Random thoughts on Titus (pt 2)

I thought I may try something out that I’ve seen on some other blog sites with regard to films… they will watch a film and make comments on that film while watching on a blog and post that. So I thought I’d try the same thing with Titus, the book I read tonight for my time with God. This may be disastrous… but it may be FUN TOO! lol. If you would like to follow along, I will list the verse I am commenting on… but it is best to have a Bible in front of you or opened in a new tab in Firefox (and I know ALL my readers use Firefox… you had better!)… I’ll be using the English Standard Version (ESV)… the favorite of Mark Driscoll and John Piper, as well as my favorite English translation. In a previous post I blogged on Titus 1. Now, on to Titus 2!…

2:1 — SOUND DOCTRINE?! I would venture to say the majority of teachers/preachers have NO idea what this is. Spiritual discernment is at an incredible LOW in our world today. Why else are books by Joel Osteen, T.D. Jakes, Rob Bell, and Rick Warren on the best sellers lists in “Christian Bookstores”? How is it that a Christian can claim to follow Christ and yet submit to the New Age cultish teachings of the Oprah, thinking somehow that they are able to coexist together? And what of entire denominations teaching that homosexuality is perfectly acceptable in God’s eyes… that “global climate change” is of more importance than a pre-born child’s life… that man’s free will is higher than that of God’s…? The “Church” today does NOT have nearly a high enough view of God or the Holy Bible… and has a FAR too high view of man.

For more on The Church of Oprah…

2:2 — For anyone who claims that it is acceptable for Christians to use any mind-altering drugs, even if it were legal… check this out! We should be SOBER-MINDED! Not high… not blacking out… but always in control of our bodies and our thoughts. SO how exactly does a yoga-inducing trance or using centering prayer to get to a higher spiritual plane work into all this? HINT: IT DOESN’T!

2:3-5 – There IS a role of the woman in a family unit. Not the ONLY role of the woman… but a role separate and distinct from the role of the man. A place in the home. Not that a woman CAN’T have a job outside of the home. Because she can. However, I think scripture is clear that the home should be primary… any sort of extra carreer should be secondary. There should be a training of younger women by older women to love husbands and their children. Furthermore… before Christ, man and women are equal. However, one cannot escape such phrases as “submissive to their own husbands.” This is NOT some man is superior to the woman. This is in the structure of the family unit that GOD created, there is an order of authority. In a military unit, does the Private have less value as a HUMAN BEING than a Captain? No. Before God, both are equally men in need of a Savior. However, when there is an order given, who submits to whom? Private submits to Captain. It is not a placing of higher value on the husband than the wife. I like how Voddie Bacham puts it: “When you have something with two heads, you have to either 1) KILL IT! or 2) Put it behind some glass and STARE at it!” So it is with marriage and the household.

2:6 — Young men… be self controlled. I don’t care what the world is doing… saying porn is okay, or getting drunk is just part of high school or college… Be self controlled. I don’t care how angry your wife or girlfriend makes you… or how pissed you get at your family at times… HAVE SELF CONTROL! (Trust me… I am saying this to ME as much as I am to any and all who read this… I get very hot-headed at times)

2:7-8 — Be an example for others. Even in speech… something I have been slipping at on occasion. Be a model of holiness for others. You can’t be perfect on your own accord… but still be a model in all you do, let that be your goal. And strive for it.

2:9 — As a slave for Christ, do I sometimes argue with him? Slaves are, as stated by Paul here, to be submissive and not to be argumentative with their master. I will sometimes, when I sin, scoff at God’s law. I will have the mindset that God doesn’t know what he’s talking about… that I know a better way. Even when scripture is CLEAR to not lust, or to be sober-minded, or to submit to higher authorities… I rebel, I argue, and I do not submit. Blah. Even now, the Holy Spirit likes to use the Bible to convict of sin. It isn’t always a fun process examining yourself against the Word… but it is worth it in the growth of sanctification.

2:11 — For the Arminian who looks at this and says that salvation is for EVERYONE… if you take THAT “literal” interpretation of this verse, then you would have to be a UNIVERSALIST… and claim that if salvation is truly brought to ALL PEOPLE… then EVERYONE is SAVED and none are in HELL/ the Lake of Fire. Still, from other passages (Mt 7:13-14, Jn 14:6, Rev 21:8, etc) we KNOW this to not be true. NOT EVERYONE will be saved from eternal damnation. I’ve said this before and I’ll type it here: The ONLY consistent Arminian is the Universalist. Because if Jesus really died for EVERYONE… then Jesus was the atonement for EVERYONE’S sin… then EVERYONE would have their sin atonemed for, and they would no longer be in their sin… and have NO reason to have to go to Hell… so it is Universalism. And what is Universalism? I’ll take HERESY for 500, Alex! But no… “all people’ instead refers to all kinda of people… Blacks, whites, Asians, Slavs, Hispanic, Indian, American Indian, etc. For more on this, check out Revelation 5:9-10

2:12 — Renounce ungodliness nad worldly passions… live self-controlled. Does this SAVE us? No. Does it add to salvation? NO! We are saved by grace through FAITH ALONE. Period. It is entirely of God. These works though are an out flowing of the person who has been born again, that work toward being conformed to the likeness of Christ.

2:13 — As Christians, you can be sure that Christ will keep you in his fold… that he will keep you and you WILL persevere to the end and one day (either in Heaven or on Earth for his second coming) see Christ in all his glory.

2:14 — Christ redeems us– the Church for lawlessness. We are no longer slaves to sin, but to Christ. And the ongoing process of sanctification is that which purifies us (though we are already redeemed before sanctification happens). The Church is his people and his people will, because they have been elected by Christ, show a desire for good works. Not an “oh I have to do this or else I’m not saved!” but an “I do this because I am saved and I wish to be more like Christ!”

2:15 — Commands to both exhort and rebuke with authority. Wow. And I thought the modern church should only EXHORT these days… ’cause it is just “mean” to rebuke ANYONE… ::rolls eyes::

Titus 3 coming soon…

-Ryan

On Matthew 10 and the world’s hatred for Christians

Matthew 10:20-23
For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

I read this verse today as part of my Bible reading schedule I am currently going through (the NT in 6 months). I pointed this verse out because it is largely glossed over by many pillow “Christians.” What do I mean by pillow Christians? I guess I could bring Snuggles back from my previous post, but I am trying to be more creative. Anyway… I digress…

Osteen and other prosperity preachers like to focus on man. A very man-centered gospel is sprung from their mouths. They claim (wrongly) that our biggest enemy is our negative opinions of ourselves. According to Osteen, we must overcome these negative emotions and instead have confidence in ourselves and therefore have better attitudes and relationships with everyone we meet. Am I saying having a good attitude is a bad thing? Certainly not! Mercy, patience, self-control, gentleness… all of these are fruits of the spirit. All are good to have in Christ. However the gospel is not a formula to possess better relationships with friends, coworkers, or family.

Let’s look at Jesus as our case study. After all, a student is not above his master. Did Jesus have the best relationships? Well… Jesus’ disciples doubted and denied him, his family disowned him, another disciple betrayed him, and the world crucified him on a cross. As Mark Driscoll says, it is safe to say that Jesus had some strained relationships. If all of our relationships with the world are prefect– that is, they just love us and aren’t bothered with us in the least, something is wrong. Most likely, our gospel being preached from our lips has been diluted and therefore is NOT the gospel. The world IS GOING to HATE us if we do the will of God. They will want to KILL US (as they did our Savior).

However we are still to LOVE THEM, and preach Christ crucified, repentance and faith to them, that they may turn and be spared the wrath that is to come– Hell.

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ps: I’ve decided to post a clip from YouTube from Mark Driscoll on Joel Osteen’s message that we are supposed to only have good relationships with all. Please view and enjoy! I hope it is a useful resource for you.