Endless Genealogies

New Testament Challenge, Day 33 – 1-2 Timothy

The desire to seek out one’s past is common in all people. Take one step into any Church and as you meet new people, a litany begins, “And he is the brother of so-and-so, and the cousin of so-and-so.” etc. Now this is normally done, in the case of new clergy to seemingly protect the new clergy from saying something about another person that might not be flattering in front of their relatives. This happened to me when I first arrived in Florence in 2008. I could never understand the premise. Why in the world would clergy speak poorly of ANYONE in their community especially in front of ANYONE in the parish? That’s when it hit me. They weren’t trying to protect me; they were trying to influence me.

Too often society and that includes churches, fall victim to the idea of genealogies as the root of authority. “My daddy built that church!” “My granddaddy was the first preacher in that church!” While we should have joy that our ancestors were founding members of a church, since the founders of churches receive an extra blessing from God, the status of “Founding Family” should never be used as means of influence over community decisions.

This is essence of Saint Paul’s guidance to Saint Timothy.

“As I urged you when I went into Macedonia – remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.” (1 Timothy 1.3-4)

 Saint Paul makes a clear association between genealogies and false doctrine as he says,

“Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.” (1 Timothy 1.5-6)

In our contemporary society we encounter many such people, claiming to have faith in Jesus Christ and claiming to teach the truth about Him. But when confronted with historical corrections to their theology based upon Holy Tradition, they respond as if Holy Tradition were man-made. They forget the commandment of Saint Paul:

“Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.” (2 Thessalonians 2.15)

Finally Saint Paul says,

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.” (1 Timothy 4.1-2)

 This is happening everywhere you look in our society. Hasn’t the time come for a return to the Truth Faith as established by the Holy Apostles and handed down as Holy Tradition? Hasn’t the time for Orthodox Christianity to be the faith for America! Come and see! Come and witness ancient Christianity in a contemporary world. Come and see the original Christian Church!