Lead Like Christ: Reflecting the Qualities and Character of Christ In Your Ministry (Audiobook, 2021) by A.W. Tozer, Book Review

I like to think of A.W. Tozer (many have called him a modern-day prophet) as a very bold and manly writer. We need more men of God like him. I'm not comfortable calling a living person a "man of God" anymore because the last time I said that to the late Ravi Zacharias, I was frustrated and ashamed of myself after the exposè. Of course, it's not wrong (if due respect) to call someone a man or woman of God, it is safer for the soul and faith, in my opinion, to reserve that title or honor to the long-gone, time-proven, faithful Christ followers such as A.W. Tozer. Although he passed away in 1963, his influence - writings and Christian living - is critical today. My first encounter with Tozer was through his classic book, The Knowledge of the Holy and also a biography by James L. Snyder entitled A.W. Tozer: In Pursuit of God. I have some issues with Tozer's mysticism but his love for God and His Word surpassed my judgment and is remained central in his life and writings.

Lead Like Christ edited by James Synder for modern readers is a compilation of Tozer's sermons on the Epistle of Paul to Titus which particularly focus on spiritual leadership. If you're looking for a management-side or practical method of leadership, this book is not for you. For that, as I see the importance of knowing how to lead, I would recommend other books. But if you, as Tozer puts it, have "an incurable hunger and thirst for the deep things of God" you will be blessed by this book. His insights on the Scripture, particularly the Letter to Titus, are admirable. His thoughts on the impact of spiritual warfare, the urgent need for sound doctrine, the call of servanthood, the three words he uses to describe Titus (integrity, discretion, and enthusiasm), and more are skillfully articulate to connect to the topic of spiritual leadership. He gives examples of Paul, other apostles and prophets, his contemporaries, and chiefly the Master, our Lord Jesus Christ.

There were times when I have to pause and reflect on what he said and consider my own walk with God and the people I try to lead. As Paul said to another of his mentee, Timothy, "Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching" (1 Timothy 4:16), that is, teach "accords with sound doctrine" (Titus 2:1). We need more leaders today. But not the worldly kind of leaders. We need Christ-centered leaders that can turn the world upside down with silent obedience and loud character that bring glory to "our great God and Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13). This is a high calling, Holy Spirit, help us! Amen.

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #LeadLikeChrist #AWTozer #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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Give Thyself To Reading #LeadersAreReaders July 2022

 At this writing, I'm finishing a book by Jason Dorsey and Denise Villa entitled Zconomy: How Gen Z Will Change the Future of Business — and What to Do About It (2020). It is obvious from their research that Gen Zers are more attracted to visuals and videos than words. The immediate implication is that reading actual books are in decline. With social media, Netflix, and video games competing for our attention (not just Gen Zers), the side effects include a shortened attention span and a limited ability at deep and critical thinking. I wrote "our attention" because I'm fully aware that the temptation of consuming content for the sake of entertainment only and mindless viewing are real. If I'm not careful (or don't control it), I can be sucked into the vortex of shallowness. I'm horrified by the thought of not being able to think deeply and critically. God forbid!

One of the best antidotes (not the only one, of course) to this deathly sin is by reading books. I can quote lots of positive research that has been done to prove this but let me choose the most authoritative of all: The Bible. Particularly, the example of the apostle Paul. When he was in prison, waiting for his sure execution, he wrote to Timothy. His last request in the letter is to ask Timothy for a cloak to keep him warm and to bring his books! (read 2 Timothy 4:13). Charles Spurgeon, my favorite preacher of the 19th century, reflected on Paul's request:

"He is inspired, and yet he wants books! He has seen the Lord, and yet he wants books! He has had a wider experience than most men, and yet he wants books! He had been caught up in the third heaven and had heard things unlawful for a man to utter, yet he wants books! He has written a major part of the New Testament, and yet he wants books! The apostle says to Timothy and so he says to every Christian, ‘Give thyself to reading.’ The man who never reads will never be read; he who never quotes will never be quoted. He who will not use the thoughts of other men’s brains proves he has no brains of his own.”

Be inspired by Paul's love of books (actually, I'm also inspired by Charles Spurgeon's love of books too. Read his biographies!). Protect your mind. Think deeply and critically. Love knowledge. Savor God's wisdom in His Book and enjoy His general graces in human books too. Give thyself to reading! #ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain #LifeLongLearner

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The Message of 1 Timothy & Titus: Guard the Truth (1996) by John R. W. Stott, Not A Review

The Message of 1 Timothy & Titus: Guard the Truth (1996) by John R. W. Stott

 
At first, I wanted to reread John Stott's excellent commentary on 2 Timothy because I thought it is a fitting book for me to end the year well. But when I realized that I haven't read commentary on 1 Timothy & Titus entirely, I should go for this one instead. This decision proved to be profitable and timely! Praise God. Why do I think reading good Bible commentaries is important? On the back cover of every J.C. Ryle's Expository Thoughts on the gospels says this gem of wisdom: "If the best way to understand the Christian Faith is to read the Gospels, then the next books in order of importance have to be those which aid in the understanding of those Gospels." I find that this is also true for the pastoral letters or epistles such as 1, 2 Timothy & Titus. The best way to know the truth is to read these sacred letters firsthand. The next best is to read good commentaries about them.

I love to read commentaries written by the late Dr. John R. W. Stott (1921-2011) especially on The Sermon on the Mount, Romans, and 2 Timothy. His books such as Basic Christianity, Your Mind Matters, and The Preacher's Portrait also plays a significant role in shaping my Christian faith, mind, and calling. I'm forever grateful for Uncle John's ministry! To come back to his commentaries, I find that Dr. Stott is clear in his expositions, balanced in his teachings, and faithful to the evangelical beliefs. They are both scholarly and yet readable. One very helpful feature that I like the most is that, when Dr. Stott comes to difficult or controversial passages of the pastoral letters (such as on slavery, sexual roles in the church, government, etc.), he will take extra care to outline and explain other major different interpretations before he proceeds to the most probable one with sound Biblical arguments* and applications. If you want to read Bible commentaries or looking for references to prepare for your sermon and Bible study, I fully recommend The Bible Speaks Today Series published by Inter-Varsity Press (IVP). Simply one of the best!

Before I end (sorry, this is NOT a book review after all), let me share how I use a Bible commentary like this one for all its worth. First, I will try to read 1 Timothy & Titus from at least 2 to 3 Bible translations. I read from the New Living Translation (NLT), the English Standard Version (ESV), and the JB Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS is actually a paraphrase). This first step is important because you need to be familiarized with the Scriptures before you study the Scriptures. By the way, keep in mind that the new edition of The Bible Speaks Today Series is using the New International Version (NIV) as the main translation. Secondly, always bring the Bible with you as you read through the commentary. The reason being is that when you read something that sparks your interest or speaks to you, you need to 'see' it in the pages of the Bible for yourself. This is not just good for memorization but also good for your faith and trust in the written Word of God. Finally, share what you have learned with as many people as possible through your social media, during Bible studies, when you give counsel to others, etc. If you read, you learn once. If you read and teach, you will learn twice. If you read, teach and live it, it will be part of your life 😉✌💡

#ServeToLead #GrowingLeaders #LeadersAreReaders #JohnStott #BibleCommentary #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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The Corinthian Agenda (1982, 2004) by Michael Green, Summary-Review

 The Corinthian Agenda (1982, 2004) by Michael Green

“The apostle [Paul]’s love for his wayward church at Corinth is very obvious,” concludes the late Dr. Michael Green, an author, evangelist, and theologian. “He had after all found it. He had visited them at considerable inconvenience on numerous occasions. He had poured out his heart in letters to them and sent colleagues to help them. They were very dear to him. And yet, like any good father, he has to correct their failures and weaknesses. I am thankful he did. For what he has to say is of enormous value for the contemporary church, if only we will heed it.” I agree. God’s church in Corinth was very privileged in the early New Testament times. Paul testified: “I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts He has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. Through Him, God has enriched your church in every way…” and “you have every spiritual gift you need…” (1 Corinthians 1:4-5, 7).

But with all of these gifts, it doesn’t guarantee that the church is all well. The issues within the church in Corinth were very serious and yet it is a blessing for us today. Why? Because without them, we won’t know how to think theologically and handle practically based on the Scripture the same issues facing the church today! So we should thank God for using Paul to give us these two sacred letters - 1 and 2 Corinthians. These letters (the scholars suggest that perhaps Paul have written at least three or four letters to the Corinthians, two of them completely or partially lost) are a remarkable record of the relations “between the greatest of church planters and one of the most influential communities [Paul] founded and cared for.” In the period of reading this book, I also took time to read 1 & 2 Corinthians in the New Living Translation (NLT) and listened to audio Bible in King James Version (KJV) read by the legendary voice of Alexander Scourby. In this way, I can get the most from the Scripture and the book. I recommend this practice especially if you’re reading Bible commentary!

In this book, Michael Green (1930 - 2019) selected some very important issues or major themes and devoted a short chapter for each. This is not a verse by verse commentary but the author just wants to show how “Paul speaks directly to us over a broad range of issues in the Christian life, and speaks with an incisiveness, clarity, and authority that are rare.” There are 3 parts (The Church, The Members & Authority) and 17 short chapters on Mission, Baptism, The Lord’s Supper, Body Life, Love, Worship, Prophecy, Intellect, Freedom, Giving, Sex, Suffering, Death, Leaders, Women & Apostles. As you can see, some of these themes are still hot issues nowadays and very much debate between and within the Christian denominational circles. Of course, I don’t agree with everything Dr. Green writes but if I only read books that I agree with, what benefits will I get? For sure, he was very passionate for the word of God, always trying to provide a balanced view on difficult issues, making sure that important points have Scripture references, and aim to be as plain and practical as possible so that we can apply these truths or principles in our everyday life. The Corinthian Agenda (first published as To Corinth with Love) is a good overview of these sacred letters. But if you want to study in-depth I suggest getting a set of 1 & 2 Corinthians MacArthur New Testament Commentary and those from The Bible Speaks Today commentary series.

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #GrowingLeaders #MichaelGreen #TheCorinthianAgenda #GodsChurch #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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Charles Spurgeon: The Prince of Preachers (1988) by J. C. Carlile, Book Review

 Charles Spurgeon: The Prince of Preachers (1988) by J. C. Carlile
An edited and abridged version, 1997, by Dan Harmon

Once in a while, when I thought that I’ve done so many works and sacrifices for the Lord in my own small, faulty, ignorance perspective, and craving for people’s appreciation and attention, I will think of two mortal men who will have none of these and puts me - and all of us - to shame. First, the indisputable apostle Paul. “For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace” (1 Corinthians 15:10). And secondly, Charles Haddon Spurgeon. He was called to be a preacher when he was 16 years old. It was recorded that in his entire life he preached nearly 3,600 sermons (“The collected sermons filled 63 volumes equivalent to the 27 volume ninth edition of Encyclopedia Britannica,” observes John Piper), and published 49 volumes of commentaries, sayings, illustrations, and devotions. Every week he preached 4 to 10 times, read 6 meaty books, revised sermons for publication, lectured, edited a monthly magazine, and in his spare time, he wrote about 150 books! Not to mention, he shepherded about 6,000 church members (legend says that he knew all members by name), founded and directed a theological college, an orphanage, and oversaw 66 Christian charities.* Remember too, he was a family man with a godly wife and a healthy relationship with all his children. There are more but I think you get the point.

David Livingstone, a famous missionary, once asked Spurgeon, “How can you accomplish so much in one day?” He replied wittily, “You forget, Mr. Livingstone. There are two of us working.” No doubt, he meant the presence and grace of the living God. Reading the biographies of such godly men and women like Spurgeon is a good reminder for every Christians, especially Christian ministers, to remain faithful to His Word and be productive in doing His works. This book, under the Heroes of the Faith titles from Barbour Publishing, is a good introduction to the life, ministry, and legacy of Charles H. Spurgeon. The story of Spurgeon’s childhood and conversion are very fascinating. He was a very curious boy who love nature and learning. One of his biggest influences in my life is his thirst for knowledge. Mind you, he had no formal theological training [nor being formally ordained as a minister] but he was very well-read in Puritan theology, natural history, and popular literature. This gives me hope because I too don’t have any formal theological training (Spurgeon wrote to his father who urged him to apply for college, “You know what my style is. I fancy it is not very collegelike.” Fist bump! Although, this is not an excuse if you need one) and also a sense of unworthiness because Spurgeon is Spurgeon and he is one of a kind (to compare oneself with Spurgeon is to compare a kitten with a lion). The book outlines various aspects of his life including his development as a preacher, minister, writer, educator, and defender of the Truth. A special chapter on his belief in Calvinism is also very interesting. He famously declared: “I am never ashamed to avow myself a Calvinist; I do not hesitate to take the name of Baptist; but if I am asked what is my creed, I reply – It is Jesus Christ.”

But not all of Spurgeon’s life was bright and sunny. He shared his portion of Christ’s suffering, betrayal of friends, physical pain, and emotional depression especially due to the tragic fire incident at Surrey Gardens Music Hall and the energy-sapping ‘Downgrade’ controversy (R.J. Sheehan’s C.H. Spurgeon and the Modern Church, 1985, is an excellent short book to know more about this great battle). At the end of the day, Spurgeon is still a mortal man with flaws, and very much in need of the Saviour like the rest of us. Only by God’s grace, Spurgeon was used by Him mightily. I’m thankful for Spurgeon’s service and praise God forever. As the apostle Paul puts it: “It was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.” Amen!

#ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #LeadersAreReaders #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain #CharlesHSpurgeon #PrinceOfPreacher #ChristianBiography

Here are a few other related #1Book1Week reviews:

1) Spurgeon on Leadership (2010) by Larry J. Michael, CLICK HERE

2) C. H. Spurgeon and the Modern Church: Lessons for Today from the ‘Downgrade’ Controversy (1985) by R.J. Sheehan, CLICK HERE

3) Words of Counsel: For All Leaders, Teachers, and Evangelists (Updated 2018) by Charles H. Spurgeon, CLICK HERE

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Romans 2:1-4 God's Kindness Leads To Repentance (#LetterToTheRomans)

Why does God still let the sinners live? Surely it's NOT because they are good but because God IS good. Many of us misunderstand the goodness of God towards the sinners. "God’s kindness [or goodness] is meant to lead you to repentance" (Romans 1:4). The clock is ticking. The offer is now. Today is probably your last breathe. Will you repent? ⏳⌛⚡

To watch previous short studies of #LetterToTheRomans CLICK HERE http://bit.ly/LegasiRomans 

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Romans 1:28-32 The Breakdown of Human Society (#LetterToTheRomans)

As I observe the current world events and study the Word of God, especially Romans 1, I see the inevitable breakdown of human society. As we move further away from God, we move nearer to our self-destruction. More than ever, the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men (see Romans 1:18). The question is, WHY? And is there any hope amidst all of this?

To watch my previous short studies of #LetterToTheRomans, CLICK HERE http://bit.ly/LegasiRomans 


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Romans 1:26-27 The Reason for Homosexual Behaviour (#LetterToTheRomans)

"For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature," writes Paul the Apostle in Romans 1:26-27 and, "the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men..." These are the consequences of something MORE important ⚡What is the reason for homosexual behavior? What is the context of these verses? Where it should lead them - and every one of us - to? #ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #SinIsSin #ThePowerOfTheGospel

To watch previous short studies of #LetterToTheRomans CLICK HERE http://bit.ly/LegasiRomans 


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Romans 1:21-25 The Origin of Idolatry (#LetterToTheRomans)

"Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things" (Romans 1:22-23). There are three stages involve from suppressing the truth about God to idolatry. What are they? ⛔ #ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #TheOriginOfIdolatry

To watch previous short studies of #LetterToTheRomans CLICK HERE ��� http://bit.ly/LegasiRomans 

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Romans 1:18-20 Bad News: The Wrath of God (#LetterToTheRomans)

"The wrath of God." Many people, including Christians, are either confused or afraid or denying this truth in the Bible altogether. But I would like to submit: If you don't understand the wrath of God, then, you can't appreciate (or perhaps don't know) the gospel of God. Let's start with, what is the wrath of God? #ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #TheWrathOfGod

To watch previous short studies of #LetterToTheRomans CLICK HERE  http://bit.ly/LegasiRomans 

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Romans 1:16 I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel (#LetterToTheRomans)

John W. Stott in his commentary on Romans 1:16 quoted a preacher as saying: "There is no sense in declaring that you're not ashamed of something unless you've been tempted to feel ashamed of it." If Paul the Apostle without a doubt knew this temptation, surely, we are no better, right? Do you feel ashamed of the Gospel? How to overcome it? ���⚡��� #ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #IAmNotAshamed #ThePowerOfTheGospel

To watch previous short studies of #LetterToTheRomans CLICK HERE ��� http://bit.ly/LegasiRomans 

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Romans 1:15 I Am Eager to Preach the Gospel (#LetterToTheRomans)

Can you sense the enthusiasm and passion of Paul the Apostle when he wrote: "I am eager [or ready or willing] to preach the gospel" (Romans 1:15)? Dear pastors, teachers, preachers, evangelists - Christians a.k.a. Christ-followers - when was the last time you're EAGER to preach the gospel? ������⚡ #ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #TheGospelOfGod #IAmEager

To watch previous short studies of #LetterToTheRomans CLICK HERE ��� http://bit.ly/LegasiRomans 

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Romans 1:14 I Am Under Obligation to Preach the Gospel (#LetterToTheRomans)

Paul the Apostle said, "I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish" (Romans 1:14). "Under obligation" or "a debtor." How and why Paul in debt with them? And do you know, if you a believer, you are also in debt to others? Why? ��������� #ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #IAmADebtor #UnderObligation

To watch previous short studies of #LetterToTheRomans CLICK HERE ��� http://bit.ly/LegasiRomans 

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Romans 1:8-13 How To Love Our Brothers and Sisters In Christ (#LetterToTheRomans)

When the apostle Paul writes the letter to the Romans, he has never been to the church in Rome and never met most of the Roman Christians there. And yet, when I read Romans 1:8-13, I can sense his love for them all ��� How could it be? There is something beautiful about this relationship and the invisible strong bonding between brothers and sisters in Christ - even when we never met one another ❤ Here are four (4) ways to show our love for the church a.k.a. fellow believers ��� #ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #BrotherlyLove #UniversalChurch #TheGospelOfChrist

To watch previous short studies of #LetterToTheRomans CLICK HERE ��� http://bit.ly/LegasiRomans 

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Romans 1:5-7 The Chief End of the Gospel (#LetterToTheRomans)

"Through [Lord Jesus Christ our Lord] whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations" (Romans 1:5). There are four (4) things that we need to know about the Gospel ������✍ #ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #TheChiefEndOfTheGospel

To watch previous short studies of #LetterToTheRomans CLICK HERE ��� http://bit.ly/LegasiRomans 

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Romans 1:3-4 Jesus Is Truly Man, Truly God (#LetterToTheRomans​)

[The Gospel] "concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 1:3-4) There are six (6) things that we need to know about Jesus in these verses ���️‍♀️���✍ #ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #TrulyManTrulyGod  

To watch previous short studies of #LetterToTheRomans CLICK HERE ��� http://bit.ly/LegasiRomans 

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The Book on Leadership (2004) by John MacArthur, Book Review

 

The Book on Leadership (2004) by John MacArthur

Where do I go if I want to read Bible expositions, commentaries, and topical all at the same time? I go to John MacArthur’s books (to read my review of MacArthur’s Ashamed of the Gospel & my Top 15 Books on Leadership, click the titles). MacArthur has been one of the biggest influences in my life in the areas of expository preaching, Word-centered writing, and leadership teachings. I learned so much from the free resources online at Grace to You webpage and The Master’s Seminary YouTube channel. I admire the man because he stands for the truth and his love for the Lord Jesus and the Word of God is very contagious. I don’t fully agree with some of his views such as on charismatic movement as a whole in his book, Charismatic Chaos (1992) and later became a conference and a book, Strange Fire (2013). There are some other ‘controversies’ that I’m aware of but none really that clear and I will not defend someone that I don’t know personally such as MacArthur. One must draw the line between admiring the man for what the Lord has done through him and obsessing – even idolizing – the man, thinking that his theology and life are perfect. Never put your trust and allegiance to a mere man but Christ alone!

Now, let me discuss about this book (in 2010, it was retitled, Called to Lead). As of this writing, amidst many fallen leaders, Pastor John MacArthur, 81 years old, still standing strong. Probably that, I think, mostly attributed to his leadership. What is leadership? Based on Matthew 20:25-28, MacArthur wrote: “According to Christ, then, the truest kind of leadership demands service, sacrifice, and selflessness. A proud and self-promoting person is not a good leader by Christ’s standard, regardless of how much clout he or she might wield. Leaders who look to Christ as their Leader and their supreme model of leadership will have servants’ hearts.” The fact that we must look to Christ as our Leader and “supreme model of leadership” means that He must influence our entire lives. Thus, leadership at its core is influence. “The ideal leader is someone whose life and character motivate people to follow,” explains MacArthur. Not style but character. So, the best example to follow is Christ Himself (one book that I would like to recommend here is C. Gene Wilkes’s Jesus on Leadership) and the next ones are the people who follow Christ faithfully. To MacArthur, it would be Paul the apostle. “Follow my example,” Paul urged the Christians, “as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). MacArthur reasons, “Of all the biographies I have read and the lives that have left their mark on my character, no one mortal individual has left a deeper impression on me than the apostle Paul. I sometimes feel I know more about him than anyone else except Christ, because I spent a major portion of my life studying the biblical account of his life, letters, and ministry, learning leadership at his feet.” That is not a surprise since he took 42 years to preach the entire 27 books of the New Testament verse by verse of which about half of the books (letters) attribute to Paul.

There are 26 characteristics of a true leader outline in the book and it is divided into three parts. MacArthur writes largely based on biographical material from the life-action of Paul from the Book of Acts and autobiographical from his letters. In Part 1: Paul In Chains: Leadership In Action, he examines from Acts 27 how Paul’s leadership was manifest in the most unlikely of situations; in Part 2: Paul In Corinth: Leadership Under Fire, he helps us to see how Paul deals with issues regarding spiritual leadership and how to handle conflicts in the church primary based on 2 Corinthians; in Part 3: An Approved Workman – Leadership Held to Biblical Standard, he answers these two questions, “How Not to Be Disqualified” and “Who Is Fit to Lead?”; and in Part 4: Epilogue, my favorite, where he skilfully highlights Paul’s triumphant last days on earth even though he might seem to the world as a failure due to his imprisonment and execution. I’m touched by Paul’s testimony in 2 Timothy. “Paul measured his own success as a leader, as an apostle, and as a Christian by a single criterion: He had ‘kept the faith’ – meaning both that he had remained faithful to Christ and that he had kept the message of Christ’s gospel intact, just as he had received it.” Indeed, this is his legacy (come on, LEGASI!) in this life and through eternity. Amazing. To you who are called to lead, read this book!

#ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #LeadersAreReaders #GrowingLeaders #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain #JohnMacArthur #TheBookOnLeadership #TheApostlePaul #SpiritualLeadership

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Timothy, Be Respectful and Don't Show Favoritism (1 Timothy 5:1-2)

 

“Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, young men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity”

(1 Timothy 5:1-2, ESV)

Last week I saw a viral video online in Malaysia, where there was a fight at a Mamak restaurant (probably before the month of Ramadhan) between an older man with a young woman. I care less about what is the real issue but when I saw the older man hits the woman and the young woman kicked the man, my heart boil with rage! This is not an unusual scene, however. We all probably have witnessed – or experience ourselves – at least verbal abuse or even physical abuse between these two generations in social media, within our community, among family members, and even in the church. This evil behavior must not be among the believers! After Paul writes to Timothy to “keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching” (1 Timothy 4:16) as a leader in God’s church and a teacher of God’s Word, he then reminds him of his attitude toward others: BE RESPECTFUL.

“Do not rebuke” or “Never speak harshly” (NLT) or “Don’t reprimand” (Philips) is a negative statement for a positive reminder: BE RESPECTFUL. Toward who? All people! Older men, younger men, older women, younger women. Inside and outside the church. The word “rebuke” means to “strike with blows.” It is primarily speaking of beating with words but I think we can extend that to beating with fists too. Although young Timothy was very influential and his leadership was sealed by God’s authority (see 6:20) and the apostle’s approval (see 4:11; 6:2b), he must not abuse his power but instead “set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (4:12). Having said that, the reminder to BE RESPECTFUL toward everyone also means we must NOT SHOW FAVORITISM (see James 2:1) regardless of their age, gender, and the nature of the relationship. If an older man or woman needs to be corrected, then, go to him or her in a kindly manner and speak to him or her as one would speak to a father or mother. In the same manner, reproof younger believers as brothers and sisters in Christ. Don’t sugarcoat the truth when you have to discipline them. The goal is not condemnation but repentance. Be firm, clear, and “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15).

As for men, especially in the ministry, I would like to warn us: be extra careful when dealing with younger women. If you need to “encourage” them – as you must – do it as “sisters” in Christ and “in all purity.” In most cases, it is better to “take one or two others along with you” (Matthew 18:16) to create accountability. We all have heard the reported news about the abuse and sexual misconduct among Christian ministers. Don’t be a statistic! H.A. Ironside commented on this verse wisely: “Never to act toward any young woman in a way he would not like some other man to behave to his own sister.” Or read how J.B. Philips paraphrases it: “Treat the younger women as sisters, AND NO MORE” (emphasis mine). 

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THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.