Son Print.

But understand this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, opposed to what is good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, loving pleasure rather than loving God. They will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have repudiated its power. So avoid people like these. For some of these insinuate themselves into households and captivate weak women who are overwhelmed with sins and led along by various passions. Such women are always seeking instruction, yet never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. And just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these people – who have warped minds and are disqualified in the faith – also oppose the truth. (Second Timothy 3:1-8)

Pastor Sam referenced Second Timothy 3 at the start of yesterday's sermons. The whole of Second Timothy is a letter from the apostle Paul to his protege Timothy. The letter addresses several ministry concerns, not the least of which is the presence of false teachers and self-serving believers in the church. I would recommend that, during this week, we take the time to read Second Timothy in its entirety, without chopping it up into chapters and verses-- after all, Timothy experienced the letter as a single uninterrupted document.

That said, there is also great value in taking a close look at the above passage as a snapshot of the ministry challenges that were present in Timothy's day. Paul lists eighteen attributes of ministry leaders who lack gratitude, then continues with examples of these negative influences through leaders, congregants (specifically, female congregants who are spiritually immature), and ministry assistants. 

Ministry leaders. Paul gives a clear warning concerning ministry leaders who conduct their day-to-day- operations with an ungrateful heart: They will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have repudiated its power. So avoid people like these. (Second Timothy 3:5). Throughout the first and second letters to Timothy, Paul calls names and gets very specific in his description of ministry leaders. Some, like Onesiphorus (Second Timothy 1:16-18), have been faithful and diligent in service. Others, like Demas (Second Timothy 4:10), have "deserted the gospel". But what does Paul mean when he says some leaders have "repudiated its power"? 

Repudiation goes beyond mere rejection. Repudiation is a combination of rejection and denial. Pastor Sam, during one of his prayers, made reference to Psalm 73. It is an appropriate psalm to use as evidence of the way in which wicked leaders repudiate the power of God.

Arrogance is their necklace, and violence their clothing. Their prosperity causes them to do wrong; their thoughts are sinful. They mock and say evil things; they proudly threaten violence. They speak as if they rule in heaven, and lay claim to the earth. They say, “How does God know what we do? Is the sovereign one aware of what goes on?” (Psalm 73:6-9, 73:11).

It is interesting that Paul does not urge Timothy to pray for these corrupted leaders, nor even to seek to counsel them or encourage them to change. Paul says, "So avoid people like these." It would seem that Paul, in advising Timothy to avoid interactions with such people, is echoing the counsel of Christ: avoidance marks the final stage of human involvement in reconciliation (see Matthew 18:15-17). From that point, corruption in ministry is dealt with by God (see Psalm 73:18-19).

Weak women. Sin often seeks partnership. In this case, Paul tells us that it is in the nature of corrupt leaders to align themselves with women who are weak in the Christian faith. Because these women are seeking human instruction rather than seeking to know God through His written word, they are prone to being led astray.

Paul, here, goes so far as to indicate the specific strategy of leaders who seek to mislead these women: For some of these insinuate themselves into households and captivate weak women who are overwhelmed with sins and led along by various passions. (Second Timothy 3:6) What is Paul saying? In using the word "captivate", Paul is making reference to the use of witchcraft and enchantment. That is, instead of pointing weaker Christians to the power of Christ, these leaders use their personal power to draw people to themselves. Further, they do so outside of the parameters of the church: the word "insinuate" tells us that these leaders use a slow, gradual process of gaining access into women's homes. It is a subtle and devious process, intended to move relationships away from the spiritual realm and into the sensual.

The end result for the women involved is that their lives become a confusion, which brings negative influence into the lives of those they come into contact with. It is as if they have become extensions of the leaders themselves. By conducting their lives from a standpoint of overwhelming sin, these women serve to further corrupt the body of Christ.

Ministry assistants. Some scholars believe that Jannes and Jambres were two of Pharaoh's Egyptian magicians who challenged Moses's spiritual authority (Exodus 7); others suggest that these two men were part of the rebellion against Moses initiated by Korah (Numbers 16). In both cases, opposition to Moses represented opposition to truth-- for it was our God, the Faithful and True, who gave Moses his spiritual authority. And just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these people – who have warped minds and are disqualified in the faith – also oppose the truth. (Second Timothy 3:8)

Whether under a Pharaoh type (a supervisor who openly opposes God) or a Korah type (a supervisor who claims to be a servant of God), people who operate in the spirit of Jannes and Jambres hold two negative attributes. They have messed-up minds, and they have fake faith. They reject God's long-established leadership choice and instead (like the weak women in Paul's letter) are swayed into following a counterfeit.

In addition to the rejection of God-ordained leadership, people with the spirit of Jannes and Jambres carry along their own counterfeit version of "leadership tools". The magicians who worked for Pharaoh, like Moses, carried rods that they could throw onto the ground and turn into snakes. The men who supported the rebellion initiated by Korah all had censers filled with incense for service in the tabernacle. They looked the part. This is why it is so critical for every Christian to know the word of God. Ministerial authority is not based on who has a toolkit. God calls us to also examine the fruit being produced.

God, through Paul, has told us who to avoid. But let us also hold the mirror to our own faces, and ask ourselves the hard questions: Are any of these negative attributes operating in me? Am I seeking to draw weak people to myself, instead of pointing them to the Lord who can deliver them? Am I engaged in a slow and subtle rebellion against Pastor Sam and the leadership team?

Do you hear God speaking? It's a call to repentance, while there is time to repent. If we repent, God will give us His grace so that we can resist falling into the negative attributes that indicate ingratitude and rebellion.

But they will not go much further, for their foolishness will be obvious to everyone, just like it was with Jannes and Jambres. (Second Timothy 3:9)

Yes, look! Those far from you die; you destroy everyone who is unfaithful to you. (Psalm 73:27)