Spreading the Word

What approach do you use when someone is curious about your faith?

“Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” - 2 Timothy 2:25–26 NIV

Reflection

Paul wrote this to Timothy a very long time ago. Timothy was younger. Paul was older. It reads like wisdom passed down from a man who had seen some things.

This verse stood out to me, especially in today’s culture.

I know where I stand on many things. I have convictions. I am not easily swayed. At the same time, I try to respect that others can honestly see things differently. I do not need agreement to show respect.

Where I struggle is with certainty that leaves no room for humility.

Paul suggests that those who do not see things clearly are trapped by the devil. I understand what he is saying. But I will admit that when I encounter modern day “Paul types,” especially around faith, it can get my Irish up a bit.

Too many people are absolutely convinced they have it all figured out. They do not account for the simple truth that no matter how much we know, there is always more we do not know. That gap never fully closes. If anything, faith should make us more aware of that gap, not less.

This shows up clearly in Christianity today.

In the non-denominational world especially, there are countless message givers. Often they are gifted communicators, senior pastors, or leaders of what feels more like a Christian organization than a church. In that model, communication matters. A lot. You need people engaged or the flock moves on.

So what makes someone worthy of your time and influence?

For me, it is not authority. It is not certainty. It is insight.

I want perspectives. Experiences. Reflections that help me think more deeply about God as I continue my own journey. Not someone telling me they know exactly how God will handle everything.

Take the Pope, for example.

I do not believe the Pope is the singular voice of God. I see him as a man with an enormous responsibility, one I would not want and never claim to fully understand. A responsibility not to push people away from faith. That alone is a heavy calling. He has sacrificed. He has devoted his life. He has answered a call I did not.

But he is still a man.

Some Catholics will cringe at that. My Protestant friends will nod. Orthodox friends may ask for more reverence. I am not trying to diminish anyone. I am saying that God meets each of us personally, not through a single human filter.

What wears me out is the rinse and repeat approach to organized faith. It often misses what matters most to me.

Quiet time with God.

Daily or frequent. Purposeful. Undistracted. That is where relationship grows. That is where faith becomes real and not just inherited or performed.

I love receiving the Holy Eucharist. I always have. It was a huge reason I stayed devoted to Mass when I was younger. Many priests were not great communicators, but they carried the authority to bring the host and the wine into the presence of Christ. I felt that deeply, and I still do.

But I also learned this. Jesus is not confined to that moment.

The deepest connection I have with Him comes in quiet spaces. Alone. Honest. Sometimes clumsy. Sometimes inconsistent. But real.

I am still a work in progress. I miss days. I drift. When I do, I know exactly where to return. That circle of light. That time with God where clarity returns and the path forward becomes visible again.

Spreading the Word matters. I am grateful for the Pope, for pastors, for teachers, and for anyone willing to share how God has worked in their life.

I just hope you and I can receive those voices with humility, hold onto what rings true, and allow God to shape a faith that is alive, personal, and real.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Thank You for illuminating the path You want me on. Thank You for saving me when I stray. Thank You for the people who have influenced my faith, both past and present. Help me remain on Your path and be a light for others. Please keep my family, my friends, and me safe. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.