Titus 1:10-16[1]
As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, January 23rd, 2010
You'll often hear the phrase, "Opposites attract", and mostly when folks are talking about marriage, or relationships which should lead to marriage. In Titus 1, there are opposites; there is the godly man, described (in the qualification for elders) in verses 5-9, and the ungodly man, described in the rest of the chapter, verses 10-16. These opposites do not attract. This is really one flowing section of this book from verses 5-16. All of this has to do with Titus' command from Paul to "put what remained in order". Let's read these verses.
Titus 1:9-16 (to get context I'll read verse 9)
9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party.
11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.
12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons."
13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,
14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.
15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.
16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
Here is the message for today from this text: Ungodly men must be silenced in the church, for the gospel and the people of God must remain pure in the church. This is how you get a church in order and ready for good works: you exalt godly men into leadership, and you silence ungodly men and false teachers. They must be rebuked, and if they repent, taught good truth in order to mature in the gospel. These ungodly men are unfit for any good work. Shall we pray?
This is a discipline section of Scripture. It is about correction, reproof, and training in righteousness in the church (2 Tim 3:16). The people and the gospel must remain pure in the church; that purity requires correction by courageous, godly men. False teachers and divisive church-goers must be rebuked; their lies make people unfit for any good work. Just as sound doctrine brings good works, then false doctrine makes people unfit for any good work. Lies and false gospels erode fruitfulness in the church. Thus, these ungodly men must be silenced.
Church discipline varies a little throughout the New Testament. It isn't simply the most well-known passage on the subject from Matthew 18 that addresses it; but let's begin there.
In Matthew 18 there is an orderly, four-step process for a sinning brother. Correct them privately, then with two witnesses, then before the church, and finally, if they don't repent, remove them from the church.
In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul, in one fell swoop, hands a man over to Satan through a letter, single-handedly and authoritatively removing this immoral young man from the church. He later repented and was restored (2 Cor 2).
In 2 Timothy 2 Timothy is taught to correct his opponents gently, hoping God will grant them repentance and knowledge of the truth.
Here in Titus 1 the young pastor is taught to do two things with these liars in the church; 1) silence them and 2) rebuke them sharply. In chapter three he is taught to warn a divisive person twice, then have nothing more to do with him. However it is done, correction, reproof, and even up to removal of unrepentant sinners is a necessary work in God's church. Pleasant? No. Fun? Better not be. Necessary? Yes. I see three results from such discipline in the church:
1. Sheep are corrected and protected. Anyone remember what wolves do to sheep?
2. The gospel is kept pure and bears fruit in and through the church. Gospel is the power.
3. God's name is glorified by and among His people.
Ultimately though, we can simplify it in context with Paul's own words: "Put what remained into order". So the church needs to be put in order by exalting godly men to leadership and silencing ungodly men and their lies; for they are unfit for any good work.
Since Paul described the elders/pastors, then described these ungodly men, let's look at the contrast a little bit. We'll call the elders, 'godly men'. I've summarized and combined some of the characteristics for brevity's sake, but I think we'll see the dissimilarity.
Godly Men Ungodly Men
Be above reproach insubordinate
Faithful husband and father empty talkers and deceivers
Hold firm to trustworthy word upsetting whole families
Able to teach truth and refute liars teach lies for shameful gain
Hospitable, self-controlled, lover of good liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons
A lover of good defiled and unbelieving
Upright, holy, and disciplined detestable and disobedient
Not arrogant, quick tempered, or violent unfit for any good work
Not a drunkard (I passed this last week!)
Not greedy for gain
I think a good summary contrast can be found simply with the first and last lines:
Above reproach. Good and godly men who know and love the truth, and love God's people.
Unfit for any good work. Ungodly men who teach lies, tear the church apart, for greedy, selfish gain, who are unfit for any good work.
Who would you want leading the church?
Who would you want influencing the church?
Do we want good character, faith, and good works, or ungodly lies and ungodly, selfish behavior? What should reflect our church? This is an easy, rhetorical answer, but it is not as easy to get and maintain order in the church, because it is not easy to rebuke or to be rebuked! Being on either end is something most of us avoid diligently, and for similar reasons.
1. It's hard to rebuke people. Maybe because we have a shallow love; we love them too much (in our minds), but really not enough! Too much to risk hurting their feelings, but not enough to do what's best for them (Prov 27:5). We love a false peace more than real, fought-for peace. We love growing numbers more than the gospel accuracy. Maybe a paycheck? Several reasons can hinder us, but the bottom line is REBUKING PEOPLE IS NOT COMMON and it is HARD. It requires courageous, godly men. These men must love God, the gospel, and God's sheep – enough to wound them to save them.
2. It's hard to be rebuked. This one is simpler. I'll throw out two reasons; we don't believe in absolutes, and we have pride.
Absolutes, you say? Yes. Listen again to the tone of Paul's writing…
They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.
One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.
Folks, here is what Paul was thinking; "My gospel is right, and their lies are wrong." Today, that sounds arrogant, doesn't it? Honestly, do you find that offensive? Many of you may, because you're steeped in a culture with no moral compass, no absolute foundation! We have witnessed, in two generations, the swift erosion of truth in this humanistic culture. When people base their lives on evolutionary chains and cosmic accidents, there are no absolutes; there are only pragmatism and selfishness. What we believe is what works, and what is best for me. That's how we toss morals and the gospel out – because God's already out the window. So when somebody dares to say God is right (and I know it) and you are wrong, we get offended. This is easily demonstrated with the swift change in social attitudes toward homosexuality in the last 20 years. In 1991 such behavior was frowned upon as wrong, perverted, and shameful (largely). Now it is celebrated, and the fact that I'm even talking about it as sin makes many of you (30 and under) very uncomfortable, as if I'm homophobic or evil for even thinking it might be an issue. God calls it sin – wrong. And God is right.
You see, we stand on the shifting sand of humanistic thinking, even in the church, too often! When there are no absolutes, then absolutes offend.
And then there is simple pride. We're independent, free, and self-made; and we often think we did someone a favor to even come to church – maybe our mother or the pastor. So how DARE you rebuke me!
You, judge me? It rises in us, doesn't it?
What about you – how you do receive reproof? Are you grateful, or resentful? Would you consider it, pray about it, and get back with the brother or sister, or would you huff and puff, and leave, talking bad about the leadership?
It's hard to rebuke people. It's hard to be rebuked. It's humbling; but humility is good, so good for the believer! Brothers and sisters, let's confess the gospel truth, and let's remember what benefits come from such reproof among us…
1. Sheep are corrected and protected. Anyone remember what wolves do to sheep?
2. The gospel is kept pure and bears fruit in and through the church. Gospel is the power.
3. God's name is glorified by and among His people.
There is a contrast between godly men and ungodly men. These opposites do not attract. For the love of the church, for the love of the gospel, and for the love of God, ungodly men must be silenced in the church. The gospel and the people of God must remain pure in the church. We must exalt godly men into leadership and rebuke ungodly men, so the church can be 'put in order'. Otherwise, this church will soon be 'unfit for any good work.'
[1] All Scriptures, unless otherwise noted, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (via E-Sword Software) © 2001 Crossway Publishing. All Rights Reserved. I paste them in red for distinction.
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