Days 299b & 300: Titus, 1 Timothy

They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. (Titus 1:16)

The actions Paul is talking about are words and deeds that are divisive. The main thrust of Paul's writing still seems to concern Christians getting along with people...with both fellow Christians and those outside the church.

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone. (Titus 3:1-2)

In fact he says that we should have very little tolerance for someone who seems to make it their goal to stir up trouble and bring division into the church.

Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned. (Titus 3:10-11)

I know people who seem to fall into this category. They never seem to be happy. They are always on the lookout for something to complain about (and can always find something) and then they attempt to rally people around them and their cause, pitting themselves against those who hold a different view. As I said, I know people like that and they can be a real drain on the church. Leadership ends up spending all their time and emotional energy on trying to maintain the peace instead of actually doing the work of the church. It can get you so side-tracked that you end up losing your vision and passion. The best thing to do is exactly what Paul says here...confront them once or twice and then just ignore them and move on.

This issue is also extremely important because it exemplifies for the world the character of God:

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7)

If God treats us like that then we should do the same for others...duh.


Then, on a completely different topic, there's this...

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:6-10)

Wow! Is that ever counter-cultural. I think the fact that I live in the wealthiest nation of all time where even the poorest among us are wealthier than 90% of the world's population makes this way of thinking very difficult to get a handle on. "If we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." Sure, as long as it's stylish clothing and delicious food...and there's a TV to watch.

I can't even comprehend that way of living.