Unashamed: Guard the Faith

Unashamed: Guard the Faith                  Nov. 3, 2019 

Scripture:  2 Timothy 1: 1-14

For the past several weeks we’ve been looking at 2 Timothy, a letter that seeks to help a young man stay encouraged in his faith. Throughout these weeks, we’ve proclaimed that it’s ok to stand out from the crowd and live like Jesus, even though his way of life is a bit different. We’ve been challenged to tell our story- because it’s life changing and life-giving. And last week we boldly determined to stand firm, no matter how trying our world can sometimes be…because God has the final world. And today, on All Saints Sunday, we remember those who have gone before us and recommit ourselves to guarding this wonderful faith. And we do so not by keeping it to ourselves, but by investing our time in others. I invite you to read with me…

This summer, my family reinstated one of my favorite days of the year: our family reunion. And I couldn’t have been happier. You see, a few years ago my family stopped having family reunions, which I found so disappointing. As a child, I looked forward to our annual get-togethers, so much so that I would lose sleep the night before thinking about all the fun we were about to have. We would spend the day playing games, eating good food and catching up. The backyard wiffle games were the best, and the squirt gun fights brought the kid out in everybody. But what I enjoyed the most about our family reunions was sitting down with the older members of the family, hearing long lost stories of our family’s past. Somebody would pipe up, “Do you remember when…? And off they would go, telling story after story that left me wanting more. Over time I realized why these stories and memories were so important: They reminded me of who I was and continue to be.  

         There is something powerful in the simple acting of remembering. I have a feeling that’s why schools require students to take history classes and families visit gravesides throughout the year. That’s why we gather for family reunions and erect war memorials and save posts to Facebook so that they pop up on our feed years later. There are just people, places and moments we don’t want to forget. But the act of remembering also carries significance beyond simply “not forgetting.” These stories and people are more than just “things of the past.” When we choose to remember, these vestiges of the past encourage us, challenge us and even inspire us toward a better future. When we look back, we are reminded of where we came from, how we’ve been shaped and who we are.

In Paul’s first letter to Timothy, the main objective of the letter was to inform Timothy on how to run a church. Timothy was a young pastor and Paul saw great benefit in sharing with Timothy what he knew about spiritual leaders, conflicts in the church and so on. But this second letter takes on a different tone. Something has shifted in Timothy’s life.  It’s not clear from the text what the problem is, but we could take a few guesses.  As a teenager, Timothy was called to serve as pastor to the church in Ephesus, a Greek city that worshipped the mythological goddess Artemis.  By preaching the Gospel, Timothy was preaching against the cultural trends of the day, challenging the Ephesians to forgo what they thought was true for the One who says He is the Truth. And that’s not easy. Have you ever tried that? Have you ever tried to convince someone that life the Jesus way is better than life their own way? It’s not easy! And then there’s the possibility that the church itself was the issue. Sometimes churches forget their mission and lose their way. Sometimes churches forget why they exist (by the way, our reason for existing is to make and mature disciples of Jesus) and this can take its toll on everyone. So whatever the reason, Timothy’s faith has taken a hit. And instead of being a man whose faith is full of power and love- the stuff that can really change the world- he’s now a man whose faith is on the verge of losing its passion!

         You know, I would love to say that Timothy’s experience is an outlier, but that’s just not the case. You can be a churchgoer from the time you were in diapers or you can be a church leader and still experience what Timothy is going through. It happens to everyone. There will be seasons when your faith seems weak and tired, and times when you feel more timid than bold disciple of Christ. But you can’t stay there, because Jesus has invested too much in your life and you have too much to offer.

         Despite Timothy’s situation, Paul is not ready to give up. He was there when Timothy was called to preach. He helped lay hands on him and ordain him to ministry.  Paul is certain of Timothy’s calling. He knows this is a gifted man. He is convinced Timothy has much to offer the Kingdom of God, but it’s Timothy who needs to believe that again. It’s Timothy who needs a fresh reminder. So as Paul writes, his mind travels to Timothy’s humble beginnings. He writes, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you.”  Timothy’s faith is rooted in several generations. He’s the product of faithful prayers prayed over the years and a faith that has stood the test of time. Paul calls this a “living faith.” It’s a faith that has rejoiced in good times and weathered the stormy ones, but yet it’s been successfully and vibrantly passed down from grandmother to mother to son. And Timothy is living proof! 

         Several years ago, I had the opportunity to travel to England, where we visited a place called Wesley’s Chapel, which was a church built under the direction of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. Wesley had his office was upstairs and his desk was intentionally placed near a window that overlooked a nearby cemetery.  As Wesley would write sermons and ponder ministry, he had a clear view of a grave near and dear to his heart- his own mother’s. You see, it was his mother, Susanna Wesley, who discipled John and instilled in him a strong faith. Every week during his childhood, John’s mom would teach him how to read Scripture, how to pray and how to form a relationship with Christ. He even learned how to read the Bible in the original Hebrew and Greek! As John grew older and went through his own discouraging seasons (at one point even questioning his own salvation), it was Susanna who affirmed and encouraged him. Every time Wesley looked out his window, he was reminded of his sincere faith, a faith that first lived in his mother Susanna, and now lived in him, and his faith was restored.

         I think it’s incredibly encouraging to remember that we aren’t the first generation of people to stumble our way through life or faith. And that’s certainly what it feels like sometimes, stumbling around in the darkness, trying to find our way. But that’s always been enough, because Jesus always seems to show up to light the next step. Timothy had a rich tradition from which to draw strength and hope. There was old King David, who had a few missteps along the way. And Moses, who made up every excuse to get out of God’s plan. And Lois and Eunice, Timothy’s mother and grandmother. And so on. These are the the people who walked the walk and talked the talk, paving the way for Timothy to carry the torch. The author of Hebrews calls them “a great cloud of witnesses.” Paul calls them saints. And you also have “a cloud of witnesses” from which to draw strength.

I’m guessing you could name some of those people right now, the people who taught you about Jesus and inspired you to say “yes” to him. For me, it was my parents and Sunday School teachers and the folks at the small village church that invested in me year after year. Those names give hope and meaning, reminding you who you are and freshly inspiring your walk with Jesus. But maybe your faith isn’t generational.  Maybe your parents and grandparents were not faithful followers of Christ. You’re still not alone, and you don’t have to figure this out on your own. Because not only do you have a living faith inside of you, you also have a living God.

         Nobody knew this more than Paul. His life and ministry were spent running from and putting out proverbial fires. You name the hardship or difficulty. Paul probably experienced it. But Paul endured because of the grace of Jesus Christ. And the very grace that lived inside of Paul was still available to Timothy. He just needs to remember.  It’s interesting that Jesus, just before his crucifixion, tells the 12 disciples the very same thing. He lifts up the bread and lifts up the cup and says, “Do this in remembrance of me.” Every time we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we remember. We remember that the grave could not hold the Savior. We remember that He has destroyed evil and His light has driven out the darkness. We remember that His Spirit is available to us, to live inside us and change us. And during Timothy’s most vulnerable season, this is what he needed most: someone to pour into him, to guard his faith and remind him of God’s faithfulness!

Friends, I’m convinced that one of the ways we change the world is to pass on our faith to others. There is nothing better we can do than to take what we’ve been given and pour it in to somebody else. Who knows? Maybe Timothy would’ve thrown in the towel if Paul hadn’t reached out. What would’ve happened then? But Paul knew the Gospel he carried within himself was too good to stay bottled up, so he shared it. If you proclaim Jesus as Lord and Savior, then you have eternity-changing news in your possession. You carry within you the Gospel message and Gospel power. You carry within you the message of the one who brings life, peace and joy. Inside of you is a living hope, and the best way to spread that hope is to plant it in someone else. This is what Jesus did with the 12 disciples; it’s what Moses did with Joshua, what Elijah did with Elisha, what Paul did with Timothy. And now it’s our turn, brothers and sisters. It’s our turn to take this faith and pass it on so that generations to come can be transformed by the grace of God. It’s our turn to make disciples. So let me ask you: Who will be your Timothy? Who will be the one you’ll take under your wing and teach them about life and faith and following Jesus? I encourage you today to find that person, invest in that person and watch God rekindle the flame of faith in both of you. Amen.