Healthy Churches in an Unhealthy World
June 6, 2021
The following is an imagined interview of Paul by Luke. As a background to letters by Paul to his envoys, Titus on Crete and Timothy in Ephesus, it introduces our discussion of these letters in which Paul warns of wide-spreading diseases among churches and urges healthy countermeasures.
Luke – This is Luke, church historian and reporter. I’m researching a sequel to my Acts. I’ve been tracing recent events in Paul’s life and finally caught up with him in Nicopolis. He has agreed to answer a few questions.
Luke -- What are you doing here Paul? Last time I saw you was in Rome under house arrest.
Paul – Yes, those were unexpected days, but I was able to talk freely and boldly about the Lord Jesus Messiah even in Rome.
Luke -- What happened to your aim to preach Christ where he had not been heard? And your plans to go to Spain? Are they still in your agenda?
Paul – My plans were always subject to God’s plan. Without going into details of my first defense, God stood by me and rescued me so that I could preach his message fully.
Luke – So did you ever make it to Spain?
Paul –Only briefly. My plans were interrupted by widespread unhealthy teachings by diseased false teachers infiltrating churches where I had labored for so many years.
Luke – Diseases? What kind of diseases?
Paul – I’m not talking about physical ailments, but a virtual pandemic of diseases in the churches. Here is a draft of my letter to Timothy in Ephesus. Read this paragraph [I Tim. 6:4-6]; “If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the healthy words of our Lord Jesus . . . I describe their character and impact with words we use for physical ills. With your medical background, what diseases do you see?
Luke – I see sickly, typhoid, diphtheria, morbidity. I get it – these teachers and their teachings will inflict the church community just like those diseases inflict human bodies. So, what are you doing about that problem?
Paul – I’ve already left Timothy in Ephesus and Titus on Crete where they are to teach and act as if I myself was there. I am writing each one a letter to mentor him in that situation. They are to model and teach true and healthy doctrine. They are to see to it that the churches have healthy leaders for the next generation. After all, I may not survive another trip to Rome.
Luke – Wise decision. Do you have any new teachings to correct those problems?
Paul – Nothing new; just the old sound words.
Luke – “Sound,” What’s that? Oh, I understand [his medical background kicks in], sound doctrine is hygiene for churches!
Paul – Exactly. Hold firmly to the faithful word as taught, the glorious gospel entrusted to us. Pass that on. It’s the healthy teaching that produces healthy churches.
--Tom Yoakum
