are
able to properly teach through both action and instruction and younger
Christians need to seek them out.
Unfortunately, many younger Christians today seek validation for what
they already believe or want to do rather than seeking advice and instruction
that will help them achieve godliness.
Often, younger Christians feed off of the advice of their peers rather
than looking to older Christians, and, as can be seen often in many
conversational mediums today, mock older Christians as being “too traditional”
or “behind the times” (Reference 1 Kings 12:1-24). Many younger Christians claim that we need to
“think outside the box” and “break away from traditionalism,” but God set the
box and God set those traditions.
Thinking outside the box often means thinking outside of God, which is a
place that we do not want to be.
As Paul taught Titus, older Christians need to pass on not only their
knowledge of the Bible, but also their knowledge of how to study the Bible properly. While
passing on a properly arrived at conclusion concerning a Biblical topic is
vastly important, so is showing how one arrived at that conclusion. We all must be willing to study and we must
all be willing to learn.
Hold
fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love
which are in Christ Jesus.
~2
Timothy 1:13
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