"Canon" Ball.

"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." This saying is true, and it can be trusted. I was the worst sinner of all! But since I was worse than anyone else, God had mercy on me and let me be an example of the endless patience of Christ Jesus. He did this so that others would put their faith in Christ and have eternal life. (First Timothy 1:15-16)

It is interesting to note that the apostle Paul refers to himself as "the worst sinner of all" just a few sentences after he lists the persons for whom the Law was given. "The Law wasn't given to control people who please God, but to control lawbreakers, criminals, godless people, and sinners. It is for wicked and evil people, and for murderers, who would even kill their own parents.  The Law was written for people who are sexual perverts or who live as homosexuals or are kidnappers or liars or won't tell the truth in court. It is for anything else that opposes the correct teaching of the good news that the glorious and wonderful God has given me." (First Timothy 1:9-11)

We live in a context today where, in the church universal, several denominations have opted to "oppose the correct teaching" of the good news. At the core is not the question of whether we like correct teaching or not; whether we feel sound teaching is relevant in twenty-first century cultures or not; nor whether correct teaching will or won't lead to the imprisonment of all who teach it.

And, though I am writing this at a kairos moment in the life of the United States of America, opposition to correct teaching is not a new thing: the apostle Paul lived in the same context then that we do now. Imperial Rome was a society in which practicing homosexuality, crime-ridden neighborhoods, bribery in legal matters, and opposition to the gospel were the norm. In that context Paul taught the good news of Christ with zeal and passion, led many to salvation in Christ, and was frequently persecuted and imprisoned for his teaching.

But again, the opposition to correct teaching is not the core. What is at the core? At the core is redemption. Paul says in verse 16, "God had mercy on me and let me be an example of the endless patience of Christ Jesus." God, through Christ, was patient with Paul, and at the time of God's choosing Paul experienced redemption.

What is even more interesting is that, to the external observer, Paul might not have appeared in need of any sort of redemption. He was a religious leader. He was an upstanding Roman national, born into his citizenship. He was intentional in vehemently opposing what he believed were "fringe groups" whose worship of Jesus ran counter to the traditions of Judaism. As a Pharisee, he knew the law of God as impeccably as he knew the laws of his region. But in spite of the external picture of spiritual and civic goodness, Paul's confession was "I am the chief of sinners... but God had mercy on me."

Millennia pass, and God has not changed. He is still merciful. God has mercy on me. Our Christ is still patient with denominations and systems and individuals that have set aside His glorious gospel in order to avoid controversies, escape sufferings, and/or satisfy their own personal agendas.

Lord Christ, I am grateful for Your patience... but how long should You, the King of Glory, have to wait for we who claim to be Your children?

In this season of the patience of God, our Lord has sent out a few modern-day Pauls to live and teach the glorious gospel, correctly, with no modifications to the canon. May their lives and ministries bring a new Great Awakening by the power of the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God.