Dear Paul - Part 4

This is going up a day that as I was on the move or in meetings for 13 straight hours yesterday.  It's been great to slow down today and read up on Sunday's sermon and be in the one place for more than an hour.  Here's part 4 -

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I have written to you before about what I see as a worrying trend among some of the Christians here toward separating themselves off from the outside world.  Despite the large Jewish community in Ephesus it can be almost impossible to buy meat here that hasn’t been offered up in a temple of some sort or killed in a ritualistic way.  This is less of a problem for those who live outside of the city or the very rich who can keep their own animals but for the trading classes and the few slaves who have the money to eat meat this can be a big issue.

I know that your teaching is clear on this that “to the pure all things are pure” and that our role is to be in the world as our Lord Jesus was but I find it almost impossible to argue against this trend. Those who tell all Christians to stay separate from the outside world and away from people who are not Christians in their day to day dealings and social life do what they do to help people remain holy.  I want my people to be holy but does that mean we have to stay apart from the non-Christian people we live and work alongside?

I think I could stand up against their arguments better if I did not feel so much like a child before them.  One of the louder advocates for Christians keeping to themselves even said to my face that he would not accept teaching from his own infant child and so he would not accept teaching from a boy like me!  It hurt.  It feels sometimes as though they are looking down on me because of how my young appearance.

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1 Timothy chapter 4 for comparison.  Thanks for those who have emailed comments.  Feel free to post them on the blog as they have all been worth general reading.

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 ¹The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. ²Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. ³They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. ⁴For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, ⁵because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

 ⁶If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. ⁷Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. ⁸For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
 ⁹This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance ¹⁰(and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.
 ¹¹Command and teach these things. ¹²Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. ¹³Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. ¹⁴Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
 ¹⁵Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. ¹⁶Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.