Author: drthomasclothier

^“Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled,” (Titus 2:6 ESV).

The church is to be engaged in multi-generational life. While there may be particular emphasis placed on certain age group ministries in any given week, the church must not exclude any age group from any other. All generations in the church must be involved with each other. Examples include men and women’s ministries, AWANA, youth groups, Sunday school and Adult Bible Fellowships.

The Apostle Paul focused on healthy church behavior involving typical people groups in the church. He gave special attention to age and gender. We studied the importance of older men, older women, and younger women. Today, we examine the importance of younger men.

The phrase younger men refer to those who are twelve and older in age. Paul instructed Titus that those in this category should fulfill their God-given expectations.

The Scriptures has much to say about young men. Here is a sampling.

1 Timothy 4:12 – “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.”

Proverbs 7:1- “My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you.”

Psalm 119:9 – “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.”

2 Timothy 2:22 – “Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”

The Apostle Paul wanted Titus to have an active ministry to younger men. He instructed him to urge (παρακάλει; parakalei) younger men to be something. The word urge is a present, active imperative verb. Titus was to command these men to be self-controlled.

Self-control (σωφρονεῖν; sōphronein) means to be sober-minded or seriously minded. This is a present, active infinitive verb. This discipline of character is to a consistent part of the young man’s life.

Of all the things the Apostle Paul could have said to Titus about younger men, he emphasized their need for self-control. Why?

“Self-mastery in the Christian sense has an element of humility lacking in the Greek moralists. It (self-control) is, in fact, an essentially religious conception in the New Testament,” explains commentator Donald Guthrie.

“Young men receive only one word of exhortation: “Encourage the young men to be self-controlled” (v 6). But that does cover the temptations young men face! Lust, ambition, impatience—all require a response of self-control,” states commentator Tim Chester.

Pray for the young men in your family and church family. Pray that they would be men of self-control in a culture which encourages wild abandon. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

⁴ “… and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.” (Titus 2:4-5 ESV)

The church is to be engaged in multi-generational life. While there may be particular emphasis placed on certain age group ministries in any given week, the church must not exclude any age group from any other. All generations in the church must be involved with each other. Examples include men and women’s ministries, AWANA, youth groups, Sunday school and Adult Bible Fellowships.

The Apostle Paul focused on healthy church behavior involving typical people groups in the church. He gave special attention to age and gender. We studied the importance of older men and women. Today, we examine the importance of younger women.

The phrase younger women refer to those who are under sixty years of age. Paul instructed Titus that those in this category should fulfill their God-given expectations.

The older women would be humble advisors to the young. They are to train ((σωφρονίζωσι; sōphronizōsi) those who are younger. This means to give instruction in wise behavior and good judgment. What instruction is recommended?

First, young women are to love their husbands and children. This is to be a kind and friendly love. It is a maternal love for one’s family.

Second, they are to self-controlled (σώφρονας; sōphronas). This is also expected of older men (2:2). This means to be self-restrained and discreet.

Third, young women are to be pure (ἁγνάς; hagnas). This refers to moral and ethical behavior.

Fourth, they are to be workers at home (οἰκουρούς; oikourous). They are to be the guardians of the house ((Prov. 7:11; 31:10-31; 1 Tim. 5:13).

Fifth, young women are to be kind (ἀγαθάς; agathas) This means to be good and beneficent (Matt. 20:15; Rom. 5:7; 1 Peter 2:18). They are not to be rude, impolite and stingy, but thrifty as housewives.

Sixth, they are to be kind and submissive to their own husbands. This means to be responsible to and for their husbands welfare.

All of these character traits are so the Word of God will not be reviled (βλασφημῆται blasphēmētai). The Gospel is to be preeminent in our lives.

“This is the purpose of godly conduct—to eliminate any reproach on Scripture. For a person to be convinced God can save from sin, one needs to see someone who lives a holy life. When Christians claim to believe God’s word but do not obey it, the word is dishonored. Many have mocked God and his truth because of the sinful behavior of those who claim to be Christians (Matt. 5:16; 1 Peter 2:9),” explains Dr. John MacArthur.

Pray not only that the older women in your church will help train the younger women, but also that the younger women would be receptive to such training. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

“Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good.” (Titus 2:3 ESV).

The church is to be engaged in multi-generational life. While there may be particular emphasis placed on certain age group ministries in any given week, the church must not exclude any age group from any other. All generations in the church must be involved with each other. Examples include men and women’s ministries, AWANA, youth groups, Sunday school and Adult Bible Fellowships.

The Apostle Paul focused on healthy church behavior involving the typical people groups in the church. He gave special attention to age and gender. We studied the importance of older men. Today, we examine the importance of older women.

Like older men, older women (Πρεσβύτιδας; Presbytidas) were likely women over sixty years of age.  There is no mention of whether they were single, married, divorced or widowed. What Paul does refer to is their character.

First, older women are to be reverent in behavior. Behavior (καταστήματι; katastēmati) is an individual’s deportment or manner of living. Paul said that an elderly woman’s manner of living is to be reverent (ἱεροπρεπεῖς; hieroprepeis). It is to be holy or sacred.

My wife and I lived in two elderly women’s homes when we were first married. Respectively, we lived in the basement apartments of our pastor’s grandmother, and then his mother. In exchange for the living accommodations, we helped out around the house. In both situations, we encountered two women who were reverent in their behavior; towards God and other people.

Second, Paul stated that older women are not to be slanderers (διαβόλους; diabolous). They are not to be false accusers Our English word diabolical comes from this Greek word. It means to be disgraceful or unpleasant. It means to be like the Devil. Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

Third, they are not to be slaves to much wine. This was the besetting sin of the Cretans (Titus 1:12). Literally, it means to be “enslaved to much wine.” Addiction to alcohol is slavery (Rom. 6:16; 2 Peter 2:19).

Fourth, older women are to teach what is good (καλοδιδασκάλους; kalodidaskalous). This teaching is to be done by precept and example.

Susan Hunt is former director of women’s ministries for the Presbyterian Church in America. She is author of many books, including Spiritual Mothering and coauthor of Women’s Ministry in the Local Church. She provides some insightful thoughts concerning today’s text.

“The gospel mandate in Titus 2:3–5 captivated my heart and imagination thirty years ago. Now, at age seventy-seven, I still wonder—have I become a Titus 2 woman yet? My inclination is to answer by evaluating my performance. Invariably, this leads to despair or arrogance depending on the numbers. Then the Spirit renews my mind as I read God’s Word. He shows me markers to help me think biblically.  The imperative for older women to disciple younger women is given to the leaders of the church. This ministry is to take place in the context of church life and under the oversight of church leadership.”

Thank God for the older women in your life who provide examples of reverent behavior. Pray for them as they seek to impact the younger women in your church.

Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

“Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.” (Titus 2:2 (ESV)

The church of Jesus Christ is to be engaged in multi-generational life. While there may be particular emphasis placed on certain age group ministries in any given week, the church must not exclude any age group from any other. All generations in the church must be involved with each other.

At my church in Fort Wayne, IN, one woman recently wrote, in the church newsletter, about its women’s ministry. “I love the cross-generational interaction between women, and I also love that we are so intently focused on spiritual growth! I grew in my relationship with the Lord and with my relationship with other women in our church.”

This is exciting to hear. This is what the Apostle Paul taught Titus about how the churches in Crete should inter-relationally function. He distinguished six people categories in the church. Today’s topic is older men.

Older Men (Πρεσβύτης (presbytes) refers to elderly men (Luke 1:18; Titus 2:2; Phm. 9). These are men who are older than younger men. It does not mean they are infirm or incapacitated. Rather, they have lived relatively longer lives than younger men.

What are older men to be known and respected for? What are to be their qualities?

First, older men are to be sober-minded (Νηφάλιος (nephalios). This means to be temperate and restrained.

Second, they are to be dignified (Σεμνός (semnos). This means to be worthy of respect and of good character.

Third, older men are to self-controlled (Σώφρων (sophron). This refers to prudence, moderation, good sensibility, and discretion.

Fourth, they are to be sound in faith (ὑγιαίνω πίστις (hygiaino pistis). This phrase is a present active particle. Older men are to be continually healthy in their faith. This is their trust in, commitment to, dependence upon, and worship of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  

Fifth, older men are to be sound in love (ἀγάπη (agape). They are to be continually healthy in displaying self-sacrificial love of the will. This is loving concern for fellow believers in Christ as well as for the unconverted.

Sixth, they are to be sound in steadfastness (ὑπομονή (hypmone). This refers to patient perseverance in trials ((Luke 8:15; 21:19; Rom. 2:7; 5:3; 8:25; 15:4; 2 Cor. 6:4; 1 Tim. 6:11; 2Ti 3:10; Heb. 12:1; James 1:3; 5:11; 2 Peter 1:6; Rev. 2:2, 19; Gal. 5:23).

“Paul used this term (older men) for himself (Philemon 9) when he was over 60. It refers to those of advanced age, using a different term from the one translated “elders” in Titus 1:5. To be dignified is not limited to reverence for God, which is assumed, but also refers to being honorable. They are to be sensible and spiritually healthy,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.

“As a young man, Caleb was one of the twelve spies Moses sent into the land of Canaan. He and Joshua were the only ones who were confident that God could give the Israelites victory, despite the giants in the land—but the others disagreed and Israel did not enter the Promised Land (Numbers 13-14). But the story of Caleb does not end there. Forty-five years later, with Israel now invading Canaan, Caleb is still just as enthusiastic and just as confident in God—even though he is now 85 years old (Joshua 14:6-15). He still wants to be in the middle of the action. He has not retired from serving God,” states commentator Tim Chester.

Remember, for older men to be respected they need to be worthy of respect. If they seek to demand respect they will never receive respect.

Pray for the older men in your church. You may be one of them. Pray that all in this category embody the biblical qualities set forth in today’s text.

Soli deo Gloria!

“But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.” (Titus 2:1 (ESV)

“In Ephesians 4, the Apostle Paul is preeminently concerned with the unity of the body of Christ––how they function as one unit, how they strive for one mission, how they reach one goal. From the beginning of chapter 4, Paul takes up the task of identifying this “one body” (Ephesians 4:4). He identifies them as those who: (1) Walk worthy of their calling (Ephesians 4:1); (2) Bear with one another in love (Ephesians 4:2); (3) Maintain a unity of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:3); (4) Maintain a bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3); (5) Equip others for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:12); (6) Build up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12); (7) Attain to the unity of the faith (Ephesians 4:13); (8) Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15),” explains Bible teacher Dustin Benge.

“These glorious features of the body of Christ should be the identifying characteristics of all mature believers. Mature believers are essential in achieving the purpose and fulfilling the call to which the church has been called. How do we produce mature believers? Sound doctrine,” Benge continues.

“In an age when doctrine is chided and dismissed as arcane, Paul reminds us that biblical sound doctrine is the golden chain through which all the above facets are linked. Without sound doctrine, the chain falls apart and is good for nothing. We could put it another way––without sound doctrine, the church falls apart,” Benge concludes.

The Apostle Paul understood that the lifeblood of the church of Jesus Christ is sound doctrine (I Tim. 1:10; 6:3; 2 Tim. 1:13; 4:3). Today’s church culture stresses deeds over creeds. In other words, the emphasis is on the believer’s behavior and fellowship. The phrase “Be the Gospel” is often used. However, this emphasis on lifestyle instead of biblical doctrine, which is intended to guide the believer’s lifestyle, has become the church’s doctrine.

This is why Paul utilized the phrase sound doctrine. Sound (ὑγιαίνω; hygiaino) is a present active participle. It means healthy, correct and accurate. We derive our English word hygiene from this word. Paul previously used this word in Titus 1:13. Doctrine (διδασκαλία; didaskalia) means teaching and instruction.

Paul commanded Titus to teach sound doctrine. To teach (λαλέω; laleo) is a present active imperative verb. It is a command to be continually obeyed. It means to speak, talk, and to tell. What is to be spoken, talked about, and told in the church? Sound doctrine.

God called Titus to teach what accords with sound doctrine. The phrase what accords (πρέπω; prepo) means what is fitting and proper. It is a present active verb. Proper sound doctrine is to be taught all the time. No exceptions!

“Sound means “healthy”—Paul uses this word nine times in the Pastoral Epistles (five times in Titus), always in the sense that the truth produces spiritual well-being. The things Paul mentions in Titus 2:2-10 pertain to truths, attitudes, and actions that correspond to and are based on biblical truth. In order not only to please God, but also to have an effective witness to unbelievers, God’s people must know the truth that leads to spiritual health,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.

Pray for your pastor, and teachers in your local church, that all are committed to teach sound doctrine. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

The His Word Today Podcast for Sunday, October 2 examines Ephesians 1:5-6.

Soli deo Gloria!

¹⁵ “To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. ¹⁶ They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.” (Titus 1:15–16 (ESV)

The Apostle Paul initially instructed Titus about the character of godly elders (Titus 1:5-9). He then expounded on the characteristics of ungodly false teachers (Titus 1:10-14). Today’s text continues with this examination.

False teachers profess to know God. The word profess (ὁμολογέω; homologeo) means to declare, admit and assert. False believers in Christ maintain they know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord (Matt. 7:23; 14:7; John 1:20; Acts 7:17; 24:14; Titus 1:16).

However, their behavior belies their declaration. They deny Christ by their works. The Scriptures teach their behavior is inconsistent with a godly life. It indicates that their faith in Christ is suspect (Matt. 7:16-20; James 2:14-16; I John 3:17).

Additionally, false teachers are detestable, disobedient and unfit. More than what they do, the following three adjectives describe what they are by nature (Eph. 2:1-3). The words describe a continual and active disposition and behavior.

To be detestable (βδελυκτός; bdelyktos) means to be abhorrent and abominable. “In some languages ‘detestable’ may be rendered as ‘thought to be extremely bad’ or even ‘that which should never even be seen,” explains one commentator.

False believers are also disobedient (ἀπειθής; apeithes). This literally means to go beyond the bounds of biblical instruction. They do not obey God and His Word.

Finally, they are unfit for any good work. Unfit (ἀδόκιμος; adokimos) is to be worthless, valueless and disqualified. Consequently, whatever good or generous work they do in the church God evaluates as the same.

“The apostle’s teaching points out the irony inherent in the position of the false teachers. Of all people, first-century Jews prided themselves in their knowledge of the one, true creator God. Whether or not the legalists were of Jewish descent, they certainly allied themselves with certain Jewish traditions. Their arguments implied that the Christians who did not follow their particular code of ethics, in addition to believing in the Messiah, lacked a saving relationship with the covenant Lord of Israel (vv. 10–15). Yet the false teachers’ own works proved otherwise, for they were not the good works of love for God and neighbor that demonstrate one’s salvation (Titus 2:7–8; 3:8; Matt. 22:34–40),” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.

Let us make every effort in encouraging believers in Christ to confirm their calling and election in Christ (2 Peter 1:3-11). Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

¹⁵ “To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. ¹⁶ They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.” (Titus 1:15–16 (ESV)

The Apostle Paul initially instructed Titus about the character of godly elders (Titus 1:5-9). He then expounded on the characteristics of ungodly false teachers (Titus 1:10-14). Today’s text continues with this examination.

False teachers lack purity. To be pure (καθαρός; katharos) means to be “acceptable to God’ or ‘good in God’s eyes’ or ‘good as God thinks’.” Purity belongs to those  who are pure by grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone (Matt 5:8). They understand life and God through the insight of faith. All of life is perceived in how God thinks.

1 Corinthians 2:14–16 (ESV) says, “¹⁴ The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. ¹⁵ The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. ¹⁶ “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”  

However for the defiled and unbelieving, no part of life is understood by thinking as God thinks and wanting what God says is acceptable. To be defiled (μιαίνω; miaino) is to be morally filthy or unclean. It is the opposite of purity. This is the spiritual condition of the unbelieving (ἄπιστος; apistos). The unbelieving do not trust in, commit to, depend upon or worship the Lord Jesus Christ.

The defilement of the unbelieving extends to their minds. The word mind (νοῦς; nous) is a way of thinking, a disposition and manner of thought. “It is the facility of understanding, reasoning and deciding (Rom. 7:25; 1 Cor. 14:14),” explains theologian James Swanson in the Dictionary of Biblical Languages.

The defilement of the unbelieving also involves their conscience (συνείδησις; syneidesis). The conscience is an individual’s God given moral sensitivity which distinguishes right from wrong.

In the historical context of today’s text, the perception of right and wrong, distinguishing the godly from the ungodly, extended to what food believers in Christ should eat and drink.

“With Paul’s reference to “the commands of people who turn away from the truth” (Titus 1:14), it becomes clear that whatever the exact nature of the false teaching Titus confronted on Crete, it involved the imposition of manmade laws upon the people. Again we have to infer as best we can from the epistle what these commandments were, but the apostle’s description of things impure in today’s passage means the false teachers likely emphasized some idea of ritual purity, viewing ceremonial cleanliness as the heart of the gospel. If these teachers were like those whom Timothy faced in Ephesus, these purity laws probably included abstention from marriage and certain foods (1 Tim. 4:3), with only the latter having any kind of basis in the Old Testament,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.

“By His work, Jesus made all foods clean (Mark 7:1–23), and every person who has had his conscience purified through faith in Christ and the renewal of the Holy Spirit comes to learn that all things are pure (Titus 1:15) and that nothing God has created “is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer” (1 Tim. 4:4–5). Ritual purity is no longer a concern for those in Christ Jesus, for the kingdom of God has been inaugurated, and this kingdom “is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17),” continues Dr. Sproul.

“In the freedom that Jesus has brought, individuals may choose which foods to eat and which days to celebrate, but they are never allowed to impose their personal choices regarding things “indifferent” on other people (vv. 1–12). Those who would bind the consciences of others where God has left them free reflect a deficient understanding of the gospel at best and at worst a conscience that has not been regenerated to see the true nature of God’s kingdom and its ethics. And those whose hearts remain impure shall by no means ever enjoy the blessed vision of our Creator (Matt. 5:8),” concludes Dr. Sproul.

Have you known such impure and defiled individuals in the church who strive to restrict a believer’s liberty in Christ? They are legalists. They focus on disputable   matters because they are likely unconverted and unrepentant. Believers in Christ must guard their hearts from such morally defiled teachers (Prov. 4:20-27).

Soli deo Gloria!

¹² “One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” ¹³ This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, ¹⁴ not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.” (Titus 1:12–14 (ESV)

A popular saying is that old age is not for sissies. A sissy is a cowardly person. With the bodily aches and pains that come with increasing age, an individual needs courage to face their daily, physical challenges.

The saying can also be applied to pastors. Being a pastor dedicated to biblical truth and leading a congregation is not for sissies. It is a responsibility requiring courage, conviction and commitment.

I recently discussed this with another pastor. He is facing a challenging situation that could become a church conflict. He could either pretend the situation did not exist, or prepare himself for an inevitable confrontation. He chose the latter and not the former. He is prayerfully preparing for a possible ministry firestorm.  

The Apostle Paul counseled Titus concerning a situation in Crete. A common saying at that time was “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons.” In other words, the people of Crete were perceived as liars, wicked and lazy.

“Crete had a bad reputation for arrogance, treachery and greed. “Gluttony” was associated with love of pleasure as opposed to love of knowledge,” explains Craig Keener in the IVP Bible Background Commentary of the New Testament.

“Epimenides, the highly esteemed sixth-century B.C. Greek poet and native of Crete, had characterized his own people as the dregs of Greek culture. Elsewhere, Paul also quoted pagan sayings (cf. Acts 17:28; 1 Cor. 15:33). This quote is directed at the false teachers’ character,” states Dr. John MacArthur.

These false teachers, of whom Paul spoke to Titus (Titus 1:9-11), behaved in this way. Paul commanded his protégé to rebuke them sharply. To rebuke (ἐλέγχω; elencho) means to refute, to show one’s fault, implying that there is a convincing of that fault (Mt 18:15; John 3:20; 16:8; Eph. 5:11; 1 Tim. 5:20; 2 Tim. 4:2; Titus 1:9; Heb. 12:5; James 2:9; Jude 15; Rev. 3:19). Titus was to do this sharply (ἀποτόμως; apotomos) or severely and rigorously (2Co 13:10; Tit 1:13). There was no room for compromise or accommodation in confronting false teachers in the church.

The goal was for false teachers to become sound in the faith. Sound (ὑγιαίνω; hygiano) means to be presently and actively healthy and accurate in the faith (πίστις; pistis). This refers to trustworthy, biblical doctrine (Titus 1:9). These false teacher were to no longer follow Jewish myths and commands from other people who rejected God’s truth (I Tim. 1:4; 4:7; 2 Tim. 4:4).

“True and pure doctrine was to be required of all who spoke to the church. Any who fell short of that were to be rebuked. Paul reemphasized (see v. 10, “those of the circumcision”) that most of the false teachers were Jewish. They taught the same kind of externalism and unscriptural laws and traditions that both Isaiah and Jesus railed against (Isa. 29:13; Matt. 15:1–9; Mark 7:5–13),” explains Dr. MacArthur.

This pastoral responsibility to confronting false teachers has not changed. Unfortunately, some pastors follow the path of least resistance. To do so is not to fulfill the responsibilities of pastoral ministry (Titus 1:5-9).

Being a pastor dedicated to biblical truth and leading a congregation is not for sissies. It is a responsibility requiring courage, conviction and commitment. Pray for your pastor that he would be such a man.

Soli deo Gloria!

“They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.” (Titus 1:11 (ESV)

One of the most important books published in the 20^th century was written by theologian J. Gresham Machen. It is entitled Christianity and Liberalism. Machen addressed the issue of false teaching in the church. It was an issue in the Apostle Paul’s lifetime, in Machen’s, and in our own.

“In my little book, Christianity and Liberalism, 1923, I tried to show that the issue in the Church of the present day is not between two varieties of the same religion, but, at bottom, between two essentially different types of thought and life. There is much interlocking of the branches, but the two tendencies, Modernism and Supernaturalism, or (otherwise designated) non-doctrinal religion and historic Christianity, spring from different roots. In particular, I tried to show that Christianity is not a “life,” as distinguished from a doctrine, and not a life that has doctrine as its changing symbolic expression, but that–exactly the other way around–it is a life founded on a doctrine,” explains Machen.

“In the sphere of religion, in particular, the present time is a time of conflict; the great redemptive religion which has always been known as Christianity is battling against a totally diverse type of religions belief, which is only the more destructive of the Christian faith because it makes use of traditional Christian terminology. This modern non-redemptive religion is called ‘modernism’ or ‘liberalism’.” Machen states.

It is said that doctrine divides but love unites. This perspective results in pastors and religious leaders seeking to avoid giving offense. Doctrine becomes unimportant; relationships are what really matter.

“Doctrine divides, but doctrine also unites. It binds together the hearts of God’s people who celebrate the truth of God together.” – R. C. Sproul

Paul was concerned about false teaching in the churches in Crete (Titus 1:9-10). He instructed Titus to hold firm to the trustworthy Word as taught. This was so he would be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also rebuke those who contradicted it. The apostle wanted Titus to train and appoint qualified elders in the churches to do the same.

Paul stated that false teachers must be silenced. It was absolutely necessary. The grammar indicates that this discipline was to be continually and actively done. The apostle recognized that false teachers would be a continual threat in the church.

Paul gave this reasoning because of the results of false teaching. Heresy upsets entire families by teaching for money what should not be taught. This problem can occur in many areas of communication, but has especially arisen through the advent and growth of Christian television. It is amazing how false teachers dominate this medium. The issue is also evident on social media.

“These false teachers must be silenced because of the damage they were doing to the families of the congregation (cf. 2 Tim. 3:6). No doubt Titus’ method of silencing was to be the same as Timothy’s: the false teachers were to be instructed not to teach certain things lest they be excommunicated (cf. 1 Tim. 1:3–4; 2 Tim. 3:5). Again Paul condemned the motives of the false teachers—they were interested in dishonest gain,” explains commentator A. Duane Litfin. 

“False teachers are always in it for the money (1 Tim. 6:5; 1 Pet. 5:2),” warns Dr. John MacArthur.

Pray for your pastor(s) to be faithful in confronting and silencing false teachers in your church. Encourage and support them when they do so. This responsibility is not an easy task for them and may result in emotional backlash by friends of those confronted and silenced. Your pastor(s) need your prayers and support.

Soli deo Gloria!