Gospel Is No Rumor

We receive in our email inboxes all sorts of spam (unwanted advertisement), while not entirely sure how our email addresses have circulated to the senders. And we receive directed email that is not more than a circulation of rumors. The stories typically include sources that cannot be proven with cross references. Sometimes the phrase is, "I kept this a secret until now..." sort of thing, something that was witnessed behind closed doors, without the news reporters present, etcetera. As soon as I see that I'm usually skeptical. They may be heart-warming or inspiring stories and that may have come merit, but to pass off as an actually event when the facts cannot be examined are suspicious. Or most recently rumors about presidential candidates. I cannot say what is true unless I've walked along side the candidate all of their lives, which makes it difficult to vote without trusting the Lord's will with our nation and its leaders. Well... anyway...

Today I read in 2 Timothy how the Gospel of Truth is circulated which is the total opposite method of this sort of rumor mill mechanism. Paul urges Timothy to this, "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others." (2 Tim 2:2).

No rumor mill there. Paul preached the gospel openly and in the presence of many witnesses. And he tells Timothy to entrust these to reliable men, who will be able to teach others.

The trial of Christ was open and his execution was public. Words he said were carefully recorded and carefully passed to us years later because of what Paul and Timothy have done by their duty of integrity. And those words, my dear, are what warms my heart.