“Have nothing to do with stupid and senseless controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient...”
(2 Timothy 2:23–24, NRSV)
One church in Charlotte, North Carolina had its hands full with an elderly woman of the congregation. Every church has problem-members, but some of these people really stand out. A seventy-some year-old elderly woman at that church in Charlotte was notorious for her diatribes at the church business meetings. At the annual congregational meeting every year in January, leaders would discuss the financial picture of the church, big issues from the past year, and share goals for the upcoming year. During these meetings, members were allowed to get up and talk about their joys and concerns. Every year, one woman always got up to speak. Members nicknamed her “Blaster Betty”.
“Blaster Betty” always found something to complain about at each and every congregational meeting. One year, “Blaster Betty” criticized the noise coming from children in the nursery. She suggested the church spend $40,000 to sound-proof the nursery room. Another year, “Blaster Betty” proposed that the pastors visit all shut-ins twice a month. As she put it, “The pastors have nothing better to do anyway. They might as well earn their keep.” Usually, “Blaster Betty” proposed spending money the church could not afford or adding onerous duties to the pastor’s time. Everyone in the congregation knew that Betty would find something to “stir the pot”.
At work, in the family, or around the neighborhood, you may have your own “Blaster Betty” to stir the pot. These types of people always cause trouble. Usually, they like to cause a controversy. They enjoy nothing better than a good old church fight or neighborhood drama. Like a fireplace poker can prod a smoking log to burst into flames, these people poke away at issues and sore spots to encourage dissention and division. Wherever they go, they inevitably create chaos and ill-feelings.
The New Testament churches also dealt with people who liked to stir the pot. That is why Paul encouraged the budding pastor, Timothy, to avoid getting caught up in their “stupid and senseless controversies”. These contentious people would inherently “breed quarrels” (2 Timothy 2:23). In contrast, Paul explained to Timothy that “the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome, but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, and patient” (2 Timothy 2:24). It is the duty of children of God to stay away from infighting by acts of kindness and patience. Paul also encouraged the Ephesian church in the same manner, writing them to “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). All too many people are defensive, selfish, and worldly. Paul did not want these destructive attitudes to cause infighting in the churches.
There are not only “Blaster Betty” types of people in your world. There may be “Blaster Betty” thoughts that threaten to consume your mind. You might find your attitudes and feelings slipping into the negative. When things don’t go your way, you might get defensive, become argumentative, or push buttons in others. These negative attitudes and feelings are not only destructive in the church but destructive of your mind and soul. They also erode and damage relationships. If you find yourself slipping into this negative mindset, you will always find something wrong in your soul behind the change. Fears, insecurities, resentments, or little jealousies can bubble up in passive-aggressive behaviors or angry rants. Soul-searching and repentance are needed immediately, before Satan adds his own evil to stir the pot all the more!
At an assembly plant in Ohio, workers were on edge. A hiring freeze was on. Sales were down. The economy was slipping into a recession. With money tight, managers decided to layoff one-third of the workforce in a portion of the plant. Then, they added all the duties of those who were laid off on the shoulders of the workers who kept their jobs. Stress was rampant. Workers feared the future. The company was on shaky ground.
Steve worked at that plant. While not laid off, his responsibilities at the plant doubled. Essentially, he was doing the jobs of two workers. The extra work and longer hours made Steve stressful. He was burning out. He didn’t have time to eat right. He drank a little too much. His stomach bothered him a little too much.
Steve also brought home the stress of his workday. He was ill-tempered. If the children were having so much fun that they got a little noisy, he would yell at them at the top of his lungs! If Steve’s wife made the smallest mistake, she was thoroughly chastised. Steve’s mood was often soured by bad news or paying the bills. Even in his spiritual life, Steve became thoroughly negative. On the way to worship, he would complain about the pastor or the music. On the way home from worship, he would complain about the service as being a waste of time. Steve was not aware of how negative his words were becoming, nor how much his soul was suffering from the bad attitude. The inner quarrels of heart and soul and mind eroded Steve’s relationship with family members as well as his relationship with God. It took Steve years to figure out how much the inner quarrels ate away at his peace and stole his patience.
Quarrels and quarrelsome people wreak havoc in our world. Don’t become one of those “Blaster Betties”. Keep watch over your soul. Make sure negative thoughts and attitudes don’t cloud your spiritual life, choking out joy and peace and holy patience. Be careful that you don’t keep quarrelsome friends. Their penchant to stir the pot might unsettle your soul or cause irreparable harm. Protect yourself from quarrelsome situations. Infrequently, you may be able to bring some peace to those who stir the pot. More often than not, they will find a way to drag you into their drama.
“Blaster Betty” always found something to complain about at each and every congregational meeting. One year, “Blaster Betty” criticized the noise coming from children in the nursery. She suggested the church spend $40,000 to sound-proof the nursery room. Another year, “Blaster Betty” proposed that the pastors visit all shut-ins twice a month. As she put it, “The pastors have nothing better to do anyway. They might as well earn their keep.” Usually, “Blaster Betty” proposed spending money the church could not afford or adding onerous duties to the pastor’s time. Everyone in the congregation knew that Betty would find something to “stir the pot”.
At work, in the family, or around the neighborhood, you may have your own “Blaster Betty” to stir the pot. These types of people always cause trouble. Usually, they like to cause a controversy. They enjoy nothing better than a good old church fight or neighborhood drama. Like a fireplace poker can prod a smoking log to burst into flames, these people poke away at issues and sore spots to encourage dissention and division. Wherever they go, they inevitably create chaos and ill-feelings.
The New Testament churches also dealt with people who liked to stir the pot. That is why Paul encouraged the budding pastor, Timothy, to avoid getting caught up in their “stupid and senseless controversies”. These contentious people would inherently “breed quarrels” (2 Timothy 2:23). In contrast, Paul explained to Timothy that “the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome, but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, and patient” (2 Timothy 2:24). It is the duty of children of God to stay away from infighting by acts of kindness and patience. Paul also encouraged the Ephesian church in the same manner, writing them to “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). All too many people are defensive, selfish, and worldly. Paul did not want these destructive attitudes to cause infighting in the churches.
There are not only “Blaster Betty” types of people in your world. There may be “Blaster Betty” thoughts that threaten to consume your mind. You might find your attitudes and feelings slipping into the negative. When things don’t go your way, you might get defensive, become argumentative, or push buttons in others. These negative attitudes and feelings are not only destructive in the church but destructive of your mind and soul. They also erode and damage relationships. If you find yourself slipping into this negative mindset, you will always find something wrong in your soul behind the change. Fears, insecurities, resentments, or little jealousies can bubble up in passive-aggressive behaviors or angry rants. Soul-searching and repentance are needed immediately, before Satan adds his own evil to stir the pot all the more!
At an assembly plant in Ohio, workers were on edge. A hiring freeze was on. Sales were down. The economy was slipping into a recession. With money tight, managers decided to layoff one-third of the workforce in a portion of the plant. Then, they added all the duties of those who were laid off on the shoulders of the workers who kept their jobs. Stress was rampant. Workers feared the future. The company was on shaky ground.
Steve worked at that plant. While not laid off, his responsibilities at the plant doubled. Essentially, he was doing the jobs of two workers. The extra work and longer hours made Steve stressful. He was burning out. He didn’t have time to eat right. He drank a little too much. His stomach bothered him a little too much.
Steve also brought home the stress of his workday. He was ill-tempered. If the children were having so much fun that they got a little noisy, he would yell at them at the top of his lungs! If Steve’s wife made the smallest mistake, she was thoroughly chastised. Steve’s mood was often soured by bad news or paying the bills. Even in his spiritual life, Steve became thoroughly negative. On the way to worship, he would complain about the pastor or the music. On the way home from worship, he would complain about the service as being a waste of time. Steve was not aware of how negative his words were becoming, nor how much his soul was suffering from the bad attitude. The inner quarrels of heart and soul and mind eroded Steve’s relationship with family members as well as his relationship with God. It took Steve years to figure out how much the inner quarrels ate away at his peace and stole his patience.
Quarrels and quarrelsome people wreak havoc in our world. Don’t become one of those “Blaster Betties”. Keep watch over your soul. Make sure negative thoughts and attitudes don’t cloud your spiritual life, choking out joy and peace and holy patience. Be careful that you don’t keep quarrelsome friends. Their penchant to stir the pot might unsettle your soul or cause irreparable harm. Protect yourself from quarrelsome situations. Infrequently, you may be able to bring some peace to those who stir the pot. More often than not, they will find a way to drag you into their drama.