Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Bits & Pieces: The Church As Pillar & Support

"I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; but in case I am delayed, I write so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth," (I Timothy 3:14, 15).

* Paul's continuous concern was that believers both understand and practice sound doctrine. Unlike many today who minimize the need for a proper doctrinal foundation, Paul stressed doctrinal correctness constantly. For, only when we pay the price of disciplined study in the Word do we walk worthy of the name 'pillar and support of the truth.'

* As we've seen in previous passages, Paul is fond of likening the church to a building. Here, he extends the metaphor to declare that we are the prime structure of the truth in society. This is in perfect keeping with the fact that our Foundation, Jesus Christ, is the Truth personified.

* Within the picture of 'pillar and support' are the concepts of bulwark and solid grounding. As representatives of the One who is Truth, we need to be steadfast in boldly declaring the undiluted Word of God. And the price we pay for knowing why we believe what we believe is diligent study of the Scriptures.

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