READ: Titus 1
Many people in today's culture abandon the idea of church and church
membership. There is antagonism towards organized religion. It seems clear from
Paul's instructions to Titus that organized church leadership and organized
church congregations are an integral part of the plan God has for the Body of
Christ. Paul says he left Titus with the job of taking care of, organizing and
straightening out the unfinished business at the church.
He also outlines the high expectations of character and behavior for
elders or church leaders. The whole point is not to be perfect but to be in
line with God’s Word and be blameless before Him so he does not bring disrepute
to the church. Because he is entrusted with God's work, he has a responsibility
to do it well. He must love what is good and be self-controlled. This
does not just mean outbursts of anger or violence (as is so often assumed), but
rather of a self-controlled lifestyle – in every way.
A leader must also be tenacious in his beliefs. Not only to endure
in his own faith journey, but he must also be able to defend it and refute
those who oppose it. This becomes particularly important in our day and age
when our faith is becoming more often and more rigorously interrogated by the
culture around us. Leaders in the church need to know and be able to refute
those accusations. Knowing we are all leaders on some level, whether
it's within our home, our workplaces, or the church as volunteers or staff, means
these requirements also apply to each of us. The mistake many tend to make is
to say these requirements are only for people who hold specific paid positions
within the church. Although this may have originally been directed to people
with a specific position, these are the requirements for godly living for every
leader, not just those who hold official church positions.
It seems Paul also addresses people who are deceiving believers in
the congregation. Specifically, there were Jews no longer following the ways of
Christ, but who were adding rules, regulations and commands to new believers. What
would shock most American or Canadian churches is that Paul tells Titus to
rebuke them sharply. Our culture does not take kindle to sharp rebukes! The
point is not to offend them, or hold it over them, but to make them sound in
the faith. Being careful to have a pure and true faith in God is important and
integral to church life. Church leaders must take seriously, and handle
carefully, those who are bringing misinformation, wrong doctrine, and other
false teaching into the church.
Verse 16 says they claim to know God, but by their actions they deny
him. This is a scary verse. It makes us ask the question: Am I claiming to know
God but denying him with my actions? Do my actions prove my faith in God?
JOURNALING AND
PRAYER
1.
How have you been affected by the culture’s false
teaching that Jesus is okay, but the church and organized religion is not? Ask
the Holy Spirit to give you a fresh vision, passion, and love for the Church,
Christ’s Bride. Thank Him for His love for her.
2.
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what or who you are
a leader of that requires you to live to the high standard Paul sets forth in
this chapter. Ask Him how you are doing in this regard and if there is any area
you can improve in or that you need mentoring or teaching in. Ask Him for next
steps and thank Him for trusting you with people to lead.
3.
Ask the Lord if there is anything at all in your
life, whether on purpose, unintentional, or even hidden, that denies Him and
His power in your life. Confess if necessary. Ask the Lord to fill you with His
strength and grace to live out your faith in action.
