Safeguarding the true gospel
The Apostle Paul gives Timothy the sacred charge to safeguard the gospel; to guard “the authentic Christian faith and practice”. But what pattern of pastoral ministry will fulfill that task?
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Paul’s instruction to Timothy on this matter is to carry out intentional “Disciple-making ministry”:
“You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others”. (2 Tim 2:2 NLT)
Timothy himself is to be a true disciple of Jesus; and he is to engage himself in Gospel ministry or church ministry that regularly produces true disciples of Jesus.
These authentic disciples will be people who are spiritually mature and able to help others to become true disciples of Jesus too. In this way, the true Christian faith and practice is carefully passed on from one set of believers to another set of genuine and faithful Christians.
The sense here is a disciple-making ministry that produces genuine Christians who live holy and godly lifestyles; they reproduce their kind of true disciples of Jesus and have multiplying effect.
We can hear the Apostle Paul instructing Timothy, “the authentic pastoral or church ministry that will safeguard the true gospel is to intentionally focus on producing disciples of Jesus in the local church or congregation”.
The disciple-making ministry is the pattern of pastoral or church ministry to pursue. It is the pattern that fulfills God’s purpose for the church.
But there is a cost to being a disciple of Jesus and raising others to become genuine, true disciples of Jesus! That is to say, to follow a regular lifestyle or path of being a true disciple and helping others to become Christ-like disciples is costly.
How many of us will sincerely want to live a godly life which is Bible-centered and brings glory to the name of the Lord Jesus? How many of us strongly desire to carry out a godly pastoral ministry or personal ministry (Christian service) that receives Christ’s approval?
Well, the Bible says, “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim 3:12).
In fact, Jesus forewarns His disciples about the cost involved in true Gospel ministry.
“A servant is not greater than the master. Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. 21 The people of the world will hate you because you belong to me, for they don’t know God who sent me.” (John 15:20-21; 16:1-4a. See also Mathew 10:24-31)
Those who will live godly lifestyles of integrity and working hard to safeguard the true Gospel will be persecuted. But we are not to give up.
Timothy is to gird up his loins and persevere in the intentional ministry of raising disciples of Jesus. And so the Apostle Paul gives him “a charge to suffer for safeguarding the Gospel”. (2Timothy 2:1-7)
First, Timothy is to receive strength for ministry as he continually allows God to strengthen him for his task (2Timothy 2:1). His own puny strength will not hold out, “The arm of flesh will fail you; you dare not trust your own” so Timothy is to take strength from the grace of God.
Secondly, Timothy is to take the disciple-making work seriously since it is the most critical part of his ministry (2Timothy 2:2).
Thirdly, he is commanded to take his part in suffering for safeguarding the true Gospel.
The Apostle Paul uses a set of three analogies (military, athletics, and farming) to express the charge to suffer.
He emphasises the need for whole-hearted devotion in Christian service and an expectation of reward in remaining faithful to the end (2Timothy 2:4&5, 5&6).
Timothy is to take his share of suffering as a good soldier of Christ (sicut militas Christi). The Apostle Paul is not talking theory. He reminds him, “but you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith and how long I have suffered. You know my love and patient endurance. You know how much persecution and suffering I have. You know about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra - but the lord delivered me from all of it”. (2 Tim 3:10-11).
In fact Paul declares, “my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus - the work of telling others the good news about God’s wonderful kindness and love”. (Acts 20:24)
Next, Timothy is to run the Christian ministry race well and finish well. He is not to be disqualified at the end (see Mathew 7:21-23).
An Olympic athlete may complete a race and win a gold medal. But if he tests positive for drugs, he has not completed the race, according to the rules. He therefore loses the gold medal award.
The hardworking farmer’s sweat and great efforts are linked to a reward. There is a day of review of our life and work and reward for it.
In the Apostle Paul’s own words, “there is a crown of righteousness that the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that great day of His return (2Timothy 2:8).
We must run well and finish the authentic Gospel ministry race of being true disciples of Jesus and raising up true disciples of Jesus.
The author is a Leadership Development and Cross-cultural Ministries Consultant, an International, conference speaker and formerly General Director / CEO of Scripture Union Ghana. Email: [email protected] / [email protected])