Titus, Day 3
Titus 2:1 – 10
One of the statements I have heard students say to each other over and over throughout my years in ministry is, “You can’t do / say that in church.” I always chuckle a little when I hear that statement because the intentions of the student saying it are usually good. They are trying to help their friend act appropriately. However, it also implies that the action is acceptable in other situations.
We have this ability to separate our lives into segments: There’s church life, work life, friend life, family life. There is a good chance that each of those segments has different expectations for behavior. Language used with friends may not be acceptable at work. What gets a laugh at the office may be frowned upon at church. In our passage today, Paul is encouraging Titus and others to live a life where their actions match their doctrine.
In Titus 2:1, Paul tells Titus to teach what is in line with sound doctrine. David Guzik says that the idea behind this phrase has to do with right living and not just right thinking.1 Whether we succeed in doing this or not, our faith and our actions are intertwined. Our beliefs and our actions need to be telling a congruent story. Bob Utley translates Titus 2:5 to say, “So that the word of God will not be dishonored.”2 The embodiment of sound doctrine is right living.
“Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us” (Titus 2:7 – 8).
People don’t see our beliefs; what they do see is our actions. That means if I’m trying to make my beliefs known but doing so in a way that isn’t in line with the teachings of the Bible, then I’m not fully honoring God. We cannot allow our passion for right doctrine to compromise our devotion to right living. It also means that I need to make sure I’m not ignoring areas of sin in my life — that I am intentional in lining up my actions with my faith, not looking the other way or excusing sin in my life because it makes me comfortable.
Our society is craving authenticity right now. We are all tired of being told one thing and then watching people do something completely different. Christians have a great opportunity to proclaim the Gospel message by being people who are authentic — people whose actions and beliefs mesh together to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ!
Adam Deering
- https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-Tts/Tts-2.cfm?a=1131001
- http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/new_testament_studies/VOL09/VOL09_09.html