In our scripture readings for today, we continue in Paul's second letter to Timothy, written from a Roman dungeon, with Paul's time on earth appearing short. Paul insists that Timothy steer clear of wrangling over words, and instead, focus on being a good soldier of Christ Jesus, enduring hardship, so that eternity will be experienced, reigning with Christ....
It was the year AD 1054, and Rome and Constantinople were not getting along. Tensions between Pope Leo IX and Patriarch Michael Cerularius were running high. Yes, the Roman church and the Eastern church were different culturally and to some extent theologically. Yes, there was an ongoing battle for power and control of the church. But one of the main triggers for the Great Schism of 1054, the breakup of the Roman Catholic church and the Eastern Orthodox church...was words. The Roman Catholic church had introduced into the third article of the Nicene Creed, the filioque clause, unilaterally, without discussing it at an ecumenical council. Filioque, which means, “and the Son” in Latin, was added to the description of the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from the Father. And this was enough for each church to excommunicate the other as heretical for 911 years, until Vatican 2 lead to a lifting of the excommunication in 1965. Note, however, that the churches are still separate, and communion between them has still not been restored...
Wrangling over words.... profane chatter.... stupid and senseless controversies.... these are the things Paul warns Timothy to avoid in this part of his second letter. Why are they to be avoided? Three reasons: They breed quarrels – people have something to fight over. They lead people into impiety – people have an issue OTHER than godliness to focus on. And they ruin those who are listening – people have an excuse to ditch the church because feelings. Senseless controversies sap the energy of the church, and destroy its ability to fulfill its purpose.
Unfortunately for us, we live in the age of senseless controversy. Senseless controversies are the biggest moneymakers on social media – they generate the most views because they capture us with the dopamine of being proved right, as the algorithm efficiently steers us toward the content that agrees with us. Senseless controversies today have the emotional power to break up marriages, end friendships, and definitely cancel church memberships. Senseless controversies seem to be what the church has energy for these days, instead of focussing on the non-controversial salvation that is in Christ Jesus.