“For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths.” [2 Timothy 4:3-4]
This was one of the lessons read at the recent Northern Illinois Synod Ordination Service at which three (3) young persons accepted the commitments for service as an ordained clergy in the ELCA. I’m sure it has been reads at countless other Ordination Services – but, for some reasons, it spoke to me with impact this year.
For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine –
The HarperCollins Study Bible states that the author “regarded this prediction as being fulfilled in his time.” History suggests Paul wrote this while imprisoned, probably in Rome, Friends seemed to have deserted him and death was imminent. Understandable that any of these factors would precipitate a depression – yet interesting that he ties his misfortunate time to the thought that people were rejecting sound doctrine.
Hearing this text – and reminiscing about my 50+ years of ordination – I realized how often it is tempting to project blame for one’s struggles in ministry to the “people”:
- if only “they” were more faithful
- if only “they” were better educated
- if only “they” were not so easily duped by unsound (?) doctrine and myths.
Certainly such “projections” are frequent today as we (ELCA) strive to understand diminishing numbers or to resolve significant differences about biblical teachings or to find better ways of remaining true to values and be honest with the areas of cognitive dissonances that life in the 21st century presents.
I wondered if these young colleagues in ministry realized what challenges they face. Yet, it was no different in 1957 at my ordination. And, as 2 Timothy suggests, the challenges date back to be beginning of the Church (as well as Old Testament passages that suggest these challenges date to the beginning of time).
Interestingly, that thought was comforting.
We do not minister “alone”. Our seminary education gave us tools to use in our challenges – tools of Systematic Theology, Biblical text studies, Church History. These are not “static” resources, memorized by rote. Rather, they are to be used which includes keeping them up-dated. [The same is true for the tools in my garage workshop. Drills are still drills; hammers are still hammers; - but how they have changed over the years and how easily they rust if care is not provided.] Thus, collegiality is not just an elective. Collegiality is a necessity. We keep each other well-tuned and, where indicated, corrected.
Our real challenge is to “be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable (2 Tim 4:2). Success is the responsibility of God!
Later that evening someone asked if, after all these decades, I’d “do it again?” Without hesitation my answer was – and is – YES.
Hopefully I’d make fewer mistakes; do better in honing the skills and maintaining the tools for and of ministry.
Without hesitation, I can think of no other vocation in this age that is more challenging, more needed, and more rewarding than the Ordained Ministry.
[And when I really get bogged down by “their” addictions to unsound doctrine, may the words of Pogo stay with me: I [we} has met the enemy and he is I [us]!
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