What I Learned In Church
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Titus 3:1-8 (NIV)

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone. At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

Are you looking towards a year of service? If so, are you looking forward to it? Service is not self-serving. When we say that it’s not about me that’s not true is it? Seems like everything is about us. It’s funny how we all at some point in our lives will take a situation that involves others and make it about ourselves. Our selfishness is part of our sin and that’s just one of the reasons God sent Jesus.

In this passage, Paul is writing about our sins. Verse 3 reads: “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and Pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating on another.” He goes on to talk about our salvation. How God did this through Jesus.

In Titus 3: 1-11 Paul speaks to the following things:

  1. Salvation Through Christ
  2. God’s grace
  3. Good works
  4. Avoid bickering
  5. Dealing with heretics
  6. Being subject to rulers
  7. Avoid speaking evil

Paul is writing all of this to Titus who is a pastor on the island of Crete. He’s trying to remind the believers of God’s plan. Paul is concerned about the church’s witness to and in a pagan world. It’s so very important that the church, your church, my church not lean into the culture of the world. It’s important that the church takes a stance against worldly views and supports Godly views. Do you know where your church stands/

church surrounded by grass
Photo by John Cafazza on Unsplash

As it pertains to being subject to rulers Paul’s request to Christians is difficult because those Paul is asking them to submit to are not Christians. So, the Christians find themselves treading the fine line between submission to legitimate authority and also resisting a pagan culture. Sound familiar? Don’t we as Christians today find ourselves in that same struggle? Governments and cultures are often hostile to Christian values. This is the rub.

So what do we do? Paul has already said that we too were once as pagans. We lived it. But now we must model the behaviors consistent with our faith. It’s our duty to do so. And, we should do this in ways that attract rather than repel our neighbors.

Now comes the big however word. When Paul wrote all of this to Titus the people were under Roman rule and the emperor was Nero. GEEZ!!! Yep, the most wicked and vile person in history. He was anti-Christ and anti-Christian. Doesn’t get any worse than that. Now comes the however as it pertains to submitting to authority…Acts 5:28…If the government demands that we do something contrary to God’s Word or His commands our responsibility is to obey God rather than man. Under no circumstances are you to use that as an excuse to break the law.

If you remember your Baptism, you see how God has given you the gift of salvation. The essence of our faith is inward and personal. We’ve been set free through this salvation. In this letter to Titus Paul tells him to remind the believers on the island of Crete. So all through these verses we see reminders. Why? Because we forget. Like our kids forget and we must remind them especially when they are little what things are right and what things are wrong. Additionally, when we age, we have that forgetfulness problem. I know I can walk into a room and totally forget why I walked into that room. It’s like that in our spiritual life. We have this thing about forgetting right from wrong. That’s why Paul wrote to Titus and began with “remind them.”

None of what Paul is writing about is new. So why is it that some pastors and Bible teachers are all about the originality? Why must we try to turn old sayings or instructions new? Why also must we look at them as stale and try to make them fresh? Why can’t we simply go to our Bible and read God’s Word? Isn’t it wonderful that the Bible has so much to say to us as Christians even in today’s world?

a person holding an open book on top of a wooden table
Photo by Jametlene Reskp on Unsplash

Why are we saved? To go to heaven? You’ve been saved to serve and to be a blessing. The evidence of the transformed life is the outward witnessing. It’s our mission to serve and help with the healing of the world using our gifts to bless.

Will you spend the new year in selfish pursuits or will you use your salvation to serve? Will you make it about others or will you stick with making it about you?

Happy New Year text
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And that’s what I learned in Church……see ya next time!

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