Read with Me
Titus 3:9-11 (HCSB)
But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning, knowing that such a person is perverted and sins, being self-condemned.
Listen with Me
Paul knew very well that, despite his best efforts, Titus would very likely have to deal with some divisive people in the Cretan Church. Paul had dealt with his share of them everywhere he had gone.
These people, though Christian, had a hard time simply receiving the teaching that was given to the Church, the Old Testament Scriptures, and the teachings of the apostles about Jesus. Instead, they felt compelled to insert their own opinions and their own beliefs as a version of the truth. They enjoyed dicing up the Scriptures, endlessly analyzing the genealogies, as well as discussing the light they believed old Greek and Roman philosophers and theologians might bring to the teachings of the Scriptures and of Jesus. Their favorite phrase was, “Yes, but don’t you think…”
Paul’s advice to Titus was to steer clear of those people, to not engage them in debate, because their goal was not a legitimate pursuit of the truth, but the debate itself. They wanted to be respected and honored for their supposed wisdom and for their powers of persuasion. The result was not greater light, but simply division. They gathered around them a group that agreed with them, and they persuaded them that they were more insightful and “progressive” then the poor, misguided souls who rejected their wonderful insights.
Paul’s instruction was that such a person should be warned twice at most to stop what they were doing. If they refused, they were then to be rejected by all the leadership publicly and cut off from participation in the life of the Church. If they would not submit to the authority of those who were truly given that authority in the Church, then they were to have their own influence limited unless and until they proved themselves willing to submit.
Pray with Me
Father, these words can sound harsh and even unloving to our modern ears. After all, aren’t we to love and accept everyone? The Bible’s answer is yes, we are to love them, but no, we are not to simply accept those who spread false teachings, divide people, and damage the faith of still others. Those we are to discipline, correct, and ultimately cast out if they will not submit to sound teaching and rightful authority. To merely accept such people not only enables their damaging influence to continue and intensify, but it also causes confusion among others, especially those who are new to the faith. The most loving thing to do with these people is to limit the damage they are allowed to do, and to limit interaction with them to help them see and understand the damage and division that they are causing. Help me, Lord, to take these instructions seriously as I should. Amen.