Shut ‘em Down

Nov. 2

Read: Titus 1:5-16

Shut ‘em Down

“For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced…” (v.10-11)

Some people just need to shut their mouths! “They must be silenced.”

The last thing the church needs is more teachers and leaders who have been corrupted by the culture(s) values around them.The people of God - the C/church - has always been in great need of qualified leaders who are brave enough to speak up for the truth of God. We need leaders who “are able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” (v.9) Some people just need to be rebuked. There is a great deal of deceptive teaching and severely unbiblical ideas that influence the people of God. Even as Christians, we are not immune to the influence of the culture(s) around us! The occasion that caused Paul to write this letter to Titus was just this type of problem.

The culture of Crete had crept in, and false teachers were “upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.” (v.11) In the ancient world, Crete was known for its lack of moral backbone and debauchery. Ancient historian Polybius wrote, it is “almost impossible…to find personal conduct more treacherous or public policy more unjust than in Crete.” Cicero declared, “moral principles are so divergent that the Cretans… consider highway robbery honorable”. Paul, here in our scripture passage, agrees with Crete’s own prophet and historian that “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” (v.12) Yet, despite how corrupt the culture around them was - Paul and Titus knew that the true gospel message of Christ and work of the Holy Spirit was powerful enough to transform and preserve the people of God… even in Crete! What would be crucial though is the correct teaching of these truths and the courage to rebuke and even silence those who would war against them.

What Paul points out about the Cretans and the “circumcision party” gives us a clue into the ways that the teaching in the church had become corrupted. It was being corrupted and leveraged for personal gain - to build up influence, power, and money. How many times do we need to watch this some story unfold!?! Some teacher or pastor of a mega church becomes corrupted by the fame, power, and money that comes with their growing platform. It is not uncommon that their messages and teaching stray further and further from the truth. How can you heart be captured with building your own empire and still be true to being a servant to someone else’s kingdom? In addition we had teaching that was “upsetting whole families”. Imagine all of the ways children are being influenced to push back against their parents… being told they know better and that their elders have it all wrong. Or how corrupt teaching on gender or marriage that is destroying and breaking apart families… the ways we treat the roles of husbands and wives or moms and dads. Even the ways that the church handles divorce and remarriage have an effect on families staying together or breaking apart.

The long and the short of it is that the people of God have ALWAYS needed to be students of the scriptures - each and everyone of us - and vigilant in sifting the teaching and instruction they receive. The ways that we care for, look out for, and encourage one another are crucial. It takes a certain amount of bravery and gusto to push back against a wave of teaching or idea that is unbiblical but has taken root in popular “church culture”. I have seen MANY TIMES in the last few weeks and months examples of prominent leaders who have “jumped the shark” and begun to teach some straight up heretical things. I know it doesn’t sound “nice” or “Christian’y”… but sometimes the best thing for someone is to be rebuked and silenced. Sometimes we overlook too quickly a false teaching or accommodate a vain teacher because of the other “good things” happening in the church. In the end, this is the east loving thing to do because it creates an environment where these weeds or corruption can grow. (Think of the LONG list of leaders who have flamed out in the last 10 years!)

So my encouragement to you this morning: “Hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that you may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” Love you guys. - JDP