Unpleasant but necessary

The Book of Titus: A Sound Church

Article 4: An unpleasant but necessary duty

We are in a passage where Paul discusses the role of pastors and elders. The focus of this article is verses 10-16 where Paul outlines the duties of elders in dealing with unruly and rebellious people, including deceivers within the church.

The challenges faced by Titus and the Cretan church are similar in our churches today. So Paul’s words remain relevant in today’s world. This task can be exhausting, emotionally draining and often involves spiritual warfare. Yet, it remains an essential aspect of what pastors and elders are called to do.

Titus 1, verse 10-16:

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.

This week, while browsing a social media app, I stumbled upon some videos about a man in Israel whom some people are claiming to be the Messiah. His name, as I found out, is Yeshua Ben David, and he seems to have a small following with some prominent rabbis supporting his claim.

My first reaction was: Great, this is just what we need, isn’t it? In the midst of the strange events of the corona pandemic starting in 2020, do we really need another self-proclaimed messiah? But it’s worth remembering that John in the Bible warned that many false messiahs or antichrists would appear in the last days. Jesus himself warned that there would be those who would claim to be the Messiah, but who should not be believed.

In a way, this situation reminds us of what Paul may have been referring to when he wrote to Titus. He mentioned “Jewish fables”, which probably involved elaborate genealogies and stories. It’s a reminder of why the genealogy of Jesus is so important in the Bible, especially in the book of Matthew. It provides evidence of the human lineage of Jesus, which is based on the history of the Scriptures, and it’s verified throughout the sacred writings, so it’s not in the category of fables or rabbinic tradition.

The problems faced by Titus and the Cretan people are similar to those we face today. So Paul’s words are still relevant today. The church is to stand firm in its doctrines, deeply rooted in them, and firmly established on the rock of the Lord Jesus Christ, who cannot be moved in any way. The teachings of the Church are not to be taken lightly; they are vital and foundational.

Consider this: from the very beginning, in Genesis 3, we witness a satanic attack on the purity of God’s revelation. Satan’s strategy is consistent – he aims to make people doubt, deny, or become entangled in confusion about what God has conveyed.

In the light of this, it’s not surprising that from verse 9 onwards Paul discusses the role of the elders. They are to hold fast to the faithful word. This means that they must be firm and unwavering in their interpretation. God has not given us the freedom to start changing it or questioning it.

God has spoken His message to us through His Son in these last days. Through His Spirit and the apostles, He has given us the Scriptures. Jude also reminds us that this is a faith delivered once and for all to the Saints. Our job is to hold fast to it, or as the children sing: building your house upon the rock so that when the storms come you’re ready.

The primary focus is on the ministry of the Word within the community of God’s people. This involves the teaching of sound doctrine, which must be pure and faithful to God’s teaching. It also involves exhorting and rebuking those who would contradict what God has said.

Paul now delves into this subject and gives a direct reason for his instructions to Titus. He is about to describe the kind of people who need this ministry of the Word of God, who need exhortation, rebuke and conviction. These people do exist, and much as we may dislike it, they will always be with us.

The role of an elder and minister of God’s Word will never be without this reality. It can be exhausting, draining and involves spiritual warfare. But it is an integral part of what pastors are called to do.

Verse 10: For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision

Paul goes on to describe these people, addressing both the content of their teaching and the character of their lives. It’s important to note that their teaching involves wrong words. In verse 10 Paul informs Titus that there are many such people. While this information can be useful in ministry, it isn’t very encouraging for Titus. This could have felt like a daunting task for Titus, knowing that there were so many people in need of correction. Paul’s language is very clear, even though some might find it harsh.

He categorises these people as “insubordinate”. Simply put, they are rebellious and unwilling to submit to authority. This is a recurring characteristic of false teachers – those who do what they want, following their own desires and making themselves their own authority.

To make matters worse, they gather followers and exercise control over them. The picture here is of people who, by various means, gather a group around them within the church. This sub-group then becomes a little kingdom within a kingdom, and the people Paul describes won’t submit to any other form of authority. They must be the boss at all times.

These situations still occur in churches today. When they arrive as newcomers, they often present themselves as the ones with a divine calling, extraordinary gifts, superior knowledge, charisma, charm and various other attributes. They want influence and an audience to exercise their talents. If church leaders are not careful, an unhealthy dynamic can develop. This is especially true if the person in question rejects the authority of the existing leadership while gaining the loyalty of their followers. This is exactly what happened in Crete.

Go to next page: Unpleasant but necessary – Confronting Insubordinates