“However, God’s solid foundation remains standing, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from evil.”” (2 Timothy 2:19, NET)
With the words in 2 Timothy, Paul hoped that the budding pastor Timothy would understand the difficulties and blessings that come with being a pastor or leader for the Lord. Twice Paul wrote to Timothy to impart wisdom in these matters. In 2 Timothy 2, Paul warned Timothy that there were problems in the churches to which Timothy was being sent. Some Christians were suffering persecution (2 Timothy 2:3). The core of the gospel about Jesus Christ was being lost or subverted. There were people who denied Jesus being the Christ (2 Timothy 2:12). There were quarrels and arguments and nitpicking (2 Timothy 2:15-16). Paul even named two men causing who were causing problems in the churches Timothy was being sent, Hymenaeus and Philetus (2 Timothy 2:17). These men didn’t believe in the coming resurrection of the saints. After mentioning all these issues, Paul wrote the scripture for today found in 2 Timothy 2:19. He summed up the foundational aspects of the faith: “the Lord knows who are his” and “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from evil.”
If you look at these two foundational aspects of the faith, a few important factors come to mind. In the first half of the verse, we are told that “the Lord knows those who are his”. God is faithful. God watches over those who believe. God knows their names and has HIS eyes upon them. The second important factor mentioned by Paul was that “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from evil.” This second factor emphasizes the response to God’s faithfulness. In order to be one of God’s own, a person MUST “turn away from evil.” This is the response God looks for in every person of faith. It must be a basic tenet of your belief in Jesus.
If you want to be a follower of Jesus, it is your responsibility to “turn away from evil”. According to Jesus’ own words from the Lord’s Prayer, God will “deliver us from evil”, but this does not mean that we don’t have to turn away from that evil as well. This “turning away from evil” is our required reaction. It is a basic necessity of faith. You might think this is a given, but Paul saw it as missing in some of those who desired to believe in Jesus.
Some people do not turn away from evil. Instead, they run right to it. This happens when a person in the church gossips about another, when a churchgoer desires to “get even”, or when churches are prone to fight over worldly issues. I have known Christians who fought over the placement of chandeliers and silverware in churches. There are well-known situations where Christians fought with one another over who was the best leader, who was responsible for worship, or how much money should be spent on missions. Instead of healthy debates, these people fought. There were powerplays. There was name-calling. People took sides over their pet peeves. Paul soundly criticized such actions in the Corinthian church, for example (see 1 Corinthians 1:11, 3:3, 3:5, etc.), but they continue to tear apart churches today.
Some people in the church do not run to evil in the church, but they are content to dabble in it. You might find them piously worshipping in church on Sunday but cussing and fuming on Tuesday. They might give a tithe to God in the offering plate but expect to be given special privileges for these same offerings. They might never break the Ten Commandments openly but consistently practice sinful habits on the sly. They don’t openly attack any in the church but when they are with friends, the gossip that can wreak havoc pours forth from their lips. They might be faithful at attending worship but unfaithful in sharing their blessings. They could even be model citizens but with a tendency to flirt with the opposite sex. There are many ways for people to dabble in evil instead of outright turning away from it.
Henrietta grew up in a Baptist Church “down South” in America. She came from a good family. Her grandfather was a pastor. Her brother and his wife did missionary work overseas. Henrietta loved singing in the church choir. When there was a gathering at church, she was almost always there. When asked, Henrietta would be glad to participate in clothing drives, food pantry drives, and offerings for missions. She dressed up for every occasion. But Henrietta had one glaring failing. She was a prideful woman.
When Henrietta was in her early twenties, she met Jacob. Jacob was quite the flirt. He would often “dress to the nines” when out in public. He would flatter every woman he saw, whether she was at church or in the grocery store. And Jacob had a special desire for Henrietta. When Jacob saw Henrietta, he would go out of his way to compliment her dress, notice when she had her hair done, or give many compliments to her cooking. Henrietta lapped up all Jacob’s attention. But, because of her pride, she could not see that Jacob was not to be trusted. He had a wandering eye for the ladies. He used his flirting and compliments to manipulate others.
When Jacob decided to run for the position of elder in her church, Henrietta was his greatest champion. With a secret desire to date Jacob, she spoke highly of Jacob’s work in the church. She became testy to any of her friends who expressed they didn’t trust that Jacob was right for leadership. Henrietta even went so far as to question why the pastor would want anyone else for the position of elder other than Jacob. Henrietta used her influence as the daughter of a pastor and as the sister of a missionary to impress upon others to follow her example.
When Jacob won his election as elder at her church, Henrietta was excited. However, her excitement was short-lived. When Jacob was accused of inappropriate touching by a woman in the congregation, Henrietta blamed the woman for lying. When Jacob was accused a second time of inappropriate behavior, Henrietta talked to the woman’s family to silence her. Then, word spread among the members that Jacob had a child with two different women in a neighboring town. Henrietta proclaimed it was all lies to make Jacob look bad. The problem was, Jacob had been inappropriate around women for a long time, and he did have two illegitimate sons by two different women while unmarried. Finally, convinced of Jacob’s sinful actions, Henrietta wrote him off, never to speak to him again. However, at no time did Henrietta ever ask for forgiveness for defending and burying all the lies of Jacob she believed. She never said she was sorry for silencing the women who spoke out about Jacob’s infidelities. You might even think Henrietta was “too proud” to admit to such mistakes.
According to today’s scripture, you are to confess your belief in the Lord while turning away from evil. Is there some evil that has tempted you? Are you prone to dabble in little sins? Is there a sin that you hide from others but is entrenched in your mind? Paul knew that those who do not “turn away from evil” are prone to become comfortable with it or even defend it. Out of love for you, I urge you to give no quarter to evil in your life. Do not dwell on it. Do not dabble in it. Do not allow it to wheedle its way into your heart and mind. If you let evil take the smallest hold in your life, it will spread like a virus to attack your spiritual health. It will weaken and destroy your good intentions. It will sour your sweet soul. God will be faithful. But, will you?
If you look at these two foundational aspects of the faith, a few important factors come to mind. In the first half of the verse, we are told that “the Lord knows those who are his”. God is faithful. God watches over those who believe. God knows their names and has HIS eyes upon them. The second important factor mentioned by Paul was that “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from evil.” This second factor emphasizes the response to God’s faithfulness. In order to be one of God’s own, a person MUST “turn away from evil.” This is the response God looks for in every person of faith. It must be a basic tenet of your belief in Jesus.
If you want to be a follower of Jesus, it is your responsibility to “turn away from evil”. According to Jesus’ own words from the Lord’s Prayer, God will “deliver us from evil”, but this does not mean that we don’t have to turn away from that evil as well. This “turning away from evil” is our required reaction. It is a basic necessity of faith. You might think this is a given, but Paul saw it as missing in some of those who desired to believe in Jesus.
Some people do not turn away from evil. Instead, they run right to it. This happens when a person in the church gossips about another, when a churchgoer desires to “get even”, or when churches are prone to fight over worldly issues. I have known Christians who fought over the placement of chandeliers and silverware in churches. There are well-known situations where Christians fought with one another over who was the best leader, who was responsible for worship, or how much money should be spent on missions. Instead of healthy debates, these people fought. There were powerplays. There was name-calling. People took sides over their pet peeves. Paul soundly criticized such actions in the Corinthian church, for example (see 1 Corinthians 1:11, 3:3, 3:5, etc.), but they continue to tear apart churches today.
Some people in the church do not run to evil in the church, but they are content to dabble in it. You might find them piously worshipping in church on Sunday but cussing and fuming on Tuesday. They might give a tithe to God in the offering plate but expect to be given special privileges for these same offerings. They might never break the Ten Commandments openly but consistently practice sinful habits on the sly. They don’t openly attack any in the church but when they are with friends, the gossip that can wreak havoc pours forth from their lips. They might be faithful at attending worship but unfaithful in sharing their blessings. They could even be model citizens but with a tendency to flirt with the opposite sex. There are many ways for people to dabble in evil instead of outright turning away from it.
Henrietta grew up in a Baptist Church “down South” in America. She came from a good family. Her grandfather was a pastor. Her brother and his wife did missionary work overseas. Henrietta loved singing in the church choir. When there was a gathering at church, she was almost always there. When asked, Henrietta would be glad to participate in clothing drives, food pantry drives, and offerings for missions. She dressed up for every occasion. But Henrietta had one glaring failing. She was a prideful woman.
When Henrietta was in her early twenties, she met Jacob. Jacob was quite the flirt. He would often “dress to the nines” when out in public. He would flatter every woman he saw, whether she was at church or in the grocery store. And Jacob had a special desire for Henrietta. When Jacob saw Henrietta, he would go out of his way to compliment her dress, notice when she had her hair done, or give many compliments to her cooking. Henrietta lapped up all Jacob’s attention. But, because of her pride, she could not see that Jacob was not to be trusted. He had a wandering eye for the ladies. He used his flirting and compliments to manipulate others.
When Jacob decided to run for the position of elder in her church, Henrietta was his greatest champion. With a secret desire to date Jacob, she spoke highly of Jacob’s work in the church. She became testy to any of her friends who expressed they didn’t trust that Jacob was right for leadership. Henrietta even went so far as to question why the pastor would want anyone else for the position of elder other than Jacob. Henrietta used her influence as the daughter of a pastor and as the sister of a missionary to impress upon others to follow her example.
When Jacob won his election as elder at her church, Henrietta was excited. However, her excitement was short-lived. When Jacob was accused of inappropriate touching by a woman in the congregation, Henrietta blamed the woman for lying. When Jacob was accused a second time of inappropriate behavior, Henrietta talked to the woman’s family to silence her. Then, word spread among the members that Jacob had a child with two different women in a neighboring town. Henrietta proclaimed it was all lies to make Jacob look bad. The problem was, Jacob had been inappropriate around women for a long time, and he did have two illegitimate sons by two different women while unmarried. Finally, convinced of Jacob’s sinful actions, Henrietta wrote him off, never to speak to him again. However, at no time did Henrietta ever ask for forgiveness for defending and burying all the lies of Jacob she believed. She never said she was sorry for silencing the women who spoke out about Jacob’s infidelities. You might even think Henrietta was “too proud” to admit to such mistakes.
According to today’s scripture, you are to confess your belief in the Lord while turning away from evil. Is there some evil that has tempted you? Are you prone to dabble in little sins? Is there a sin that you hide from others but is entrenched in your mind? Paul knew that those who do not “turn away from evil” are prone to become comfortable with it or even defend it. Out of love for you, I urge you to give no quarter to evil in your life. Do not dwell on it. Do not dabble in it. Do not allow it to wheedle its way into your heart and mind. If you let evil take the smallest hold in your life, it will spread like a virus to attack your spiritual health. It will weaken and destroy your good intentions. It will sour your sweet soul. God will be faithful. But, will you?