“Pair-A-Dimes” (2 Timothy 16-17) [(former and current presentations) – reflection on Belief series #1B)

I found a dime upon a street last week
A nickel too – does that suffice to meet
Criteria for “Pair-a-dime” referred
To in our speech as “Model that’s preferred”?

Or is it “One-point-five” like church last week
Where Scripture’s virtues made for sermon sweet?
As paradigm, is it full two point oh?
Or is it one point five – just parts they know?

If you apply first item of Tim’s words –
That Scripture’s good for teaching doctrine, heard
Within its pages – when does learning stop?
At what’s been noticed? Live on what we’ve got?

Like – some folks say that “T.J. Wright is nuts”;
“He’s fiddling with our doctrine when he cuts
A swath through many years of Euro-chat –
Pulls out his thumb – ‘Good boy I am, in fact’ .”

Why is it we hold dear the words of some
Who spoke into the lives to whom they’d come,
Who passed it on for centuries before
Their children’s children balked – went out the door?

There’s “Loose” or “Tight” within each group’s approach
(the point at which your views are shown reproach);
But that just speeds or slows the closing day
When “Heretics” are scorned, then sent away.

Both sides claim Second Timothy on this –
Use Scripture’s words as base, so both insist
they’re right (great way to start new little group)
As they proclaim, “Christ’s way’s on the other route.”

Do “Creeds” and “Affirmations” limit thought?
Restrict our open minds to what is not
Much use in living life when satan’s changed
His mode of operation, plans he’s laid?

The UCC cells churches, one a week;
And Alpha Course service Pablum while they eat;
The Euro-church has all but gone away;
Society ignores what churches say.

So “Scriptures good for doctrine”? Maybe so –
But woe betide the minds that seek to show
The missing pieces in our fractured lives –
“Define your problem this way – then you’ll thrive.

“For we’ve an answer great for ancient quest
Within our group – solution is the best
For it – so trick is take that problem on;
Solution add – then problem will be gone.”

“That’s got a be the dumbest thing I’ve heard!
Would it perhaps be better if the Word
Were opened fresh to hear solution there
For question that now drives me to despair?

“Then maybe I’d pour out a joyful creed,
Rejoicing at solution to my need
Just like in days gone by when gospel word
Came to our folks – when Jubilee was heard.”

But time moves on, new issues have emerged;
My “Culture” has no answer, life’s absurd
Because of it – our issue’s different now
From one that stymied us, would not allow –

Us to live out our lives abundantly;
Our joy dried up, we struggled valiantly;
Then gospel-key was cut to fit that lock –
Our prison cell was breached, and out we walked.

In joy we wrote new songs, new creeds were cut
Into a stone – in shape of key which touched
Our lives in such a liberating way!
I want the key for myself – here – today!

Thanks Lord for this.

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