Becoming Straight Shooters
The third devotion on a series on proclaiming the whole counsel of God. Activity
Take a blank piece of paper. Blindfold a member of the group. Ask them to cut a straight line with your non-dominant hand (if you are right-handed, place the scissors in your left hand). After the activity, analyse how straight they cut the line. Repeat the activity. But this time, ask a group member to use their dominant hand, and do not blindfold them. Compare the difference.
Point: Those given the responsibility to proclaim the whole counsel of God are called to be competent in the proclamation of the Word. They must learn how to cut straight lines. What does it mean to cut straight? Let's find out:
Read 2 Timothy 2:15:
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of truth."
The Call to Cut Straight
Paul charges Timothy to present himself "to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15). The phrase 'correctly handles' comes from the Greek word ὀρθοτομέω, which means "to make a straight cut."
In ancient times, builders would use this term to construct a road or path. To make the path straight, they would cut straight through the countryside. If there were a bumpy ridge or a thick woodland, they would cut a road through. Their goal? To clear a smooth, straight road for travellers to reach their destination.
Like a construction worker, Timothy must too "cut straight." If there is a forest that sits between the truth and the hearts of his hearers, he must clear the trees. Timothy must be a straight shooter of the truth. In the words of John Stott, he must "be accurate on the one hand and plain on the other in [his] exposition" (2 Timothy, p. 67).
In fact, this is a challenge for us as gospel workers. In a world of many opinions, noise, and confusion, it is easy for the truth to become distorted. In an age of relativism ("that's your truth"), absolute truth is under fire. Even worse, we might be tempted to bend the truth to fit our own agendas.
How do we then preserve the gospel? Like Timothy, the goal is to be straight shooters. We must:
know the truth accurately and
speak it with clarity.
Know the Truth Accurately
We know the truth by making an effort to increase our gospel gains. This requires a life of discipline. We set aside time to pump the iron of the Word. We immerse ourselves in Scripture, study it in depth, and allow it to shape our hearts and minds.
Here is the truth: You can only cut a straight line for the kingdom if you are clear about the truth you proclaim. We must ask God to first carve his truth into our hearts before we preach a gospel that 'cuts into the hearts of others' (Acts 2:36-27).
Speak the Truth With Clarity
But knowing the truth alone does not cut it. The road is only well cut if it moves the traveller to the desired location. We must cut a clear path for our youth to travel on in their journey to Christ. Even though we will fail a times, the aim is to make the gospel accessible. Free of jargon and confusion, only then will plain truth pierce hearts and minds.
Let me clarify. This does not mean that we water down the truth or sugarcoat it to make it more palatable. Where is the integrity in that? Clarity is all about making the truth understandable. It requires us to consider the needs and struggles of our hearers and to tailor our words to hit them in a way that connects.
Conclusion
Let us make it our goal to be excellent gospel workers. Like Timothy, let us be straight shooters who know the truth and make it plain. This is how we correctly handle the Word of truth. Amen.