Study to Show Yourself Approved

II Timothy 2:15 – Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Timothy was the spiritual son of St.   Paul, the Apostle. Fortunate for us, the Church has preserved the timeless and challenging wisdom St. Paul gave his Timothy.

In Paul's second letter to Timothy, while Timothy was the young pastor of his first house church, Paul challenged him: "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman who needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15. The wisdom that Paul gave Timothy applies to us today.

Someone once said that ignorance is not a virtue, and no one ever grew either emotionally, spiritually, or socially by championing ignorance. What we don't know can sometimes hurt us, and hurt us very badly.

Every person must study for themselves. Education is important. Knowledge is power.

“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn” (Alvin Toffler).

What do the above have in common? They’re all directly or indirectly about learning and education.

Studying the Bible is very important, but 2 Timothy 2:15 is more than a command to study the Bible. Being an approved workman involves much more, correctly handling the Bible, the word of truth involves much study, contemplation, and prayer. It will involve bringing an open mind, an open heart, and a faithful life to the word of truth and all available resources to help in your pursuit of truth.

For the GLBT Christian community, it is important to understand the word, in particular the passages used for/against our living a meaningful-safe-celebrated existence during our time on this earth. There are some great resources to help you in your pursuit of understanding scripture better and the many ways scriptures are interpreted. Many of these resources that I have found helpful are listed on the left side of this blog in the “Liberation Book Club” list. One particular resource is Gay Christianity 101: Spiritual Self-Defense for Gay Christians, written by Rick Brentlinger. Next to Daniel Helminiak’s “What The Bible Really Says About Homosexuality,” Walter Wink’s Homosexuality and Christian Faith : Questions of Conscience for the Churches”, and John Boswell’s “Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality: Gay People in Western Europe from the Beginning of the Christian Era to the Fourteenth Century”; Gay Christianity 101 is a must add to your library of resources. Written in a conversational tone, Gay Christianity 101 is well researched and documented. When I first heard of this book last year, I would like to think that I was one of the first in line to buy it. Amazon describes the book as:

             Presents strong scriptural proof that God loves and affirms gay Christians. GC101 is written in clear, understandable language. Gay Christian 101 - Spiritual Self- Defense For Gay Christians, defends gay Christians and gay relationships which are within the Biblical moral framework, committed, faithful, noncultic.  Reasonable, scriptural, thoughtful, this book offers cultural, doctrinal, historical,  linguistic and religious proof that the same sex relationships condemned in the Bible are linked to ancient fertility goddess worship. Strongly Christian and evangelical, Brentlinger honors God and the written scriptures of truth in this powerful book.

So I encourage you to visit Rick’s website at www.gaychristian101.com and if you get the chance order his book.