There are foolish controversies. One sees this most easily among my tribe, the Puritans. The Catholics have a pope who is moving that faith away from the gospel to somewhere else: though I note (since I am in OZ still) that the ABC seems to enjoy kicking them whenever they can. Not a night goes by without some tearful parent talking about sexual abuse of their child. (Note to the Aussies: the Rotherham social workers were female, and they did not stop Pakistani Muslim creeps molesting over a thousand girls. Bringing in women won’t solve anything, and the state managing the church is anathema. No. I’m not Catholic.)

Though we must praise similar evil if the state approves. The Scouts must accept transgender youths: a term for child abuse as kids are allowed to be what they want to be until puberty hits them. Fantasies are not reality. I wanted to be Gandalf when I was in intermediate school, but being a secret king and ruler of dungeons and dragons is not good for one’s development.

Bullrush is, but that is another issue.

But there are things we do not know, and those who will parse the text to twist it. We need to avoid such. We need to back each other. It is better to say I have no enemies in Christ, and face the real enemies, who will destroy within and without the church.

2 Timothy 2:14-26

¹⁴Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening. ¹⁵Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth. ¹⁶Avoid profane chatter, for it will lead people into more and more impiety, ¹⁷and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, ¹⁸who have swerved from the truth by claiming that the resurrection has already taken place. They are upsetting the faith of some. ¹⁹But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.”

²⁰In a large house there are utensils not only of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for special use, some for ordinary. ²¹All who cleanse themselves of the things I have mentioned will become special utensils, dedicated and useful to the owner of the house, ready for every good work. ²²Shun youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. ²³Have nothing to do with stupid and senseless controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. ²⁴And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient, ²⁵correcting opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth, ²⁶and that they may escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

An aside on the issue of abuse in the Catholic church. I am not shocked. Firstly, the church should preach the gospel (let us ignore the heresy of liberation theology). This will be opposed, and there will be people entering the church to destroy it. Secondly, those who are leading the church will be under greater demonic attack than us pew warmers. And finally, those who want to abuse children go to where they are: the scouts, the church, the schools. In the process, they drive decent men away.

I would not recommend to any young man that he enter primary school teaching. The lack of male teachers stunts kids, true. But the risk in this fallen age is too great.

Onto the main point. We are to teach soundly. We are not to teach emotively. The use of rhetoric is in the public sphere, but within the church we are to teach why and how and the skills required to be holy.

We are to chase perfection, knowing we will not see it.

Not because this brings us salvation: that work was finished on the cross. But to glorify God. To please him.

I love Robyn. I married her. I generally try to make her happy, and I have ended up doing things I don’t like because they make her happy. I used to order groceries on line. Robyn enjoys choosing vegetables. There is no moral difference, but one makes her happier. Given that, the choice is fairly simple.

When we are holy God is pleased. That should be enough.

But I am fallen, and when I do right and the enemy seethes and suffers, I confess that there is enjoyment in that.

Chase holiness, and let the enemy virtue spiral. We need to back each other.