Release Date: February 11th, 2026Continue With The Things You Have Learned
- by Laurel Rounds Fretz
"But you must continue with the things you have learned and found convincing. You know who taught you. Since childhood you have known the holy scriptures that help you to be wise in a way that leads to salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3: 14-15) CEB.
I have been known to get stuck doomscrolling social media when I have my coffee in the morning. My intentions are good. I grab my phone to do my puzzles: wordle, connections, the crossword. The puzzles are good for my brain, I tell myself. The problem is all the other apps on my phone. I can easily get sucked into the never-ending, negative news cycle. And that is not good for my brain.
The church too can find itself caught between engaging honestly and sincerely with the world around it and hiding its head in the sand out of fear or out of a desire to protect its peace.
We’ve probably all found ourselves caught between wanting to be up to date on what is happening to our neighbours around the world and protecting our own peace. The church too can find itself caught between engaging honestly and sincerely with the world around it and hiding its head in the sand out of fear or out of a desire to protect its peace.
The writer of the second letter to Timothy offers some sound advice for the church and for those moments we find ourselves paralyzed by world events. The author reminds Timothy to continue with the things he has learned and found convincing. Timothy must follow the things his elders have taught him since childhood.
What I have learned and found convincing is that spending a half hour on Instagram every morning is not helpful. What I have learned from my wise mother and found convincing in my own experience is to drink a big glass of water and go for a walk. That seems to solve many of my problems.
Jesus consistently calls his followers to actively love our neighbours no matter who they are. Jesus also takes time to withdraw for prayer and peace. He shows us both ways of engaging with the world.
I have also learned from my various church families over the years and have found convincing in my own experience the words and character of Jesus in the Gospels. This is the way we should continue. These are the things we have learned, experienced and found convincing. And these are the things we continue to teach our children and each other. We are convinced of the words and character of Jesus Christ.
It becomes harder to maintain a safe distance from world events when we see Jesus as our guide. Jesus consistently calls his followers to actively love our neighbours no matter who they are. He demonstrates this repeatedly in the Gospels through his parables and his own actions. Jesus also takes time to withdraw for prayer and peace. He shows us both ways of engaging with the world.
As Christians and as the church, we must continue with these things we have learned from Jesus and found convincing, and we must pass this faith and wisdom on to our children.
- Laurel Rounds Fretz is pastor at Community Mennonite Fellowship in Drayton, ON.