What if you were commissioned by a church to go to an island in the Mediterranean to help them establish churches?
You later found out that the whole island was full of people who were famed internationally for their lying. You also learned that these same people were absolutely allergic to work, truly lazy people. On top of all this, they were famous for being crude in their speech and full of hatred toward one another. Finally, you read about the fact they have a proud 2500 year history of culture before New Testament times.
Paul sent Titus to an island of people that were living this way. Even to this day to call someone a “Cretan” is an insult.
What kind of things would you tell an eager young disciple to teach in a difficult situation like this? How could he bring order and beauty to such a tough society? Today, the tendency might be to equip him with psychological strategies, marketing skills, high tech media, and high gloss literature. We also might want to equip him with fantastic sound systems , expensive office equipment, and a cellularly-connected staff. But these are only tools, not the power of the message.
In three short chapters Paul gives Titus doctrines to teach in order to bring godly structure to the believers on this wild island. Submitting to God’s absolutes was the only hope held out for this culture.
In an age of rejection of absolutes we might have a tendency to be gun-shy about absolutes. However , take heart. When encountered by a civilization that was totally contrary to the ethics of the Bible, Titus was told to “encourage, rebuke with all authority . Do not let anyone despise you.”
Look at some of the absolutes listed in Titus 2 he was to be bold in teaching…
“be temperate,
be worthy of respect, be patient,
be kind,
do what is good, be pure,
don’t be slanderers, show integrity, have sound speech,
don’t talk back to your boss, avoid foolish controversies.”
The amazing thing about the Apostle Paul was that even with all the persecution he received he was still a very positive person. Think of the island, think of the challenge, think of the tools Titus had. Now listen to Paul, “Rebuke them so they will be sound in the faith…those that oppose you will be ashamed…refute (change the mind) of those who oppose it (the message).” Paul encouraged Titus to believe that these people would have changes of hearts and minds under his effective teaching. As difficult a situation as we find ourselves in today, we must ever do two things- teach and practice God’s absolutes, and believe that even “Cretans” can have their minds changed
Chaplain Dave Online 