Paul has written to his "son in the faith" Titus on matters of Christian thinking and living in all aspects of life and work. In chapter 1, life in the church is address (“…For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might set in order what remains, and appoint elders in every city as I directed you” Titus 1:5).
In the second chapter, life in the home is addressed (Titus 2:1-8) as each “age and stage” of believer is characterized with attributes such as “dignified”, “loving”, “pure”, “kind”, “sensible”, and “self-controlled”. The last part of the second chapter (2:9-10) provides commentary on living in the workplace.
As we now turn our attention to Titus chapter 3, we are reminded of how we ought to live in our community, our state, and our country.
“Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be un-contentious, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.” Titus 3:1-2
Our relationship to government and/or those in authority over us has vertical and horizontal underpinnings. Vertical in that God has divinely appointed all in political power…
“Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.” Rom. 13:1
While God is our ultimate authority, when there is no Biblical conflict, we are to be respectfully subject to our civic, state and national leaders as they are in place because of HIS hand. And the first step in demonstrating our submission is to pray for our leaders…
“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” 1Tim 2:1-2
God has never truly blessed the woman or man who resists authority and resents accountability!
There is also a horizontal aspect of our living in the community as we are called… “to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be un-contentious, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.” Titus 3:2
Speak in a way as not to malign others, yield where possible so as to be un-contentious, be under the Spirit so as to be gentle, and be considerate one for another…
The gospel is not political, it is revolutionary! It is God calling sinful men and women to Himself through His Son! We are all sinners and fools… (For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another... Titus 3:3) And yet because of His amazing grace, we can be His children…
Amazing because He would want us and grace because He does want us!
Be in submission to those in authority so that all may see… "the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind…"
"For the purpose of clarity, I want to make one further point to Sunday's message on our proper response to governing authorities. That is, in Christian love and citizen responsibilities, we DO have the right and freedom to examine and question the POLICIES of our leaders. We do NOT have freedom to the disdain the PERSON of our leaders. We can debate policy...we must not denigrate the person. They, too, are souls for whom Christ died!"
Blessings,
Pastor Tom
"For the purpose of clarity, I want to make one further point to Sunday's message on our proper response to governing authorities. That is, in Christian love and citizen responsibilities, we DO have the right and freedom to examine and question the POLICIES of our leaders. We do NOT have freedom to the disdain the PERSON of our leaders. We can debate policy...we must not denigrate the person. They, too, are souls for whom Christ died!"
Blessings,
Pastor Tom
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