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Sound Expressions of the Church’s Fellowship |
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By Dr. Bill C. Konstantopoulos Retired Pastor, Evangelist, Missionary and Writer |
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The message of the third chapter [of Titus] is powerful and plainly states the responsibility of the Christian within the community and within his society. The behavior of the Christian is not departmentalized or seasonable, but consistent at all times. The behavior of the Christian does not depend on circumstances, conditions, or locality, but on the change that has taken place in him.
Paul offers advice more like James here, emphasizing the need for good works. People can only see our faith and understand our Christian concepts and commitment to the gospel as they see them being translated into good works.
There are three essential things that Paul brings to our attention in this chapter, and I have chosen to deal with them without neglecting the truth that is attached to them. I believe that our understanding will be enhanced if we focus on them and expound their meaning.
Prognostic Demands Paul offers a prognosis of the demands placed on the Christian life. He presents the Christian life not as something passive that rests on creeds and dogmas, but as a productive expression which deals with the reality of life and which affects us and our relationships with others, being part of the fellowship or part of a hostile society. The Christian needs not only to be functional in the society of the redeemed, but also in the secular society of which we are a part. So there are two-fold demands placed on the Christian life: demands from the fellowship of the redeemed, how he should properly function in it; and demands from society, how he should properly react to it.
The Christian and Society Christ saves us from the world and its spirit, but He does not take us out of it. On the contrary, He endows us with a responsibility to the world. The apostle urges Titus to remind the Christians concerning such responsibility. There are those who feel that once they have responded to God, their sole responsibility is to Him and that they should not have to obey any laws or yield to any demands made by their society. Paul urges a submissive attitude with three statements.
First, “Be subject to principalities and powers” (vs. 1). The two Greek words archais and exousias can be translated “rulers” and “authorities.” The Greek verb suggests the idea of “placing under someone” or under the command of someone in authority. So the Christian ought to be subject to the civil rulers and authorities in all that is for the common good and the order of society, except when that authority is corrupted and requires the person to commit wrong or violate his or her conscience. To such a demand, our reaction should be equal to that of Peter, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Due to their temperament, the Cretans apparently had difficulty in relating to their civil authorities.
Second, “Obey magistrates” (vs. 1). The Greek verb peithorhein always carries within itself the meaning of being obedient to magistrates or to those who have authority. A magistrate is one “entrusted with the administration of the laws and often has some judicial functions.” The Christian must be obedient to those who administer the laws of the land. The Bible nowhere condones rebellion and violence against authorities by the Christian.
Third, “Be ready to every good work” (vs. 1). The Christian must be an example of good works in his community. Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). The apostle elsewhere exhorts us, “Do good unto all men, especially unto those who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10). The Christian must be the first one to come to the rescue of people when there is a disaster or a need. The church must lead the way against suffering, poverty, and injustice. James says, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27).
The Christian and the Society of the Redeemed The Christian and the society of the redeemed is the church (vs. 2). There is no doubt that the fellowship of the church expects certain behavior from us. Our new-found life in Christ reflects changes in our behavior. The Bible gives us clear instructions how to treat one another in the fellowship. It speaks about loving one another, preferring one another, and building up one another. In the fellowship of the redeemed we are expected to love, to give of ourselves, and display a Holy Spirit-oriented life. If we don’t, our relationship in the church is not very functional. Paul names the following things, which apply not only to the fellowship of the church, but also to people in general.
First, the use of our tongue—“Speak evil of no one” (vs. 2). The tongue is a powerful member. It has no bones, but it can break bones. It can be the greatest asset in the life of a person or our most destructive element. More problems have been caused by the improper use of the tongue than anything else. If some people need to cut off the length of their conversation, there are others who need to clip off their tongue. You remember the lady who came to a well-known preacher with a pair of scissors and said, “Will it be okay if I cut your tie a little? It is too long.” The preacher said, “It is okay, if afterwards you let me cut something of yours off because it is too long.” When she finished cutting his tie, he said, “Now stick out your tongue.”
People know us best by our conversation. We have not been called to spread around the wrongs and sins of other people. Our conversation must edify people and not depress them. Christians are not gossiping people; at least, they are not supposed to be. Christians do not cut each other down and do not defame one another. Christians must be patient one with another. Christians ought to serve one another and they ought to build one another up. Christians do not become cliquish, endeavoring to push someone out. Christians do not spread the wrongs of others. Christians do not reject people, even though they reject their behavior. It is a wound to the spirit when the Christian spends time magnifying the faults of his brother in Christ instead of forgiving and trying to go forward.
We need a revival of holy conversation in the church. We need to learn how to talk to each other and about each other with dignity and respect, especially when we are in disagreement. Many in the fellowship are wounded due to some careless words by someone. Both reputations and lives have been destroyed due to unnecessary conversation. The Bible says, “Even the fool, when he holdeth his peace, is considered wise” (Prov. 17:28).
Second, the display of attitudes—“Be no brawlers” (vs. 2). The background of the word, as it is used in other parts of the Bible and contemporary writings, means “quarrelsome over wine” or “contentious.” The Christian ought to avoid quarreling both inside and outside the fellowship. Quarreling never edifies, and it never wins converts. The Christian is possessed by a different spirit, the spirit of wisdom and the spirit of understanding. Extreme quarreling may reveal the absence of control by the Holy Spirit. When our attitudes toward people, circumstances, and events are negative, quarreling is inevitable. Christians need to be possessed with positive attitudes, in the midst of even the most devastating experiences.
Third, our disposition—“But gentle, shewing all meekness, unto all men” (vs. 2). Disposition has to do with our temperament, character and personality. There is no doubt that our personality traits are inherited and are somewhat developed during childhood. Our disposition and temperament are fully enhanced and transformed once the Holy Spirit has full control. The regeneration of the person and the possession of the “divine nature” drastically affect his temperament and personality. Kindness toward all, especially toward our brothers and sisters, should season our lives. Someone said that this means that Christians should be considerate of others. “Meekness is a word and attitude that needs to be incorporated into the living of modern Christians. I have seen those who boastfully tread as if they owned the world, but the spirit of meekness shows clearly to all that we are owned by the Lord.”
Why such requirements of conversation, attitude, and disposition? Paul says we should remember what we were before God’s grace got hold of us. We were “foolish.” To the regenerated or converted mind, a lot of the things that the sinner does are foolish. And it is easy at times to allow that righteous indignation to possess us and say, “You know better—you’re an educated person. How can you do such a foolish thing?” But we should remember that the understanding of the unconverted is darkened by sin and Satan. How else could you explain a well-educated person who has a respectable job, yet, embraces the bottle or drugs in order to escape some problems or pressures, knowing well that they will cause more problems? Satan- and sin-blinded people cannot see the end or the consequences of their actions. They either rationalize or generalize. How else can you explain people who are engaged in destructive habits, both to the body and the spirit, and yet appear to be unconcerned? I remember the brother who said, “I could not see that my smoking was the business of anybody else, or that it hurt in any way, until God’s Spirit illuminated me. Not only He illuminated me, but also gave the power to be free.” Why is it that to the unconverted mind, paying tithes to the Lord seems to be so much money, while to the converted it seems so little? We should remember that the understanding of the sinner is darkened. You and I at one time, says Paul, were also in the same predicament. We were disobedient and deceived. People are deceived by sin and Satan and the lures of this world. People spend time and energy for that which does not satisfy. The prophet said [in Isa. 55: 2], “Why do you spend money for that which is not bread?”
We were “hateful and hating,” but it was God’s grace that wrought a miracle in our lives. You see, anger and hate are signs that the person is unhappy with himself—mad at himself. Since one cannot hurt himself, he takes all these hostile and frustrated feelings out on others. Once Christ comes into the life of the person, He forgives him, and enables him to accept himself and forgive himself. As a result, he can live in peace with himself as well as with others. Since God’s grace saved us from such a life and attitudes, we ought to be understanding and compassionate with people who have not accepted God’s grace. But for the people who abuse God’s grace, we must be firm and compassionate.
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