PAUL'S LETTER TO TITUS

Godliness: The Christian Lifestyle

Titus 2:1-15

INTRODUCTION

In Titus, Paul has been addressing a heresy which has been afflicting the Cretan churches. At the very beginning of the letter Paul has written that he was an apostle in order to develop the faith of Christians which would be based upon a true knowledge of God which in turn would lead to godliness in the life of the believers. This contrasts sharply with the attitude and lifestyle of the heretics in Crete who are liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons (1:12).

According to Paul godliness (that is, being like Jesus) is not optional. Intellectual prowess is not a substitute for godliness, for being like Jesus. In fact for Paul the godly lifestyle of the believer is a major proof of evidence that Christianity is true. How so? Since all major religions believe that God is a good and loving God, then it only stands to reason that the religion which produces the best person is the true religion. God will endorse the true religion by producing people like Him by means of that religion.

Let's take the 2 major religions of today: Christianity and Islam. Besides the evidence for the resurrection which alone supports Christianity, compare the 2 major persons produced by Christianity and Islam: Jesus Christ and Mohammed. Who was the better person? Jesus not only preached love, He lived it even to the point of dying for His people on the cross. He did not promote His religion by violence or coercion but by the simple means of presenting truth to people. Mohammed? He spoke about love and righteousness; however, his life contradicted this teaching. He was a man of violence as seen in the way he promoted his religion--by means of the sword. Even today in radical Islamic countries, women are forced into accepting the teachings of Islam concerning women. Although it might have been acceptable in Mohammed's place and time, his marrying a 13-year old today would qualify him for the status of pedophile. Based upon what we know of God and upon the lives of these 2 men, which religion comes from God?

This is the point of Paul's discussion here in Titus 2. The godly lifestyle, the Christ-life lifestyle not only corroborates the truth of Christianity, it also promotes it.

THE OLDER MEN (1:1-2)

The first group Paul addresses is the "older men." These are men who most likely now are married and have already raised their children. They are probably even entering or have entered into the realm of being grandfathers. These men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, healthy in faith, in love, and in perseverance.

Temperate: with reference to wine, this means that they are not to get drunk. They are to remain sober. For those who feel quite comfortable with drinking, remember that getting drunk or tipsy is not optional for the Christian. The Christian who drinks and yet is not sober is violating the biblical view of drinking. (Although temperance in the Bible refers primarily to drinking, it does apply to eating as well.)

Dignified: this term has taken on a negative connotation. When we normally think of dignified, we think of either the mortician or the greeter at a morgue. Dignified though has behind it the idea of "respect"--both "self-respect" and "respect for others." Sometimes when you go to the beach, you are embarrassed by what some older men are wearing or doing. Older men who flirt with younger women for ulterior motives should be ashamed of themselves. The older men are to be dignified by respecting others and themselves.

Sensible: This concept is so important as seen in the fact that Paul commands all 5 groups in this chapter to be sensible. This word has behind it the idea of the 5 senses. What we do and the way we reason are based upon reality, the reality which we come to know through our 5 senses. Some people get involved in rash financial schemes. What are they basing their actions on? Just a whim or a wish? Although nothing factually backs up this decision, these people plunge headlong first into these schemes.

Although "sensible" refers primarily to the 5 senses, for the Christian it must also take into account the sixth sense--our spiritual hearing. God does speak to the Christian, and when He speaks, we should respond immediately and positively. Although sometimes circumstances don't necessarily support God's voice, we are to obey it anyway.

I found this to be true 11 years ago when Nancy and I left FBC Lancaster. I had been a youth minister for 9 years; moreover, since turning 40 I was beginning to feel my age. I had prayed several months about what God wanted me to do. Finally, I believed that God gave me permission to quit my job. Nancy concurred. Although I did not have anything lined up, God took care of my family and me. It led to our coming to FBC Corsicana. Hopefully, this blessed FBC because it definitely blessed my family and me. The sixth sense is what affected my decision.

Healthy in faith, love and perseverance: The word translated "sound" is the Greek word from which we get "hygenic." The older Christian man is to be healthy first in faith. Although by this time he might actually have accumulated some wealth, he still depends upon the Lord for the direction of his life. He does not become self-sufficient; he remains God-sufficient. He is healthy in the area of love. The older we men get, the more cantankerous we can become. Children and young people can really annoy us. The best music on the radio many times can be heard when the radio is switched off. The prettiest lights at Christmas are the tail lights of our children's cars as they pull out of the driveway. Although this is natural, God has not called us to a natural lifestyle. He has called us to a divine lifestyle produced by the Spirit which promotes love. Third, he is to be healthy in the area of perseverance. There's no quitting, being put out to pasture. Unfortunately not all our dreams as teenagers and young adults are met. If we will though quit grovelling in self-pity and look at what God has actually done in our lives, we will see that our lives actually turned out quite nicely, even if they did take a few different turns along the way. We may have boarded the plane of life heading for London but ended up in Rome. Well, I assure you that Rome is quite nice too. We are to be like Paul who at the end of his life, not at the end of his teenage years or at the end of his median adults years, but at the end of his life writes: "I have just finished fighting the fight; I have just finished finishing the race; I have just finished keeping the faith." Recently I told an older person who was retiring that he was simply going from Midian to Egypt. There was much left to be done.

OLDER WOMEN (2:3)

These older women are most likely in the same station of life as the older men: they have grown children who have moved out of the house and have started families of their own. These older women are to be "reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good."

Reverent in their behavior: The word translated "reverent" has behind it the idea of a priestess serving in a temple. By this Paul means that the lifestyle of the older women outside the church should be the same as the lifestyle of the women within the church. Words and actions not suitable in church are not suitable outside the church either. TV programs not suitable in the church are insuitable at home also.

Not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine: this trait along with "not enslaved to much wine" presupposes that these older women have a lot of time of their hands. They have a lot of time to talk and they have enough down time to get drunk. Nancy tells me that each day women have 10,000 words they need to speak (men with only 500-1000 finish up pretty quickly during the day). Ten thousand words are a lot of words. It takes effort and thought to speak positively consistently, whereas anybody can blurt out words that hurt and wound.

Even when speaking "positive" words we need to be careful. Gossip can be passed off as prayer requests. Three elements need to govern the way we speak about people. First, is what we're saying true? Do we know it to be true, or is it definitely true because somebody told me it was true. The person who may have told you that bit of gossip may actually be mistaken. Unless you know it to be true, you don't need to share it. Second, are you speaking it out of love? If not, you don't need to share it. Third, is it necessary that you share it? Be honest with that one as well. If it is not necessary, then don't share it.

Teaching what is good: Paul lays the responsibility for training younger women primarily upon the shoulders of the older women. Although ministers are to minister to women (as Jesus did), the primary responsibility for this ministry falls upon the shoulders of the women. First, men don't know women as well as women know other women; and second, the sexual element is not there 99% of the time. A Titus Two Three and Four Ministry (Titus 2:3,4) might be wonderful for churches to engage in.

THE YOUNGER WOMEN (2:4-5)

Notice though what areas the older women are to instruct the younger women: "that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands." Because time does not permit, we must just say that the primary focus of the instruction of older women is on the home,especially in the area of relationship to husbands and children. It is great whenever a woman wants to go outside the home to work; however, even when working her heart and focus should be on the home. The role of the mother/wife is pivotal for the family, the church, and society. Anybody can be a CEO of a major corporation; Ken Lay has proved that. Only women though can be foundational for the home and society.

Subject to their own husbands: Some translations skip over the word "own"; however, that word is critical in understanding the role of women in society. Paul does not command women to be subject to every man who crosses their paths. He instructs them to submit to their own husbands. Women are not inferior to men; otherwise, they would have to submit to all men. They do have a definite role to play in their families; as a result, they are to submit to their own husbands. (For more on the relationship of wives to husbands, see comments on Eph. 5:22-33).

THE YOUNGER MEN (2:6-8)

The primary instruction Paul has for younger men is that they be sensible, that is, that they not act impulsively. Young men are shot through and through with hormones which tend to dictate their actions. It is by no means an accident that most suicide bombers in the Middle East are either children who trust their parents implicitly or young people who have raging hormones. They're not rational. Paul's instruction to younger men counters this.

Paul's specific instructions to Titus are contained within this passage. Titus is to serve as a role model for these younger men. It may be that Titus is quite young himself, or it may be that as a median-age adult he has the responsibility to mentor the younger men. In either case, Titus is to model the kind of life younger men should imitate: a life of "good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach."

SERVANTS (2:9-10)

Like his instruction to women, Paul instructs slaves to be subject to their own masters in everything. Slaves are not inferior to other people; otherwise, they would be expected to be subjected to more than just their masters. Rather they too have a specific role to fill within society, submitting themselves to their masters.

They are neither to be argumentative nor guilty of pilfering. The first problem would probably be corrected quickly by the slave's master; however, the master might not even realize that the slave is guilty of stealing. The slave most undoubtedly had good reasons to steal. For example, maybe his wages were not good enough. Maybe he felt he was getting even with his master for being a slave in the first place. In either case Paul asserts that such behavior is inappropriate for a Christian who happens to be a slave.

These instructions apply also to the modern-day work force. Simply because I may not feel like I am being paid enough does not justify me compensating my salary by stealing from my employer. Neither does a low salary justify me loafing on the job. If I am being paid for 40 hours a week, then I need to work hard 40 hours a week. If I am salaried and am expected to get the job done, then I need to get the job done. If I don't like my salary, then I need to go get a job elsewhere. Anything else is unacceptable Christian behavior.

THE ISSUES AT STAKE

When you read Paul's instructions to these 5 categories within the church, you come away with the impression that Paul is not concerned about the societal welfare of the members in his churches. Some radicals would claim that Paul not only goes along with the "enslavement" of women but also that he also endorses "slavery" in general since he does not call for the freeing of slaves in this passage and similar ones.

First of all, Paul never endorses slavery nor the abuse of women. Second, societies which have been touched by Christianity are some of the freest societes in the world. In America the woman is freer than in any other place in the world. Things may not be perfect here, nor will they be, even for men, until Christ returns; however, things are better here--in a place touched by Christianity--than in any other place in the world.

Third, for Paul there are bigger issues at stake here than my own personal freedom. (He does tell his people that if they are ever given an opportunity to be free they should take it; however, if they are not given that opportunity, they should not fret over it.) What issues are at stake here? Paul lists them throughout this passage: (1) the honor of God's Word (2:5); (2) silencing the opponent (most likely Satan) in 2:8; and (3) the adornment of the doctrine of God our Savior (2:10). Although Christians do have rights, their constant carping about them actually brings reproach upon the cause of Christ. The unsaved world will mistakenly think that Christianity is about people getting their rights addressed. Well, you can address a person's rights all day long and still see that person end up in hell. Although a person's rights are important, they are not as important as another person's salvation. Paul is not minimizing rights; he's just putting them in their proper place.

PRIMARY MOTIVES FOR GODLINESS (2:11-15)

Although Paul touched upon the reason or motive for godly behavior in his salutation (1:1-2), he addresses it at length in this passage. The first reason we should live godly lives is that Jesus Christ Himself who is our God and Savior (2:13) has appeared. Now Paul does not specifically say that Jesus has appeared; yet he says this 3 different ways: "the grace of God has appeared" and "when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared" (2:11; 3:4). In these 2 verses Jesus is called "the grace of God," "the kindness of God," and "the love of God." Christ is so gracious that He can be called "Grace." He is so kind and loving that we can call Him "Kindness" and "Love." If I want to know the essence of these 3 qualities, I don't need to look any further than to Jesus. Well, His appearing should transform our lives.

We spoke of the way grace transforms peoples' lives in 2 Timothy 2. The gift of the Holy Spirit is part of God's grace to you and me. He has come to make us like Christ. If the Spirit is not transforming us into the image of Christ, then it is most likely that the Spirit has not come to live within us. In that case, we are not Christians. Christ as kindness and love should motivate us to live for Him. How can I look at the movie The Passion and not live for Christ? If I don't respond positively to this kind of love, then it is most likely that I have never experienced the love of Christ in my heart. If I have truly experienced Christ who is grace, kindness, and love, then I am going to be transformed into His image.

Finally, Paul says that we are to live godly lives because of the blessed hope which refers to the second coming of Christ. Why should His second coming motivate us to be like Christ? It is true that at His coming we shall stand before Him in judgment; however, it is also true that if we believe that His coming will bring about righteousness and love, then we should live righteous and loving lives in the here and now. The only way to show that I believe righteousness and love will win out is by living a righteous, loving life at the present time. My personal ministry may not end up gloriously. That though should not be a primary motivator in my life. At the end of his life for all practical purposes it looked like Paul had been a dismal failure--all the churches and Christians in Asia had deserted Paul (2 Tim. 1:15). Yet at the end of his life he could triumphantly proclaim he had fought the good fight, he had finished the course, and he had kept the faith. As a result a righteous Judge was going to give him a crown of righteousness (4:8). That and not temporal success should be what motivates us.