As Jesus Christ’s followers formed into communities they created culture, traditions, social norms and ways of life. They had the teaching of Jesus, O.T. Scriptures and some letters written by Apostles that were copied & circulated. In these letters, early communities of believers were given guidance by Apostles.
Theology: Revealed truth about God, His purpose, nature and how we relate to Him
Doxology: How WE respond to the revealed truth about God
Beliefs that lead to actions…which create and sustain culture. In Scripture you find belief statements with corresponding actions: Guidelines for the early church. Letters such as 1st Timothy are full of guidelines for them and for US!
Today we have: Guidelines for:
- How leaders in Christ’s church are to correct people
- How the Body of Christ will care for Widows
‘The List’ Acts Ch 2. Back then, The Church was the ONLY social safety net for their members. The ‘Widows’ list was the way members of Christ’s body who were without support, were taken care of.
1 Timothy 5:1-16 NASB 1995
1 Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, 2 the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity.
- This is guidance to Timothy and all who lead in Christ’s Body
- This sentence, 2 verses, serves as a guide to ‘Christ-Like Correction’
- When you have something hard to communicate, do it with respect
- The idea is to treat people like they are family: be honest, yet kind
- The end: ‘in all purity’… this is our motivation while correcting others
3 Honor widows who are widows indeed; 4 but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God.
- Criteria for the ‘Widow’ designation as it pertained to the N.T. Church
- There must have been women getting help by faking widowhood…
- This Scripture puts the responsibility on the family FIRST…then church
- In Christ’s Body, the cultural is that widows are cared for, one way or another
5 Now she who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day. 6 But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives.
- Widows without family live in a state of dependence on God
- They do not take it for granted that God is their only hope and source of life
- In contrast, a focus on self-pleasure is a sign of spiritual deadness
7 Prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above reproach. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
- Prescribe is to ‘command’, or to ‘insist on’….why?
- These rules protect individuals reputations AND Christ’s reputation
- Biblical Christians live out their faith in Christ by caring for the ‘least of these’
9 A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, 10 having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work.
- Old age is a requirement
- One marriage is a requirement
- A reputation in the community of Christ followers for being ‘others-focused’
- It was an expectation for women who lived godly lives to be care for
11 But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married, 12 thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge. 13 At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention.
- If they are young they are still going to want male companionship
- It’s bad if they pledge to be dependent then change their mind…
- The reason old was a requirement… they didn’t want to remove them
- If on the list too young: they learn to be unproductive, & unhealthy relationally
14 Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach; 15 for some have already turned aside to follow Satan. 16 If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, she must assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed.
- If you husband dies, keep keeping on…to avoid falling into sin [it happens]
- The burden for family falls on men & women alike
- The principal is to share the burden between families and the church
- If families do their part, the church will have resources to care for the needy
Biblical Principals:
In the Body of Christ, correction of others is to be done respectfully, appealing to them as if they were family.
Christian communities have always placed a high value on honoring and financially supporting widows; first at the family level, then as a church body.
Widowhood is a place to live in dependence on God and His people, not the pursuit of whatever makes you happy.
It is unacceptable for Biblical Christians not to care for widows.
The Body of Christ has criteria for who is to be supported as a Widow. These rules are there so that all parties may honor God.
Application Questions:
Do you view other members of the Body as family and treat them as such?
Do you support widows within your family? How?
How should we support widows as a church?
Why are the correction others and the treatment of widows important to Christ’s Body?