Many of Paul's writing were written to a specific church, or area, they were not real personal but sent for a certain purpose. However, when He wrote the Books of Timothy, they were personal letters to a Pastor in Ephesus named Timothy. Timothy was a younger believer who was saved through Paul's ministry. Paul became a spiritual father to Timothy, teaching him and mentoring him. Timothy grew in his faith and entered into ministry. Paul then writes to Timothy, and as he closes his letter he gives Timothy some words of wisdom that still ring true to us in our day.
  I Timothy 6:1-6 says
"1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.
3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain."
   Looking at v4, we see that there are characteristics of a false teacher. This was a warning to Timothy, but also to us. There are many false teachers among us, they look good, but they are wolves in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15). One of these characteristics is that a false teacher dotes about questions and strifes of words. Doting means "excessive affection", and in the Greek it has the idea of  "a morbid desire for something". The word for "questions" means a dispute, it is a question that is asked for the purpose of disputing and arguing. It is not a genuine attempt at learning something, but it is to cause division. Not only disputing questions but "strifes of words". That phrase is one word in the Greek "logomachia (λογομαχία)", Thayer defines this word "to wrangle about empty and trifling matters" meaning, there are things that just do not matter, but false teachers will dispute it and contend the matter.
   There are many false teachers in our midst, they are proud and arrogant, and they love to cause division. We must watch for these false teachers because they are ungodly. We must not get tangled up into these kind of questions, and issues. Our focus must be on the Gospel!

   The purpose of this post is not to really speak about our church's political views or what it should be. The purpose is to draw a few Scriptures that speak of politics and what God has to say regarding the recent debatable election in the United States.
   Many have written on Facebook and blogs and tweets and other such venues about what they think of yesterdays election. Regardless of how anyone has voted, or how well received the news is from the election, we must pray for the leaders of our country. Also, though we do not live in the United States, the impact that they have deeply affects us here in the North, and so we should also be praying for the leadership in the United States. In I Timothy 2:1,2 Paul speaks about how we are commanded to pray for all those in authority, whether that's parents, teachers, bosses, pastors, kings, prime ministers, presidents, etc. We are to pray for those who in some capacity make decisions and have responsibility over others.
   We must also realize that those in leadership will answer for their actions, whether good or bad, to God. In saying that there are many issues like abortion and homosexuality and other moral choices that became hotter during election time. Those issues are important, extremely important, however I fear that we lose sight of the most important issue: Salvation.
   Also, when we look at both Canada and the United States, we can easily see the degeneration of our society. Our society is getting worse each day, and godlessness reigns in our world today. Arguably, both countries were founded on Christian principles, but there are very few that stand on those same Christian principles. Both the Prime Minister and the President and the governments of both countries need to come back to God. It does not seem to matter much whether a Republican or a Democrat holds the presidency. Our society needs to repent and turn to God. Our churches need to repent and focus on Him. Our morals need to be based on Scripture. Our lives must be sacrificed to God for service.
   So as election time draws to a close and after all of the fall-out, let us pray for the United States. Not that it would prosper, but that God would turn the country back to Him. In saying that we also must pray for own country and its leadership.
  - Assistant Pastor Rick Mitton