GODLY LIVING IN A PAGAN SOCIETY
Titus 1:1-5
How would you describe our culture today?
Conditions at Crete Godless character of Crete (1:10-16)
Legalism: “I’d rather do it myself?”--They’re back!--the Judaizers 14
“Earn your way to God living by the rules!”
Ritualism: 16a Going through the motions--talking religious talk 16
Lots of processions and religious activities.
Paganism:Religion doesn’t depend on God and doesn’t affect your lifestyle 16b
Religious profession didn’t change daily living.
Do you see any similarities with OUR day?
How is our culture similar to ancient Crete? How do WE repeat their error?
Conditions in modern society (–in Warsaw!)
“I’m free! I can do whatever I want!”
“If it feels good do it!”
“Don’t try to impose your values on other people.”
–“You can’t tell ME what to do!”
“Don’t criticize others! Don’t judge!” =>
Marital unfaithfulness and divorce have become acceptable
Cable television and the internet bring temptation into our living rooms–even our bedroom!
Opportunities for sexual adventures in real life--and in cyberspace--are increasingly common
Deception and fraud in business are rampant.
These trends in society are creeping into the church as well.
Barna, “The Frog in the Kettle.” Frog, trapped in a kettle, swims content on top of fire, unaware of gradually increasing temperature, until heat overcomes him and he’s cooked in the boiling pot.
Moral degeneration gradually increases around us. We don’t realize what it’s doing to us, until its destructive influence takes its toll on our life, a family member, or close friend.
Hendricks summarizes:“moral collapse never comes as a blow out. It always begins as a slow leak.”
How should WE then live, in a culture characterized by such changes in our value system?
After Paul wrote 1 Timothy he visited Crete.
He’d been there before, on his way to Rome.
When he found problems at the church, he left Titus to correct them.
Titus was a faithful co-worker.
He had been sent to handle serious problems at Corinth twice before.
Now he’s been left to straighten things out at the church in Crete.
Titus tells us what our lifestyle ought to look like in a pagan society.
Life in Crete was discouraging--lots of religion--little relationship to daily living.
Paul writes a guidebook, telling Titus what Paul expects him to do there.
He is to organize the church and deal with their attitude toward religion.
MAJOR THEME: –Our faith ought to affect the way we live!
1:16-- their actions demonstrate the falsity of their doctrine
2:1-- BUT YOU "teach what is in accord with sound doctrine"
2:10-- "so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Saviour attractive"
2:11-12-- "the grace of God . . . teaches us to . . . say “NO! . . . and to live . . . godly lives . . . ."
3:8-- "that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good."
Sound doctrine should be confirmed by a sound lifestyle.
8 times he emphasizes "doing what is good" 1:8, 16; 2:3, 7, 14; 3:1, 8, 14
PAUL’S MESSAGE TO CHRISTIANS LIVING IN A PAGAN COMMUNITY
Central message: SOUND DOCTRINE PRODUCES SOUND PRACTICE.
False doctrine produces a corrupt lifestyle.
False teachers show emptiness of their doctrine by their lifestyle.
When people live degenerate lifestyle, you can be sure it’s preceded by a weak view of God!
Sound doctrine produces a healthy lifestyle.
PAUL’S GREETING 1:1-4 3 parts:
Studying parts often reveals theme of the letter.
Usually one part is amplified. Can you spot it?
Author: Paul 1:1-3 1:1
He is a servant of God and an apostle of Christ, our Savior.
Balanced approach.
He sees himself as God’s slave.
Yet he is an official emissary of Christ--He comes with His authority.
He’s commissioned to promote faith and knowledge of the truth
His mission is based on the faith God entrusted to His people and on the knowledge of the truth--truth matters!
NOT just theoretical or academic knowledge
This is truth which produces godliness.
Key thought: Knowledge of truth leads to godliness.
Truth and godliness go together.
Gospel must be backed up by godly living.
Just as true in Warsaw as in Crete.
Valid whether at church or a football game--in a board room or a sanctuary
Far too many pastors and church leaders have fallen!
This truth is based on our hope of eternal life 1:2-3
Our message is an eternal message.
God promised it before time began.
God revealed it at just the right time.
It’s given by God who doesn’t lie, before foundation of the world.
Our hope of eternal life produces holiness now!
God trusted Paul to proclaim it.
It’s entrusted to Paul, and us, we’re commissioned and responsible to proclaim it.
But it’s only believable when it’s accompanied by godliness.
The gospel is truth that leads to godliness!
Recipient: Titus 1:4a
He’s Paul’s true son.
Paul identifies with Titus showing that they’re on the same team.
He’s to be respected with the same authority as Paul.
He shares Paul’s faith.
Greeting: 1:4b
Wish that Titus might experience the grace and peace that come from God the Father and Jesus, our Savior.
He wants Titus to enjoy God’s unmerited favor and unshakable peace.
Only people who know the truth, and live in accordance with it, really enjoy God’s grace and peace.
[ How do you convince people to live that way? –what Titus’ mission is about! ]
TITUS’ MISSION: 1:5
Commissioned to straighten out what’s crooked.
Lit--”to straighten out what’s still crooked”
Like orthopedist--straightens out crooked parts of our body
Titus is spiritual orthopedist--to straighten out what’s crooked
The religious system that didn’t affect people’s life has left God’s people “crooked”
Titus is to straighten that out!
[How do you do that?
Does it work to harangue people from the pulpit? 2nd part of commission:]
Commissioned to appoint leaders in each town.
Way to straighten out crookedness in church is by selecting leaders
–not just any leader will do! There’s a particular standard: 1:6a
Popular view of leadership:
Leadership is determined by popularity.
Leadership is evaluated by “follower-ship.” [Is anyone following?]
Leadership is evaluated by success. [Effectiveness--Is leader effective?]
We’re not looking for “strong natural leaders.
We’re not looking for ecclesiastical politicians.
Paul’s view of leadership:
Leadership is determined by godliness.
Leaders should be blameless; not perfect 1:6a
If requirement were perfection, no one qualifies! We’re all sinners!
John warns: “anyone who says he never sins is kidding himself (1 John 1:8-10)
Perfection is NOT the requirement--blamelessness is!
No cause for public accusation against him.
We need leaders, looked up to by people in community–who don’t have flaws that jump out at you and drive people away.
People don’t say: “If __ is a leader in your church, I don’t want anything to do with it!
He’s always angry!
He’s always out to make a buck!
He always has to win! Thanks but no thanks!
I don’t need that kind of religion!” That’s not blameless.
Blameless, lit., “without a stain”–no basis to accuse us and reject our religion.
Blameless with respect to home and family life 1:6
Blameless with respect to personal character 1:7-8
Blameless with respect to use of God’s Word 1:9
Next few weeks we’ll look at each of these more closely.
As we select our leaders, what kind of people should we look for?
Will any “warm body” do?
Is it fair--or even possible--to evaluate our leaders on this basis?
HOW SHOULD WE LIVE TODAY IN A PAGAN CULTURE?
The way to get people to live godly lives is by placing leaders before them that model what godly living looks like!
When leaders model what godly living looks like,
people are motivated to live godly lives.
It’s not “successful” people--nor popular people!
It’s blameless people--godly people that make the difference!
--Leaders demonstrate by lifestyle what true Christian looks like!
We may have different views about kind of government church should have,
or what leaders are called,
or how they lead us,
but we better not compromise on the character, integrity, and lifestyle of our leaders,
or we’ll lose our credibility–our ability to speak with authority to pagan world we live in!
To resolve problem of God’s people in pagan world which claims to be religious, only real solution is exemplary leadership--blameless leaders!
Some may be thinking--”I’m glad I’m not a leader!”
Even if you’re not a leader, passage contains pattern for our lives:
If we’re going to penetrate our society with truth--if we’re going to reach out to the world–our SOUND DOCTRINE MUST BE AUTHENTICATED BY HOLY, GODLY LIVING!
* Elders set the pattern for the whole church.
Leaders model what all God’s people should look like!
We should imitate this example.
* Who do WE set the pattern for?
Our own children? Younger kids at school?
Someone we work beside, who’s watching us?
We all are leaders to someone--maybe it’s our kids who are watching!
Maybe it’s our neighbors--They watch and look for the real thing in us!
If we’re going to penetrate our society with truth--if we’re going to reach out to the world–our SOUND DOCTRINE MUST BE AUTHENTICATED BY HOLY, GODLY LIVING!
Glaring need of the hour: Men and women, committed to live for God, willing to show our young people how it’s done.
We need godly leaders who are blameless, to lead the way!