1 Tim 2:8

"I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger and disputing."


It's been a couple of days since I walked with this one so I forget a little of my time. One thought popped into my head after walking, Martin Luther King. Maybe it was because his birthday was celebrated recently, but more so because of the tone of this verse. I almost hear Paul saying "I have a dream". Doesn't this sound like a monumental Christian verse? "I have a dream, that men everywhere will lift up holy hands in prayer without anger and disputing."

Now, I actually think that is not completely fair as this verse borders, between a dream and command. But just like MLK's dream, this one honestly at times seems farfetched in it's complete attainment. How often do we find churches reaching this perfect unity, especially from the view of a pastor like Timothy who is aware of all of the little things going on. Pastors know the issues in the church unlike anyone else. They know all the little issues happening that are leading to anger and disputing. On top of that, Paul just 10 verses ago spoke about 2 men in the congregation he had to expell completely! This desire of Paul's for this church is still a bit of a dream, as it is regretfully in most churches.

The difference between Paul's dream and MLK's dream is that Paul's has the ability to be fulfilled. MLK's dream was built upon the flimsy presupposition that sinful man on their own would choose to abolish prejudice in their hearts. It is based solely on the desire of sinful man to do right. Paul's desire is built on the knowledge that the Holy Spirit living within man can and will bring about great change if allowed. Monumental change.

I think that is what Paul is asking for. A community so monumentally different from the world that its testimony sings out to all who come in contact. He may know that the church is not there yet, but he knows it's possible. That with God "All things are possible". For those of us who have seen the church work, Paul's statement sometimes strikes a cynical cord in our bodies. We know how hard this is, but Paul is telling Timothy here that it is possible, this is what the Holy Spirit can do in men. It can convict them to put others first, seek not their own, and inspire them to join together in enternal unity of worship to God the Father. With anything less then the empowering of the Holy God this is impossible. Just as it is impossible to "Be Holy, as I am Holy" or "Let no unwholesome talk" come out of your mouth by your own power. So to, this idea is based on man submitting their wills to the Spirit of God in work with them.

Paul, here is throwing out a lofty dream to Timothy. I would argue more lofty then the one MLK espoused 50 years ago. The only difference is that the church has been given the resources to make the impossible a possibility.