Sound Societies

Titus 1:5-16 ~ For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—
6 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.
7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,
8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled,
9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

10 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,
11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.
12 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,
14 not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.
15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.
16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

1. Introduction — At a certain point in Jesus’ ministry, His disciples came to Him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray.” They had been with Him long enough to watch His daily routines and rhythms, and prayer was clearly an important part of His practice. But the thing about prayer is that it’s basically private. Jesus would disappear into a solitary place to pray, and His disciples would see it, but they weren’t exactly privy to His actual prayers. So they said, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” He answered their request by giving them what we know of as “The Lord’s Prayer.”
   1. Luke 11:2-4 ~ So He said to them, “When you pray, say:
      Our Father in heaven,
      Hallowed be Your name.
      Your kingdom come.
      Your will be done
      On earth as it is in heaven.
      3 Give us day by day our daily bread.
      4 And forgive us our sins,
      For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
      And do not lead us into temptation,
      But deliver us from the evil one.”
      1. Now there’s a lot that could be said about this famous prayer, but I only want to focus on three lines. Three audacious lines.
         1. Your kingdom come.
            Your will be done
            On earth as it is in heaven.
            1. The instruction to pray these words boldly implies that God’s Kingdom and will (or His rule and plan), which are fully realized in heaven, would be the ideal ultimate outcome for earth.
            2. Christians have prayed this prayer, and ventured into the whole of the world to preach the good news of God’s kingdom, for the last 2,000 years. That’s amazing! And we have done so because we have the chutzpah (temerity) to believe that the best possible end for humanity would be the full realization of God’s kingdom, and power and glory, forever and ever.
            3. Now here’s the awesome thing. It’s one thing to say that your message is the best possible thing for humanity. It’s an entirely different thing to demonstrate that to be true.
               1. Let me go one step further. If the gospel of the Kingdom of God did not prove itself, by resulting in a demonstrably better existential outcome in every place where it went, then I do not believe it would have survived the first-century.
                  1. What’s that actually mean?
                     1. Where the Gospel goes, it makes societies better. And if it didn’t better the communities where it spread, then it would have died long ago.
                     2. For me, one of the proofs for the veracity of the Christian faith is purely pragmatic. It just works.
                     3. Individuals, societies, communities, and cultures are bettered by the presentation and adoption of the Gospel of the Kingdom.
                     4. Again, one of the proofs for Christianity’s rightness is that it is more existentially viable than the alternative worldviews.
               2. 2,000 years of Christian history has demonstrated that the message of the Gospel is true. Where the Gospel goes, culture and society are the better for it. I do not think that’s disputable
                  1. So the question then is, why? Why does the Gospel result in better societies? What makes those cultures better?
                     1. I believe part of the answer is before us in this text.
2. Titus 1:5 ~ For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—
   1. Nearly 2,000 years ago the Apostle Paul wrote this letter to his friend and co-laborer, Titus, with pastoral instructions for him as he would be serving as the bishop (overseeing elder), over the churches on the Island of Crete.
      1. Now before we go any further, it’s helpful to understand that the natives of Crete were not known for being the best, when it came to character. Though we’ll talk more about it in a bit, look down at verses 12-13…
         1. Titus 1:12-13a ~ One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
            13 This testimony is true.
      2. That was the baseline of the natives of Crete (Cretans, which is interestingly close to cretins in English). Dishonest, cruel, lazy gluttons.
         1. Would it be wrong to say that life in a culture like that would be sub-optimal? I don’t think so.
         2. But Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
            1. That’s the promise of the Gospel of the Kingdom. And it’s not just abundant life after you die. It’s abundant life now. That’s what God desires.
            2. The Gospel is good news of a better future. Now! Not after you die.
            3. How does this better future come about?
               1. We pray “Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.” And the experience of the outworking of His kingdom (i.e. the expression of His kingdom) and will being done on earth as it is in heaven is through the Church!
                  1. This is why Paul would leave Titus in Crete. So that he “should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you.”
                     1. This structure, ordained in the church, is necessary for the proper expression of the Kingdom of God.
      3. The Church of God is the expression of His kingdom. And that expression manifests God’s kingdom glory. It is a better expression of society and community. But it cannot happen(i.e. the church) without this work that Titus was appointed to. “Set in order the things that are lacking” … “Appoint elders.”
         1. Point 1 — Ordered communities require leaders authorized to give orders.
            1. You may have a problem with this. Why would you have a problem with this? Because you’re an American. And you don’t like authority. Well, you like authority when you’re in charge. But you don’t like authority any other time. And living in our cultural moment, we don’t like hierarchies in society (or at least we think we don’t … we’ve never actually experienced that as a reality). So, it would be not be strange if you have a problem with this.
               1. Additionally, it is intriguing to see that over the last 25 years Americans, whether they identify as Democrat or Republican, have become increasingly Libertarian. Because we don’t want anyone to be over us.
               2. This is not new! It might be a demographic shift in American culture in the last quarter to half century. But it’s not new. In fact you can witness this libertarian nature in every two year-old on the planet. It’s practically infantile to be libertarian. But the ultimate ends of total libertarianism is what…? Anarchy.
                  1. Anarchy: a state of disorder due to absence or nonrecognition of authority: he must ensure public order in a country threatened with anarchy.
                     Absence of government and absolute freedom of the individual, regarded as a political ideal.
                     1. Now here’s the thing. There are some people who do regard Anarchy as the ideal. But those who hold that view typically believe that humans are inherently good by nature. I do not think that history bears this out very well. Scripture certainly doesn’t.
            2. So then, ordered communities require leaders authorized to give orders.
               1. And we have a problem with this because we’re concerned that the ones giving orders are not going to be good leaders. That’s a genuine concern. It’s not without merit. So…
                  1. Qualifications of leaders.
3. Titus 1:6-9 ~ if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.
   7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,
   8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled,
   9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
   1. If a man is blameless
      1. Well lets just jump right into the deep cultural waters.
         1. Lets just dispense with the major 21st century cultural issue we’re hit with when we come into a passage such as this.
         2. Every descriptive word used to mark out a leader in this passage is in the Masculine in the original Greek in which it was written.
            1. Americans don’t care for hierarchy. And in our day the big issue is not only dominance hierarchies, but the evil patriarchy. And this sort of passage is quintessentially patriarchal.
         3. So how do we deal with this major cultural hangup?
            1. We understand that the Bible teachers the equal dignity of all human beings, whether they be male or female.
               1. That’s why wherever the Bible has gone we’ve witnessed the elevation of women and oppressed minority groups. That’s a fact.
                  1. Equality is a byproduct of the Gospel’s adoption by groups.
               2. So anything the Bible says about the roles of men and women needs to be viewed in light of that fact.
            2. But the Bible also instructs in what are God ordained roles for men and women, in the home, and in the church.
               1. The Bible does not endorse or call for subjugation of women.
                  1. But it does call for submission of a wife to her own husband, in the home.
                  2. And it teaches an ordered authority within the church, under which all Christians (Male or Female) are encouraged to submit to.
                     1. It is nearly impossible for there to be submission to the authoritative offices within the church, unless those occupying those offices are “blameless.”
      2. Another word for blameless is “above reproach.” One translation says, They were to be “men of unquestioned integrity.”
         1. Paul emphasizes this essential quality for qualification as a leader bearing authority within the church by expressing it twice.
            1. Titus 1:6-7 ~ if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.
               7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God…
               
         2. Point 2 — Societies thrive when their leaders are focused upon righteousness.
            1. And lets acknowledge the obvious. Communities (churches) will willingly yield submission to leaders that are pursuing righteousness.
               1. This does not mean that leaders will always be perfectly righteous. But by God’s grace they should be pursuing righteousness.
      3. So not only must an elder be blameless, Paul writes…
   2. the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.
      1. this blameless integrity and righteousness must be expressed and displayed first in the home.
         1. It’s easy to play the hypocrite and appear blameless before those who don’t live with you. But true integrity will be demonstrated by how a leader leads within his home. This is why Paul, in writing of qualifications for leaders in 1 Timothy would say…
            1. 1 Timothy 3:5 ~ (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
            2. And if a leader’s children are completely off the rails, it may be a good indication that leadership in the home is not as it should be.
         2. But when a leader functions well within the home…
      2. Point 3 — The best communities have leaders that are committed to their spouse and family.
         1. Life long monogamy is good for society. This is clearly evident in history.
            1. And one of the beneficial outcomes of lifelong monogamy and a blameless male influence in the household are children that grow to be functioning adults who benefit society.
               1. Every study has shown that a two parent (mom and dad) household is better for the raising of children.
               2. And well raised children are ultimately good for society.
      3. So what does a blameless example look like? What are the qualities of a good leader?
   3. (v. 7-8) a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,
      8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled,
      1. A steward of God — Good leaders understand that they are responsible for the affairs and goods of another. They are ministers and servants in God’s church, not lords.
         1. Therefore the must also be…
      2. Not self-willed — This person must not be arrogant or overbearing.
      3. Not quick-tempered — one translation says “not soon angry.” The antithesis of quick-tempered or soon angry is patient. Just like our Lord who is “Slow to anger” or “longsuffering” (Exodus 34:6).
      4. Not given to wine — not an alcoholic/drunkard.
         1. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon — “others give it the secondary sense, ‘quarrelsome over wine’; hence, brawling, abusive”
      5. Not violent — not a “bruiser” … not “a pugnacious, contentious, quarrelsome person.”
      6. Not greedy — not always looking for what’s in it for him.
         1. This is a person who is others centered.
            1. Philippians 2:3-4 ~ Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
               4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
         2. On the positive this person must be…
      7. Hospitable — Literally, “A lover of hospitality.” This goes right in line with the previous one.
         1. A hospitable person isn’t looking for what’s in it for him. He’s seeking to use all that he has for others.
      8. A lover of what is good — a promoter of virtue
      9. Sober-minded — clear headed, sensible, not impulsive, well tempered.
      10. Just — this is like being right before humanity.
      11. Holy — this is being right before God.
      12. Self-controlled —
      13. Every one of the things listed here is objectively good for the thriving of society. And where you remove these things, the structure of society begins to destabilize.
   4. (v. 9) holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
      
      1. Point 4 — Strong societies must have an objective standard of sound doctrine.
         1. This is one of the things that our wester society is lacking in the 21st-century. We’ve become so postmodern and relativistic that we have a hard time establishing objective standards of right (orthodox) instructive precepts, principles and propositions (i.e. sound doctrine).
            1. Without sound doctrine, and qualified leaders to enforce it, you will not have sound conduct, and therefore you will not have strong societies.
               1. But this is what God desires from His church. That we, through the church would have sound doctrine, and qualified leaders to teach and promote it, so that we would be a people (a society/community/culture) of people who walk in sound conduct, manifesting the glories of God’s kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven.
               2. So then wheat’s the problem?
4. Titus 1:10-13a ~ For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,
   11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.
   12 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
   13 This testimony is true…
   1. Point 5 — Our fallen nature opposes what is actually beneficial and good.
      1. That’s the problem.
      2. We’re called upon to pray for and manifest the glories of God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. But the Cretans Titus was called upon to lead into this were dishonest, evil, lazy and gluttonous.
         1. And we are no less dishonest, evil, lazy or gluttonous.
            1. So how would Titus, 2,000 years ago, and we today find leaders that fit the above qualifications among a people who are known for being dishonest, cruel, lazy gluttons?
               1. The Gospel! It is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes. The Gospel has the power to remake us. To transform us by the renewing of our minds, so that we may show His perfect will in and through our lives.
               2. So Paul concludes…
5. Titus 1:13b-16 ~ Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,
   14 not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.
   15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.
   16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.
   1. Sound conduct, based upon sound doctrine is not possible without being “sound in faith.”
      1. To be sound in faith is to have healthy and strong faith.
      2. To be sound in faith is to have a faith that is attached to the right thing(s)
         1. What are the right things?
            1. Well none of us would be pure, undefiled, sober-minded, holy, just, self-controlled or hospitable without the power of Christ’s body and blood.