If we encounter someone who
is pontificating false doctrine for personal gain within the church,
what are we to do? If a leader within the church finds someone like
this, what is he or she to do? Paul the apostle knew that as long as
there would be an effort to reach people with the gospel of Jesus
Christ there would also be opposition. Therefore while instructing
Titus, Paul first insures that Titus is aware there are such people,
and then instructs him as to how to handle them. Paul wrote in Titus
chapter one and verse thirteen:
This
witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be
sound in the faith;
Paul first addresses the validity of what he has heard, “This
witness is true.” Everything someone tells us about another
person is not always true. Especially when referring to spiritual
matters, there must be some sort of verification of the statements
made. Remember Paul just wrote in chapter one verse twelve,
One
of themselves, [even] a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians
[are] alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
Now Paul declares that this statement is true, and therefore this
person and people like him are to be dealt with quickly.
Paul adds, “Wherefore rebuke them sharply,” which means to
convict, refute or confute them abruptly. According to Paul, since
this was a true statement, Titus was not to delay in his correction
of this person. Titus was to reprehend them severely, admonish them
completely, and do so sharply. In the book of Proverbs in chapter
twenty-seven and verse five it says,
Open
rebuke is better than secret love.
And one of the most loving acts that Paul could employ is to confront
this person. Titus doing so leads us to the final part of the verse.
Paul wrote, “that they may be sound in the faith.” This
idea first insinuates care for the person who is in error. Titus was
to care about their position in the faith. It was important that
Titus take personal interest in his congregation, and when they were
off-base in their thinking, he was to be concerned for them. Paul
wanted Titus to do what was necessary for them to be well, in good
health, and without any mixture of error and strong in the faith of
Jesus Christ. Sometimes for us to be aligned appropriately with the
teachings of the Bible, our positions must be altered. Otherwise we
too might continue in error.
One of the great benefits to reading and studying the Bible is that
we have the privilege of finding God's ways for our lives. Sometimes
we find our thinking in direct opposition to God's, and when we do,
we should move our positions. The Bible has an interesting way of
rebuking us and bringing us in alignment with God's thoughts and
ways. Sometimes our alignment will come through preaching, and
sometimes through a loved one or friend. The question is, “How do
we respond when we are openly rebuked so that we will be sound in the
faith?” Our initial reaction may be to resist, but if we are wise
we will denote what it is that God is speaking to us, and as we
humbly submit, we will find ourselves sound in the faith once again.
Next time we will see particular thoughts that have persuaded people
away from sound doctrine, so read ahead, and we shall join together
then.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites,
www.amazon.com
; www.barnesandnobles.com
; download
to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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