Text: Titus
So far, we have discussed choosing leaders, how a leader should live, and how each Christian should live and behave in the community, the Church. Today, we will be discussing the letter Paul sent to Titus which is quite similar in content in comparison to 1 Timothy. But we will be looking at it in a bigger view.
Here we will learn the basic structure of the Church. Understanding this structure, will enable us to answer the “why” questions of doing these things.
So the Church community have these following:
There are Elders (v.1:5-9) – Paul made it clear to Titus that he left him in Crete so that he might put in order what was left unfinished (referring to other things below), and appointing Elders in every town. Again, for the sake of better understanding, an Elder is equivalent to Overseer, Bishop, and in our time, Pastors.
This is some of the basics of Church planting work. Whenever a Church is planted, there has to be someone who will stand as an Elder or a Pastor (that’s what we call these people in our time). It was Paul and the other Apostles who have set this as standards and maybe it is also something that they have learned as the basics of Church planting. They know that it will be difficult for the newly planted Church to thrive if there is no one to oversee the affairs of the Church.
It is also important to note that Paul once again emphasised on the qualifications of an Elder. It cannot be anyone. He must be someone who qualifies with the requirement. Paul knows that the position is a very delicate, sensitive position, thus, it cannot be a recent convert, rather it has to be someone who has been there for some time and underwent trainings and is exemplifying a good example as a believer.
There are rules and discipline (v.1:10-16) There are some people group who are bothering the Church with their meaningless talks. There are two main things that they are teaching others; Jewish practices and myths.
These people are rebellious. Paul must have dealt with them previously that he knows them well and how they lure people in these teachings. But Paul was firm with his convictions and with the teachings of the Lord Jesus that salvation has also been given to the Gentiles, and the Gentiles are not bound by Jewish traditions, instead they are to live under grace.
This is also the reason why Paul is instructing Titus to silence them (v.1:11) and to rebuke them sharply (v.1:13). But we have to take note that the rebuke is for the purpose of bringing them back to the sound faith.
There is discipleship (v.ch.2) In this chapter, we can see that Paul have detailed some instructions for the people in the Church. Looking at a bigger picture, Paul is showing that the Church is supposed to have a discipleship where everyone is being taught how to live as Christians.
Noticed the key reason of why there is discipleship (v.2:11-12) “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions,…”
Let’s review:
Older men (v.2:2) – to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
Older women (v.2:3) – to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Teach young women.
Young women (v.2:4) – to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
Younger men (v.2:6) – to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good.
Slaves – (v.2:9) – to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
Notice that it is not just about meditating on the Word, but also living out the Word.
There is obedience to authorities (v.ch.3) Still part of the discipleship process is to also remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities. Paul was referring generally to both political rulers and authorities. And to be subject, means not to be rebellious against these rulers and authorities.
However, we also have to point out that though the these words are teaching us to be subjects, the supremacy of God still comes first. If there are laws, or authorities is prohibiting or maligning God’s word and teachings and especially those that affects our faith, we have to follow God.
Daniel (Daniel 6) gave us a good example concerning this matter. When king Darius ordered people should be praying to him for the next thirty days shall be put to lion’s den. This of course is the fruit of the deceit that other government officials planned to put down Daniel.
Upon learning this, Daniel did not prayed to king Darius, instead he knelt and prayed to God, the reason that he was arrested and was placed in the lion’s den. But God protected Daniel all the way and was saved from the lions. The result was that, even king Darius wrote a decree that everyone in his kingdom must fear and reverence the God of Daniel and even recognises him as the “living God”. (Daniel 6:26)
So the rule of thumb here is the primacy of God in your life. Other than that, we ought to live in submission to the governing authorities of our society.
Challenge:
1. Are these four things present in our Church? Perhaps most of these are. But are we living out the teachings being taught to us?
2. Deacons have not been listed above since we are using the book of Titus. However in the book of 1Timothy 3, we can see that Paul also gave emphasis to deacons. Why do you think it is important to have deacons in the Church? What are the roles of deacons? How are deacons should be working with the Pastor of the Church?
