Cut It Straight

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 NASB

Paul’s words to Timothy challenge us all to be careful students of scripture. “Be diligent” (industrious, meticulous, conscientious, thorough, attentive) as opposed to being sloppy. Be a “workman” (labor, toil) as opposed to being lazy. To understand this diligent study as being a way to “present yourself” to God is inspiring if not convicting. Careful study is in fact, an act of worship.

“Tadpole Christians,” as John Stott calls them, are all head. “Their heads are bulging with sound theology, but that is all there is to them.” “Pinhead Christians” on the other hand, have a “small head” but can make you jump with the slightest stick. To some Christianity is merely an intellectual pursuit while to others it is defined exclusively by emotions. Have we forgotten that to Jesus the greatest command was to love God “with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind?” Heart and soul, yes. Mind, yes. Intellect and emotions.

Some are bound in tradition with absolutely no idea why they “believe” what they “believe.” Their opinions are strong but they can’t tell you how they reached their convictions or what passages are crucial to the discussion. “It just doesn’t feel right” and “it makes me uncomfortable” has taken the place of diligent study to determine convictions.

Some are bound by emotion with absolutely no idea why they “believe” the way they “believe.” Their opinions are strong but they can’t tell you how they reached their convictions or what passages are crucial to the discussion. “It feels right” and “it makes me comfortable” has taken the place of diligent study to determine convictions.

I am encouraged that some have studied diligently and concluded that an emotional response to God was very important to His people in scripture. Without emotion religion is dry, lifeless and void of joy. I am encouraged that others have experienced emotionally to the point where they concluded the mind must be involved in seeking God. Without engagement of the mind religion is empty and groundless and often results in God being recreated in the image of the feeler.

Understanding there are gray areas/disputable matters/matters of opinion is no excuse for sloppy handling of scripture. Even when a matter isn’t “a matter of faith” we still need to study and know why we hold the convictions we do. When discussing disputable matters with the Romans, Paul urged them to be “fully convinced” in their own minds (Romans 14:5).

Jesus wants his follower’s heart and mind. Every loose thought and emotion should be fit into the structure of life shaped by Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5 The Message). Our minds need to be transformed (Romans 12:1-2). We need to think on the things God tells us (Philippians 4:8). If we are raised with Christ we must set our hearts and minds on things above (Colossians 3:2). Our minds need to be controlled by the spirit (Romans 8:5-6).

Be diligent. Be a workman. Accurately handle scripture; in others words, “cut it straight.” And in so doing present yourself to God in worship. What’s the alternative? Approach hard to understand scriptures with ignorance and instability and twist or distort the meaning into something very different from what God intended (2 Peter 3:16). Diligence results in worship. Laziness results in destruction.

Working to cut it straight!

— Bob Clark

6/29/2004