Written by: Danny Brierley – Oasis Trust

Titus 2 v 1-2
But you must tell everyone what to do to follow the true teaching. Teach older men to be self-controlled, serious, wise, strong in faith, in love and in patience.

Notes
Media headlines declare, “Have-a-go hero killed”. Shoppers pretend not to notice someone stealing clothing because they don’t want to get involved. Commuters walk past a motionless body wrapped in blanket because it’s the job of the police to check if they’re OK or not. We don’t like to interfere in other people’s lives. Sometimes this is because of the respect we have for others; more often it’s because we can’t be bothered.

In contrast, Paul encouraged Titus to get involved with other people’s lives. He was to help others to “follow the true teaching”. Christian faith is more than a set of religious beliefs; it is a spiritual journey with Christ. Character is as important than beliefs, if not more so. This is what “community” is all about. It is risking the possibility of rejection or rebuke from others in order to see them flourish. The alternative is to guard your own position whilst doing nothing to help others. This does not appear to be the Christian way.

As a young child I apparently whined on long car journeys, “Are we there yet?” History is repeating itself as my kids now ask the same. If you want to ask this question of God, the answer would be “No.” The Christian journey lasts a lifetime. It is not a series of Bible studies or reading notes. Paul reminded Titus that older men and women have as much to learn as young people. Titus – and you and I – must never stop learning on our journeying towards Christ-like faith.

Titus 2 v 3-5
In the same way, teach older women to be holy in their behaviour, not speaking against others or enslaved to too much wine, but teaching what is good. Then they can teach the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be wise and pure, to be good workers at home, to be kind, and to yield to their husbands. Then no one will be able to criticise the teaching God gave us.

Notes
Put a pair of shades on and the world looks a different place. I once had a huge pair of green and yellow framed sunglasses with bright green lenses. I thought they were great. Strangely, everyone I saw looked peculiarly ill when I wore them. Of course, it was the green lenses that altered my view.

Even without sunglasses, sociologists tell us that everyone has an invisible set of lenses that distorts their view of their world. These “cultural” lenses affect our perception of the world, our attitudes towards others and even our interpretation of what we read. Rub your eyes; can you feel them?

Those that live in a sexist society read the Bible through sexist lenses. They make sexist assumptions that others with different cultural lenses do not make. Christianity is sometimes accused of being oppressive towards women, with Paul singled out as being the prime culprit. But maybe it is not Paul that is sexist, but us with our “cultural lenses”.

Paul reminded Titus that women should be taught as surely as must men. Paul did not go along with the repression of women common in that first century society; he challenged it. Whereas other religious leaders believed that women were incapable of learning, Paul was adamant that they should have the same access to learning as men.

If women have the same rights as men, they also have the same responsibilities. Women, just like men, should not gossip or become alcoholics but, instead, should love their partners and children and be of good character. Some Christian women with non-Christian husbands may decide to accept the first century sexist stereotypical norms so as to win their partners over with their love. However, this does not mean that sexism is OK. So much for Paul being sexist!

Titus 2 v 6-8
In the same way, encourage young men to be wise. In every way be an example of doing good deeds. When you teach, do it with honesty and seriousness. Speak the truth so that you cannot be criticised. Then those who are against you will be ashamed because there is nothing bad to say about us.

Notes
My Bible College days were full of hot air. As students without access to the Student Union facilities usually associated with higher education, we loved nothing better than sitting around with our cups of hot chocolate and arguing about the smallest, most insignificant aspects of doctrine. If we could have connected the hot air we generated to the national grid, we could have significantly reduced the size of the ozone layer. Of course we didn’t, and I reluctantly concede that our arguments didn’t lead to any change whatsoever.

Paul wanted Titus to help others to grow in their faith. But to do this, Titus had to give careful thought to his methods. Instead of being argumentative and self-righteous, he was to teach by example. There was no point telling others to be wise, if he himself didn’t display wisdom in his dealings with people. Likewise, how could Titus have expected others to be honest if he wasn’t seen to be honest?

Teaching by example is far harder than standing at the front of class for fifty minutes and lecturing about humility. Titus had to ensure that everything he said, did and was, communicated the authenticity of his message all of the time. Titus was to be a teacher 24-7. Sometimes he may have taught with words; more often, he would teach by example.

What are you communicating to others about Christianity? What does the way you live and treat others say about the authenticity of the faith?

Titus 2 v 9-10
Slaves should yield to their own masters at all times, trying to please them and not arguing with them. They should not steal from them but should show their masters they can be fully trusted so that in everything they do they will make the teaching of God our Saviour attractive.

Notes
Christianity has been a huge influence for good around the world. When others were fleeing a deadly plague in north Africa during the second century, it was Christians who stayed behind to care for the dying and bury the dead. Many Christians caught the disease and died.

For centuries, slavery was part of the economic system. Whilst many privately acknowledged that the life of a slave was not a happy one, almost everyone believed that slavery could not be stopped. William Wilberforce, a devout Christian, was different. He committed his life to the eradication of slavery and, curiously, the promotion of manners. Just days before his death, he heard that slavery was to be forbidden throughout the British Empire. His Christian faith led to another global change.

Centuries earlier, slavery was even more accepted. As well as declaring that “in Christ” slaves were as accepted by God as “free” people (Galatians 3 v 28) and instructing those who owned slaves to treat them well (Ephesians 6 v 9), Paul also had the difficult task of helping slaves cope with the reality of slavery. Christian slaves, owned by non-Christian slave owners, were to show by their example their freedom in Christ. In saying this, Paul was not giving moral acceptance to slavery.

Tragically, slavery still exists in the world today. There is again the need for Christians to campaign tirelessly for its eradication. Perhaps you will be the next William Wilberforce?

Paul’s instruction to first century slaves can equally be applied to twenty-first century employees. The Christian life is relatively easy in church services; living it out in the workplace can be much harder. Make a decision to be an honest, hard working and non-argumentative employee. This will communicate the authenticity of your faith to those you work with and for.

Titus 2 v 11-12
That is the way we should live, because God’s grace that can save everyone has come. It teaches us not to live against God nor to do the evil things the world wants to do. Instead, that grace teaches us to live now in a wise and right way and in a way that shows we serve God.

Notes
Working for someone with very high standards can be quite discouraging. No matter how hard you try, it seems there will always be occasions when things don’t go to plan. Mistakes are made. Work comes back with corrections scrawled in red ink.

Paul was someone who certainly had high standards, both of himself and others. He was not content to settle for mediocrity or compromise. Titus, along with Timothy, Barnabas and others, had to cope with Paul’s constant challenge. But how?

The answer was grace. Paul not only had high standards and believed everyone was capable of achieving greatness, he also recognised that everyone – himself more than anyone – was imperfect. It is only God’s grace that enables us to fully live the Christian life. This grace tells us that we are totally accepted (even though we make mistakes) and are capable (even though we struggle).

The Christian life calls us to accept and sometimes to challenge the culture of our day. We have to make difficult choices about what we will do, say and be. God’s grace enables us to make the right decisions and, on the occasions when we don’t, restores our belief in God and ourselves.

Put simply, grace says you are not alone.

Titus 2 v 13-14
We should live like that while we wait for our great hope and the coming of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ. He gave himself for us so he might pay the price to free us from all evil and to make us pure people who belong only to him—people who are always wanting to do good deeds.

Notes
Some churches cunningly disguise the vitality of the Christian faith with crumbling buildings, outdated language and dull services. This ensures the “faithful” are always guaranteed a good seat.

Christianity is, however, an action adventure. The Christian faith is more than simply something you do on a Sunday or a set of moral codes to live by; it is submission to, and relationship with, the God of Creation. We are therefore constantly inspired by Christ’s teaching (both word and deed) and are humbled by his sacrifice for us. We can never be the same again.

Paul indicates we should be “people who are always wanting to do good deeds”. In contrast, much emphasis today is placed on the songs we sing. We have managed to package worship into a neat CD-shaped box containing a number of dynamic and funky songs. Worship can certainly involve songs, but it’s only a small part. Worship is ultimately our response to God. It is a 24-7 attitude, not a one-hour activity. Elsewhere Paul says we are to offer our lives – not just our songs - as a living sacrifice (Romans 12 v 1).

Doing “good deeds” is therefore as much a part of our Christian worship as singing songs. How will you worship God today through what you say, do and are?

Titus 2 v 15
Say these things and encourage the people and tell them what is wrong in their lives, with all authority. Do not let anyone treat you as if you were unimportant.

Notes
There are those who are very quick to tell others where they are going wrong. They have answers for everything. They even have answers to the questions that people are not asking!

Paul reminded Titus that teaching is primarily about encouraging people. Good teachers are those that leave their students feeling more capable of achieving great things. Bad teachers leave their students feeling worse about themselves. Paul wanted Titus to be a good teacher.

As a teacher, Titus deserved some respect. Teaching requires preparation, attention to detail and endless patience. My numerous maths teachers were proof of that! In seeking to encourage others, Titus was not to devalue himself. If he did, how would he convince others to value themselves?

Once, an expert in the law asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was (Matthew 22 v 34-40). Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind” and “Love your neighbour as you love yourself.” You can only love your neighbour as much as you love yourself.

If Titus devalued himself, maybe out of false humility, he would not be able to value others properly. Yes, we are called to be servants, but this does not mean we become unimportant. We remain incredibly important to God. Knowing this enables us to serve others and encourage them to pursue faith in Christ for themselves.

You are called to serve and encourage others. Do this today because you know just how precious you are to God.


word-on-the-web uses the Scripture text taken from the Youth Bible, New Century Version (Anglicised Edition) copyright 1993 by Word Publishing Milton Keynes