2 Timothy 3:14 - 4:5
Proper 24 (29) - Year C
"Continue in what you have learned." When in Peace Corps training to teach teachers how to teach science without lab equipment it was emphasized that learning how to learn was more important than learning a particular experiment and fabricating equipment for a particular experiment.
What have Christians learned? Have we learned memorization? Have we learned doctrine and dogma? Have we learned ritual? Have we learned that a living G*D is going to keep us learning beyond each and every particular learning?
Scripture is "useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness." Two support functions, two correction functions. A given passage can be used in at least these ways. Which is the one and only correct use? -- none. When we wrestle through and learn how to learn we are equipped for every good work needed in the moment.
Among other things, it takes flexibility to be ready for the next good work needed. We can't keep repeating the same good work in a variety of settings without that good work eventually becoming exactly a bad work that makes everything worse.
Keep wrestling with scripture and the persistent need to keep momentary truths from limiting a coming new heaven and earth.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2004/october2004.html
"Be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage with the utmost patience in teaching."
These qualities have both positive and negative aspects. In light of the "debates" we have heard in America from the Republican and Democrat candidates for the presidency we have seen the use of these qualities overused to the point of emulating the big lie. It is as, if you say it often enough it becomes true. This does reflect the communication rule of thumb that folks need to hear something seven times before it begins to sink in that there is more than noise going on, but it is still disheartening that the level of political insight and discourse is so low after all these years and getting lower.
Persistence need not mean repetition. We can be persistent in our actions and keep reaping the same whirlwind over and over again, thinking that somehow the same decisions won't bear the same results. We can also be persistent in well doing that is different in response to the different needs at this moment, instead of the last moment.
Conviction, correction, and support are all part of the teaching function. In most settings these are best done with some creativity that plays off of incremental insights. In prison settings the boundaries around these are much more constrained. But as people freed to the limitlessness of doing good, we are called to the creative part of teaching. We continue to not only see people as they are, but as they might become and to interact with them on this basis.
This is a call to the difficult and rewarding work of wresting with applying new duties to new occasions. This is not a call to rote memorization or intellectual speculation.
Let us continue to encourage one another to persist in living in the midst of G*D's expansive love and to not only love G*D and neighbor, but to fairly wrestle with them.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2004/october2004.html
That which is G*D-inspired is useful in the midst of a community. Scripture is a useful tool - useful even when misused and someone tries to use it as a hammer when the task at hand is casting seed upon prepared ground.
According to Paul, Scripture's usefulness falls into two categories: positively - teaching/training, and negatively - reproof/correction. These are the same needs an individual and community have - support and re-direction.
We might also be stimulated to consider what else, in addition to Scripture, is useful, is G*D-inspired. Where might beauty fit into this? A created environment where we find ourselves? Additional writings and other art forms? Science? Neighbors?
- - -
somehow we keep hearing
be sober
endure suffering
evangelizegood news apparently
so diluted
so mechanical
so earnesthumor has been squeezed
down
out
foreverall that is left
persistence
rebuke
solemnitymay we hear again
a cheering evangel
encouraging us
and all
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_10_01_archive.html
"All scripture is inspired. . . ." Mine, certainly. Yours, certainly, Theirs, certainly.
The purpose of scripture or prayer or dreaming is to be "proficient, equipped for every good work".
Paul sees everything through his converted eyes, but it doesn't take much imagination to know that if I've been converted once, I can be so again and be just as passionate about the next "real truth" as this one. So the quotes above do stand out, not as religion specific, but the best wisdom of each of them.
If we also broaden Paul's encouragement to Timothy in the last part of this pericope, we can see the value of persistence and education. We are to keep at what we know until it is time for us to move to our next learning. We are to keep learning or we cease being effectively persistent and become merely rote. These are matters that pertain to every faith tradition and stage of life.
Our danger point is that of modern-day fundamentalism (and other -isms, whatever their disguise) that seems incapable of learning, requires a fealty of conformity to the past, and is willing to cut off its own for the transgression of not being in lockstep. For further explication of this issue of narcissism you may be interested in an article in Rolling Stone, Matt Tiabbi on the Tea Party.
Our point of opportunity is that of an openness and expectation of learning that will move us beyond where we are, measuring ourselves against our hope rather than our accomplishments, and intentionally looking to increase the community.
Inasmuch as this week has focused a bit on prayer let me conclude by indicating a blessing that allows one to not only walk a mile in another's life, but to pray their prayers, dream their dreams. If you are a conscious prayer, this is a week in which you might practice prayer forms from different traditions. If you are not a conscious prayer, this is a week in which you might try shaping your yearning, for something larger or better than we currently experience in our common life, into words. Both avenues will assist you to be proficient in every good work and model for others the possibility for such in their own life.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2010/10/2-timothy-314-45.html