For
there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those
of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole
households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest
gain. One of them, 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 giving heed to
Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth. Titus 1:10-14 NKJV
Ask
anyone who knows me and they will tell you I am a “fixer”. As long as I can remember, I have always been
fascinated by how things are put together and how to fix them when they break. One of my earliest memories is an encounter
with my father while fixing our lawn mower.
Unfortunately though, it wasn’t broken but I had done a masterful job of
taking it all apart and had pieces and parts scattered all over our lawn. My memory gets hazy about what the outcome was,
but I still enjoy picking up the pieces of something that is broken and putting
it all back together.
I
confess, however, that if I was in Titus’ shoes when Paul told him he was going
to Crete, I sincerely wonder what my reaction would have been? I believe Paul had a very high opinion of
Titus’ abilities in order to appoint him the task of straightening out the
Cretan church. I’m not sure the word broken quite captures the extent of the
mess this church was in, but it was easily dysfunctional, probably ineffective,
and certainly incapable of spreading the Gospel in such a way as to be
attractive to non-believers. I confess I
was a little surprised to read Paul’s description of these people, even when
considering his penchant for bluntness.
Yet my next thought was if this is how Paul chose to describe them, if
he were alive today how might he describe the Church as it exists right now?
Paul
expounds on the three attributes, “liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons” as
the book of Titus unfolds and in today’s vernacular I believe what he is
describing can accurately be summed up as “hypocritical,
argumentative, and non-productive.”
Using those terms, it would certainly appear to me that what Paul has to
say about the Cretan church, and how to fix its problems should be examined
closely by believers today with an eye to our own circumstances. As I read this book it struck me that the
solution is contained in one word Paul chose to repeat several times as he
instructed Titus, and it is the word “sober”.
For a
bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not
quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,
but hospitable, a
lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled,
holding fast the
faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine,
both to exhort and convict those who contradict. Titus 1:7-9
NKJV
Now
like most of us, when I see the word sober my first thoughts are about
drinking, and not being intoxicated, but if you look at the Greek you come up
with something a little more complex than that.
The word translated sober comes from the Greek word “sōphrōn” which means “of a
sound mind, sane, in one's senses, curbing one's desires and impulses,
self-controlled, temperate”. As you
read Titus, it seems clear that the issue of self-control applies to just about
every facet of a believer’s life, especially as it affects and influences what
others see by observing our words and deeds.
But as
for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be
sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; Titus 2:1-2
NKJV
“The
Church is full of hypocrites!” Have you
ever heard those words? Isn’t it amazing
that believers are so carefully observed and held to such a high standard? Of course not, yet somehow there are many who
ignore the fact that the world will watch us closely to see if what we are
trying to sell is really as life changing as we claim. If we don’t live up to the standard set forth
in the Word of God, we become liars and the world rightly considers us to be
hypocrites. In the believers life, being
“sober” includes being of a “sound mind” which would certainly include being
honest about how we choose to live out our faith
Likewise,
exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a
pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence,
incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an
opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you Titus 2:6-8
NKJV
How
often do you argue? Think back on this
past week and see if you can remember having a disagreement and verbally trying
to make a point. Could your words be
described as “showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that
cannot be condemned”? Anyone who
knows me would probably tell you I hate an argument. I mean I really would rather walk away if
there is even the remotest chance of a raised voice. Have you ever had the opportunity to see
another person’s reaction to someone who won’t raise their voice and argue? They always seem to get frustrated and angry
as if getting you to come down to their level is important to them. Again, part of being sober is self-control,
and that includes how we talk to others and the words we choose to use. Can you imagine living in such a way as that
those who disagree with you end up “ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you”?
For the
grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that,
denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and
godly in the present age, Titus 2:11-12
NKJV
Is
it just me, or is it possible that the world is making our job of living
differently easier? Truthfully, it
appears to me that this world is descending into moral and social decay so
quickly that true believers who choose to live according to God’s Word stand
out like the proverbial “sore thumb”. Do
you think Titus stood out in Crete? If
things were as bad as Paul described them, anyone willing to “live
soberly, righteously, and godly” would be as different from those
around them as light and dark. Do you
stand out like this today? Have you made
the choice to live soberly in a world that seems to be falling apart all around
us? Paul appointed Titus to teach the
church in Crete how to live soberly, and the message he gave to him is more
than applicable to us, especially in this present age. All of us need to look in the mirror and ask
the question of ourselves, am I living sober?
Keep
watching.
