1 Timothy 6:³ If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, ⁴ he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a sick craving for controversial questions and disputes about words, from which come envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, ⁵ and constant friction between people of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. 

I found this: “The doctrine that conforms to godliness is a pure and purifying doctrine that aims to teach a proper way of life and a right state of mind. It is more than a collection of intellectual truths, but rather a way to promote spiritual growth and well-being. 

In the Bible, 1 Timothy 6:3-8 describes the doctrine that conforms to godliness as a sound instruction that is free of corruption and error. It says that those who teach a different doctrine or disagree with the words of Jesus Christ are puffed up and do not understand. It also says that these people are more interested in word disputes and controversial questions, which can lead to envy, strife, and abusive language. 

Godliness is defined biblically as conforming to God’s character in thoughts, feelings, actions, and desires.”

“Sound” (hugiainó: To be sound, to be healthy, to be well: used in Luke 7:10 they found the slave in “good health”) words. The pastoral epistles (1,2 Timothy and Titus) are full of admonition to teach sound words, sound doctrine. 1 Timothy 1:10; 6:3, 2 Timothy 4:3; Titus 1:9, 13; 2:1,2). The sound words of “our Lord Jesus Christ”. That would be the 4 gospels. The core teaching of Christianity are the teachings of Jesus as found in the gospels. Sure, there are a lot of issues, commands, etc. that Jesus did not cover. He left the Holy Spirit with the apostles to preach the completed gospel message (the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. John 16:¹³ But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” Jesus teaches about the things that really matter: love, service, faith, sacrifice, suffering, surrender, peace, the new birth, compassion, forgiveness, the kingdom of God, discipleship, repentance, prayer, humility, judgement, riches, lust, denying self, sin, His Deity, His death/burial/resurrection, obedience, kingdom living (the sermon on the mount Mt 5-7), eternal life, the Holy Spirit, fear, worry, joy, etc. But Jesus left the details of applying those teachings in churches with all the issues and problems that go along with bringing sinners into one saved body of believers from different backgrounds. Acts tells of the apostles preaching the gospel, witnessing the resurrection, establishing churches, doing mission work. 1 Corinthians deals with church division, law suits among member, immorality in the church, strong/weak brother issues, marriage issues, women’s role, Lord’s Supper problems, miraculous gifts problems, assembly problems, resurrection issues. Romans deals with Judaizers who are leading believers back to the Law instead of salvation by grace through faith. Ephesians gets into some heavy theological doctrines like predestination. Colossians fights the heresy facing the church there. 2 Thessalonians mainly deal with the 2nd coming issues. 1 Timothy gives basic instructions about women’s roles, elders, deacons, widows, the basic creed of the church (3:16). Revelation is about the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, the fulfillment of Jesus’ predictions in Matthew 24.

But all those topics, issues, and problems dealt with in the book of Acts and the other 22 letters of the New Testament have been the source of endless debates. Calvinism vs Arianism. Catholicism vs Protestantism. How to be saved. Women’s roles in the church. Church governance. Baptism: sprinkling, pouring, immersion, of infants, purpose of baptism. Fulfillment of prophecy today: eschatology (study of end times, many different views). Marriage and divorce. Inspiration of the Scriptures. Deity of Jesus: first few councils dealt with multiple “heresies” about the nature of Jesus. Catholicism vs Orthodox split (11th century) issues. Catholicism vs Reformation differences. Catholicism vs Church of England bloody history. Religious wars. Pacifism or not. Role of Israel and Bible prophesy. Gay marriage and homosexuality. LGBQT. The abortion issue.

Most of these debates are healthy as honest, sincere, God fearing leaders seek to understand the word of God for the church for all times and cultures. But many of these debates had led to “a sick craving for controversial questions and disputes about words, from which come envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, ⁵ and constant friction between people of depraved mind and deprived of the truth”. What is the source of these things? Church leaders and preachers “who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.” The bottom line: men and women leading the church and preaching for money. Men depraved of “the truth”, i.e. the basic core truth of the gospel as delivered by Jesus and the apostles. Of course, I believe I have most of the correct answers on most of the controversial issues! I try to teach the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), but I also get caught up in debates over words. I believe Calvinism is wrong. I am a full preterist and I believe most all latter day eschatology teaching is wrong. I believe the LGBQT movement is wrong. I believe in the verbal, plenary (full) inspiration of Scripture, including the writings of the apostle Paul. I believe in baptism (immersion) for the forgiveness of sins of those old enough to believe, not infants. I believe that Jesus is the head of the church, not the Pope. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God. I believe that life begins at conception and that abortion is taking the life of a living being. In other words, basic conservatism! Basic fundamentalism.

I realize that there are many godly, sincere leaders and preachers who disagree with some or all of my positions. Most things we can “agree to disagree”. But some things are essential to salvation. The LGBQT issue, for example. To me, that is black and white. Anyone who promotes homosexuality and homosexual marriage is “depraved of the truth”. The abortion issue is another black and white thing to me. The thing that really bothers me is how much money is collected in church contributions in the name of Jesus that is used “as a means of godliness”. The recent split in the Methodist church over the LGBQT debate for example. The truth on that issue is so plain that it makes me wonder if it is all about preachers keeping their jobs, and church leaders controlling the flock and the money collected. Maybe we should address the whole issue of the paid preacher system that has helped promotes a lot of false teaching. Maybe we would be better just to have our house churches with no paid preacher system: just sincere believers studying and searching for the truth of God’s word, for free!

Take a look at all the cults and latter day prophet movements over the past 2,000 years of church history. Joseph Smith and Mormonism. David Koresh and the Branch Davidians (Waco). Jim Jones and the Peoples’ Temple (the Guyana tragedy). Many, many more. What were the motives of most of those false prophets? Some were just sincerly trying to interpret the Bible prophecies. Like William Miller who thought he had Daniel 8 figured out and taught that the 2nd coming would be in 1843 AD, which it wasn’t. I don’t think he was preaching that for money. He was just sincerely wrong and admitted so. But in the end, most of the time the motivation of false teachers was pride, sex, power, and money.

2 Peter 2:1-3 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.”

Those verses say it all. Sex (sensuality), money (greed), power and control (explot you). Titus 1:11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.” 2 Corinthians 2:17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. Acts 20:29-30 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. And there will always be an audience to follow and pay those false teachers. 2 Timothy 4:2-4 Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

I believe that, more than ever, we need to follow 1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” I am proud of the conservative, anti-LGBQT churches that have made a stand and we need to support them. I have a co-worker who has been crushed by her church’s liberal decisions. I need to encourage her that she is doing the right thing. With all the “liberalism” in churches today, it is time for the conservative, fundamentalists to stand up and be counted.

1 Timothy 6:⁶ But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. ⁷ For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it, either. ⁸ If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 

What a great truth: “godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment”. The gain of godliness is eternal life, not material or monetary blessings in this life. Jesus made that plaiin. Matthew 16:26 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” Matthew 19:²⁷ Then Peter responded and said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?” ²⁸ And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ²⁹ And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms on account of My name, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.” It is not a “reward” system based on works, but there is a great reward. Hebrews 11:⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him.” Paul adds “when accompanied by contentment”. Why do you think he added that? Is it maybe because many who follow Jesus do so grudgingly, out of guilt, and not joyfully? They go to church and act religious but they are miserable. They give some money to the church, but inside they are greedy. The Greek word pleonexia means “the desire for more” (often more of what others have, i.e. coveting what they have). Godliness is a means of great gain, both in this life and in the life to come. Jesus came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). We should be content with our wages, our standard of living, our clothes, our homes, our jobs. That doesn’t mean that we can’t try to improve those things, but the key is being content with what we do have even if we can’t improve those things. Phlippians 4:¹¹ Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. ¹² I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. ¹³ I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Are you content?

Back then Paul goes right back to the money thing. ⁹ But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” It’s not just the preachers preaching for money here. This applies to all of us, clergy and laity. Money is not the “root of all evil”. It is the “love of money”. The love of money is what motivates people to lie, steal, cheat, gamble, embezzle, and even murder. People who have a love for money lack the godliness and contentment that is true gain in God’s eyes. Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 Those who love money and wealth will never be satisfied and will gain nothing except to look at their riches. The more wealth people have, the more friends they have to help spend it.” Even being rich is not condemned by God. Abraham, the father of believers, was rich in herds and sheep. Being rich can be a blessing as you pass the riches on to others on behalf of God. But Jesus warns: “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:23–24). This is a hard saying, especially for 21st-century people living in North America. Jesus is saying that wealth is one of the biggest obstacles to coming to faith in Christ. The reason is obvious: wealth becomes a slave master in our lives and drives us to do all sorts of things that drive us further and further away from God. The good news is that what is impossible for man, entering into the Kingdom of God, is possible with God (Matthew 19:26). (From gotquestions.org). I’m sure all of us know someone who was a faithful Christian until they got a lot of money and they left the faith and became preoccupied with their money and materialism.

In the U.S., most of us middle class church Christians are so blessed with material goods and money. That can be a great blessing as we share those things with others. We give millions to organizations that drill wells for clean water, print Bibles to preach the gospel, feed the poor, rescue child force prostitution kids, give food to people in refugee camps due to war/conflict. Of course, we spend 80% of what churches collect on ourselves, which I think is really bad, but that is another subject. But most of us must heed Jesus’ warning. Has our love of money and greed (desire for more) taken over our motives, our time, our spending? Are we like the thorny soil in Luke 8: ¹⁴ And the seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked by worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and they bring no fruit to maturity.” We spend way too much on pleasures. Materialism just produces a lot of worry also. Worry about not losing our wealth. I think I was more devoted to God’s work and saving souls back in my 20’s when we did mission work, living on the poverty level income (though comfortable), with no church health insurance or retirement plan for my new family. Now, I have more than ever, blessed by God even though I never took a job b/c of what it paid or turned down a job (the Lord’s work somewhere in missions or in Christian education) b/c of what it paid. But then I worry about insuring cars and houses and health and paying utilities and taxes and how much it takes now just to pay the bills that maintain our relatively high standard of living (we have been blessed with a nice house and cars). So now I am less committed to the Lord’s work and saving souls. Maybe even not as content as back in my 20’s when we had very little.

Skipping around a little, we go down to 1 Timothy 6:¹⁷ Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. ¹⁸ Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, ¹⁹ storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” Seems to me like these verses should go right after verse 11. That phrase: “the uncertainty of riches”.  Proverbs 11:28 warns that “he who trusts in his riches will fall.” Proverbs 23:4–5 adds, “Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, cease from your consideration of it. When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings, like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.” Proverbs 23:5 “Cast but a glance at riches and they are gone. For they will certainly sprout wings and fly off like an eagle.” Jesus warned: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal …” (Matthew 6:19-20). Part of one’s riches back then was expensive garments, which moths or rats could destroy. Rust could destroy metallic gold or silver coins. Stock markets go up and down, even crash. Banks fail. Tornados, fires, and hurricanes destroy homes. An embezzler depletes your 401K plan. You are fired from a high paying job. A thief breaks into your home and steal precious jewelry. You have an uninsured medical emergency that wipes out your savings. (AI) “Your riches and money could fail through various means, including economic downturns or a depression, poor investment choices, unexpected expenses, legal issues and lawsuits, lifestyle inflation, business failures, natural disasters, and even simply not managing your wealth wisely, potentially leading to significant losses or depletion of your funds.” Identity theft. Phone scams. Don’t set your hope on the uncertainty of riches, which could be here today, gone tomorrow.

Set your hope on God. He adds, “who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy”. That is an important phrase. The Gnostics said that all fleshly things were evil and that one should deny himself of all normal pleasures. God said that we can enjoy things as long as we don’t set our hope on those things, as long as those things don’t master us and make us greedy. Ecclesiastes 5:19-20 (ESV)Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.” Tell the rich to focus on being rich in good works, not rich in money. To be generous and ready to share. To store up treasure in heaven that will help you to receive eternal life. That is the only life that really matters, i.e. eternal life, “truly life”.

A good closing warnin from Deut. 8.10-14: “When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you. Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today; otherwise, when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lived in them, and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have multiplies, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”

Something for me to think about! What about you?