Advent Devotions

This devotional is from Prince of Peace member Bob Reichman.

2 Timothy 3:14-4:8, 16-18

The writer of 2 Timothy says:

Proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage with the utmost patience in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound teaching, but, having their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires and will turn away to myths. As for you, be sober in everything, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry about your ministry fully.

The time referred to in that passage could apply to many times and places throughout history, but for us, I think, that time is now. Our message of God’s unending, universal love is being drowned out by those spewing hate and spreading fear, while suggesting greed, violence and intolerance are not just acceptable but good.

What, if anything, can we do about that? We at Prince of Peace are more inclined to draw attention for what we do – the Sacred Settlement, for example — than for what we say. And that’s the way it should be. By their fruits you will know them, right? Yet, we also can’t be reluctant to tell others about what theologian and writer Thomas Jay Oord calls “the uncontrolling love” of God, a love that doesn’t coerce but that never goes away for anyone or any part of creation.

We don’t have to cede the moral ground to those who “turn away to myths.” If we take 2 Timothy seriously, we can “convince, rebuke and encourage with the utmost patience,” without having to be a “clanging cymbal,” which Paul says in 1 Corinthians is far less important than having love. 

As a journalist for many years, my job was to present facts, to the best of my ability, and to share all perspectives. The idea behind a free press is that the so-called marketplace of ideas will lead to the truth. So, truth was my ultimate goal then. As a member of the community of Prince of Peace, it still is. The free press in our country is now under attack from those who fear the truth, the same reason that some try to distort the Gospel message: It was dangerous 2,000 years ago, and it’s still dangerous today to those who crave power at the expense of others.

Our job is to be sure that message of love is heard.

Prayer
God, help us to always love and to always seek the truth, both of which come from you.