First - I had always thought that the "love of money is a root of all kinds of evil" line came from someplace bigger - like the gospels. I'm a little surprised to find a verse we all remember so well (even if we struggle so much to live up to it) buried here in 1 Timothy.
Second - Before church this morning Rose and I were milling around on the front grass. We looked over at the Presbyterian church and she asked what they believed (are they Protestant, Catholic, what?) Which led to a general discussion on different denominations and why and how they differ - doctrinally and culturally, and both.
Matthew mentioned this morning that the mission trip worshipped once with a Free Methodist Congregation. The Free Methodists split off from the main Methodist church due to their ardent belief that the church was being corrupted by the Freemasons. Their differences may have been doctrinal at one point, but they're increasingly cultural as the denomination has had its own history.
So what to do with vv. 3-4? "If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing."
In the play/movie "The Importance of Being Earnest", by Oscar Wilde the main character is asked "I've always believed that a young man should know either everything or nothing. Which do you know?" and he responds "I know nothing, Lady Bracknell." This humility in the church and before God would serve us all well...but it's hard to teach a faith like that.
John Wesley preached "In essentials, Unity; in non-essentials, Liberty; and in all things, Charity." But even with that advice the Methodist Church has spent decades arguing over what is, and is not, essential. Civil rights....Women's rights....Gay rights....Liberation theology....Essential or not to the faith? I believe "essential" on all four...but the fights rage on.
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