The two-tier question

The randomly selected Bible passage I drifted off to sleep memorizing last night was 2 Timothy 2:1-4:

"You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him."

Something surprising---I say supernatural---happens when one stops to commit to memory Scripture that one has been in the habit of skimming heretofore. My apologies to all the Christians I found "quaint" for so doing. What they knew all along was that to memorize the Word of God is to watch a frozen two-dimensional scene on the wall spring to life, and all the characters turn and look you straight in the eye. The Word yields its secrets only to the seeker.

In verse 1 I learn that the grace for strength and personal transformation is already available to us. It's just a matter of believing it and walking in it. So much for the school of thought that passively waits around for God to change my foul mouth or my sense of powerlessness. I dare say He's waiting for us.

Verse 2 speaks to an issue that has recently come up for me: What would the Apostle Paul talk about if you invited him to your retreat or seminar? My impression from this present verse is that Paul never "evolved" as a theologian---if you call "evolution" this prevalent phenomenon I see in Christian circles that are enthralled with arcane theo-philosophy brainstorming methods of cultural transformation. Paul is still "stuck" on the things he's been stuck on for ages, the things he has said before many witnesses. Just in case there's any doubt about what that is, he is plain in verse 8:

"Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David is preached in my gospel."

In a single phrase---"the offspring of David"---Paul distances himself from any misconception that he now preaches a highfalutin, abstruse, gnostic theological abstraction. This Johnny-one-note will go on talking about Christ crucified till they cart him away.

Verse 3: If you would not be disappointed in your prayer life, don't ask for the wrong things. Do not seek a life free from suffering.

Verse 4: Now for the question for which I titled this post, from a verse that brings it into sharp focus: Is the call of Christ universal or two-tiered? Are only certain persons (say, pastors, missionaries, elders, and other special individuals) called to obey the exhortation of verse 4 to be set apart as a "soldier" and not entangled in civilian pursuits? Or in regard internal rather than external calling, is it only those who are aware of an inner calling by the Holy Spirit? Or do we eschew that exclusive interpretation and understand that everyone is exhorted to this radical separation?

On the one hand, the letter is a personal correspondence to one man---Timothy. That would argue for a particularistic interpretation. On the other hand, it is patent that the letter has become canon, and so ipso facto is addressed to us as well. It is evident that at least some elements of the letters to Timothy are very specific to that first century singular recipient---he is exhorted to use the gift he received when Paul laid hands on him; he is exhorted to take a little wine for his illness.

I know it would go too far to say that only certain Christians are called to "warfare." Ephesians 6 and other Scripture obviate that possibility. And yet the call does seem extreme: Paul is making a case for refraining from "civilian pursuits." Well, of course, he would say that to a pastor, wouldn't he? Some will try to solve the matter by saying that the call is made specifically to Timothy and others with manifest callings, but that the principle applies to all. That may well by the answer, though it leaves me in my puzzlement a bit.

Personally, I would like to embrace these verses as my own. I wonder if that desire is itself a kind of answer to my own question.

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