1. Heretical problems in the church of Ephesus

Last week we continued to focus our address on Acts 2, and the day of Pentecost, an event in which the disciples received the Holy Spirit, and were boldly empowered to preach and spread the word of God. Their speeches moved the people, many of whom received baptism on the same day.

Thus the early Church was born and continued to grow in the form of communes, in which believers shared all their personal and spiritual assets. However, as the movement increased in size, the community could not be fully maintained, and so a hierarchical structure was formed. With the passing of the Apostles, certain believers of the second and third generations began to denounce the early religious teachings and substituted the doctrine with heresies.

Paul, at that time, was teaching and preaching to the gentiles in Corinth and Ephesus. He founded churches there, one after another, and entrusted them to his reliable co-workers. For example, Apollos in Corinth, Timothy in Ephesus, and Titus in Crete, and so on.

The first letter of Paul to Timothy, a young Pastor in Ephesus, maintains a theme of how to deal with heretical thinking. It advocates respectable behavior in the Church and beyond to enhance its mission and image in the larger world. The letter regards any deviation from its own counsel to be false teaching.

One of the influential heresies and false teachings in the early church, and there were many, was legalism, which taught that salvation is only received by strict observation of the law. Another was Gnosticism, a first and second century movement whose cry was, “Matter is evil!” The idea was borrowed from certain Greek philosophers. The opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge signifies a Gnostic theory, derived from the greek word ¦Ã¦Íώ¦Ò¦Ç = knowledge.

However, today we will reflect on Paul’s letter of exhortation designed to combat the dissident teaching of insiders, and the suspicion of outsiders at Ephesus ;- “As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk” (1 Timothy 1:3-6).

Timothy is charged to oppose the teachers at Ephesus who deviate from divine training. Neither the identity of these other teachers, or the exact content of their false teaching is known. And Paul also warns against false aceticism.

“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth” (1 Timothy 4: 1-3).

The Apostle draws a contrast between the false teachers who promote celibacy and physical asceticism.

The last is found in chapter 6 verse 3-5 ;- If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain.

Some of heretics might think preaching is a way to obtain money.

2. How to withstand heretical, false teaching

These records from the scriptures show us the traits of heretical thinking. One of them is to consider one’s salvation as personal, which can be obtained through individual effort. Through good works, sacrifice, and abstinence, an attitude which leads its adherents to a stoical, long-suffering lifestyle.

Another, is the practice of asceticism, that is, to restrain oneself from human desires and pleasures in order to obtain salvation. Movements advocating asceticism have appeared in every generation. But, salvation is given by God’s grace, we cannot see or touch it. Perhaps its a part of human nature to seek tangible proof of its existence, which sometimes puts us at risk of believing the false teachers.

And with the practice of legalism in the early church, Paul, in writing to the Galatians said: “I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” (Galatians 2:21).

If a sheltered and protected life through the observation of false teachings were necessary to be saved, there would have been no reason for Jesus’ death on the Cross. The attitude and belief of seeking salvation through the observance of the law, asceticism, or self discipline, annuls the meaning of the Cross.

The only worthwhile abstinence that should be practiced is one which is motivated by love for others, or for health reasons, not for personal salvation. An example is expressed in Paul’s epistle to the Romans: “If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died” (Romans 14:15).

Christians should always be concerned about the salvation of others, because Christians have been saved through Jesus’ love. And to love in accordance with biblical teaching, we need wisdom which is based and supported by faith.

Further, Paul speaks about false teaching and true riches:

“If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6: 3-5).

The vice list above is crafted with conventional philosophical slurs, and shows the negative influences of the conceited false teachers on others, in contrast to Timothy’s profitable teachings.

“instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ,” (1 Timothy 3), is being actively motivated by the love of Christ, which might lead us to even wash each others’ feet. No exploitation, such as abuse or ill treatment should occur when motivated by true love. No exploitation means not to seek material profit or financial gain for oneself. “But,” continues Paul, “godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that” (1 Timothy 6:6-8).

As long as we know and feel satisfaction with the basics of living, our lifestyle can be independent from any surrounding material demands. It is the very peace within one’s heart, a feeling possessed by real believers, that provides contentment. Yet Paul does not deny the usefulness of wealth itself, but he indicates that avarice causes many sins:

“People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1 Timothy 6:9-10). Jesus also taught, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).

I name also other major heretical sects which occurred in the following century ; Montanisn* and Macionism** .

3. Heresies will not prevail

May I share with you today’s invocation verses, from Psalm 30:7-9.

“Two things I ask of you, O Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord ?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”

We find abundance of wisdom in the words of the Psalmist. Today’s verses reveals our human nature. We might dare to steal when we don’t enough food, or become arrogant if we have too much. Having such a nature we must seek ‘a right way’ to live like the author of those verses.

Paul was writing in a similar vain to the Psalmist when he advised Timothy:

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:17-19).

The command to be rich in good works is a call for the wealthy believers to be benefactors, but without the expectation of a earthly return. Now, Paul gives Timothy his final instructions: “Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge” (1 Timothy 6:20).

It is an arrogant attitude by pretending to know God’s wisdom, which only misleads believers. Avoid “godless chatter” with such heretics because it is meaningless. Heretical movements occur from within the Church, not outside. Heretical thinking is not that of legalism or today’s freakish occultist sects. It is dissent, agnosticism or skepticism, all of which lies dormant within ourselves. Its an opinion or a belief contrary to Christian teaching and doctrine. We humans, sometimes harbor such thoughts.

To finish today’s speech, I want to share with you a prayer, written by Reinhold Niebuhr***, a Protestant theologian: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

The serenity prayer acknowledges that if one seeks true peace and happiness in this life and beyond, it is important to consciously live and enjoy life, embrace one’s struggles, accept the world as it is, and trust in God.

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Some references to further reading:

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcionism
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09645c.htm

**http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montanists
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10521a.htm

***http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinhold_Niebuhr
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/r/reinhold_niebuhr.html