Random thoughts on Titus (pt 1)
I thought I may try something out that I've seen on some other blog sites with regard to films... they will watch a film and make comments on that film while watching on a blog and post that. So I thought I'd try the same thing with Titus, the book I read tonight for my time with God. This may be disastrous... but it may be FUN TOO! lol.
If you would like to follow along, I will list the verse I am commenting on... but it is best to have a Bible in front of you or opened in a new tab in Firefox (and I know ALL my readers use Firefox... you had better!)... I'll be using the English Standard Version (ESV)... the favorite of Mark Driscoll and John Piper, as well as my favorite English translation.
Here we a go.....
1:1 -- Oh... look at the purpose for which the book was written: for "the faith of GOD'S ELECT"! HA! Take that you Arminians / anti-Calvinists.
That type of address is not unique to Titus either... check out 1 Peter, 2 John, Jude, Romans... and the other letters were mostly written to THE CHURCH... Christians... those who are saved.
-- On another note... this verse also mentions that this letter is for Christians to in "their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness." Truth matters. Theology and doctrine DO matter. This is a fact sadly ignored by many who proclaim themselves as Christian... they often prefer to just give everyone a big hug as long as they think Jesus is cool... despite various heresies that can still run ramped with such a claim (JW, Mormonism, Oneness, etc).
1:2 -- the reminder that God's promises are sure... that those who repent and put their trust in the savior ARE assured of salvation, they WILL be kept "in the fold" so to speak, because this hope of eternal life has been promised by God... and God is a God of truth... he cannot lie.
1:7-9 -- I am more than a bit convicted right now reading the qualifications for a bishop.... and how I fall short in more than one area. I often deal with being quick-tempered, and greatly need to improve in the areas of self-control and discipline. I am not quick enough to try and give people the benefit of the doubt, and often fly off the handle easily... especially at Kacey. And in reference to the self-control... this appears in different areas... dealing with sin for one. Also though, in more general areas that show I don't have the best fruit when it comes to control. Example? I often over-eat. I eat really fast and I eat too much, causing myself to feel bloated and generally sick. This happens ESPECIALLY when it comes to PIZZA... I pack it away and then I am sorry I do. I would say "I can't help myself," but that is a lie. I can... I just often do not exercise the self control I should.
1:9 -- A bishop/overseer must give sound doctrine and rebuke those who contradict it?! Wow. Honestly until now, I had NO idea this verse was even in the Bible! How much it is needed for the heresies that plague the Church today. Not only to teach good doctrine is the command... but to rebuke those who contradict it, spreading false doctrine. This is practically never done today... for if you do, you are labeled as someone who is just causing trouble. We can't interrupt the status quo... how DARE us notice and point out heresy that happens to be on the best sellers list of the local Family Christian store... or on the Top 20 list of Christian Rock. ::sigh:: the state of the American Church is growing worse guys... pray for her.
1:10-11 -- those who cause trouble from a BIBLICAL standpoint... that is, they teach false teachings and deceive believers... they must be SILENCED. I wonder if the Church had done this in the past few hundred years, what would the state of various errors / heresies be... what about Mormons? Jehovah's Witnesses? Oneness Pentecostals? Emergent Church? Seeker-Sensitivity? If the Church had lovingly silenced the heretical teachings of these groups before they spread alongside of Christianity, would they even be as alive today?
1:15 -- This verse, I find, is overused and even to excuse sin to some degree... the person will claim they see an action as pure when it truthfully is not. However I guess this has to do with the eating of certain foods... you CAN'T use this as an excuse to look at blatant porn or something of that nature.
1:16 -- Many claim Christ, but this does NOT mean they are genuinely saved. What is a way to tell? Fruit. Their works. Are they growing in holiness? Can WE say definitively whether or not the person IS saved, just by works? No. Fruit IS evidence to be sure. However I know I do not produce the best fruit 24/7 and do sin from time to time. Not continuously as the unbeliever, but I do stumble. If someone gauged me from my fruit, the outcome would not be perfect. Far from it. So can we look at fruit? Yes. Just because someone sins and has some bad fruit does NOT mean he is not saved. But if ALL the fruit is rotten, the person needs to be approached by a fellow believer so that he may offer repentance from that sin.
Wow... This is going to take a bit longer than I thought. But maybe doing this in increments is best... you are more likely to actually READ it if it is shorter.
Anyway, I will continue this soon.
-Ryan
If you would like to follow along, I will list the verse I am commenting on... but it is best to have a Bible in front of you or opened in a new tab in Firefox (and I know ALL my readers use Firefox... you had better!)... I'll be using the English Standard Version (ESV)... the favorite of Mark Driscoll and John Piper, as well as my favorite English translation.
Here we a go.....
1:1 -- Oh... look at the purpose for which the book was written: for "the faith of GOD'S ELECT"! HA! Take that you Arminians / anti-Calvinists.
That type of address is not unique to Titus either... check out 1 Peter, 2 John, Jude, Romans... and the other letters were mostly written to THE CHURCH... Christians... those who are saved.-- On another note... this verse also mentions that this letter is for Christians to in "their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness." Truth matters. Theology and doctrine DO matter. This is a fact sadly ignored by many who proclaim themselves as Christian... they often prefer to just give everyone a big hug as long as they think Jesus is cool... despite various heresies that can still run ramped with such a claim (JW, Mormonism, Oneness, etc).
1:2 -- the reminder that God's promises are sure... that those who repent and put their trust in the savior ARE assured of salvation, they WILL be kept "in the fold" so to speak, because this hope of eternal life has been promised by God... and God is a God of truth... he cannot lie.
1:7-9 -- I am more than a bit convicted right now reading the qualifications for a bishop.... and how I fall short in more than one area. I often deal with being quick-tempered, and greatly need to improve in the areas of self-control and discipline. I am not quick enough to try and give people the benefit of the doubt, and often fly off the handle easily... especially at Kacey. And in reference to the self-control... this appears in different areas... dealing with sin for one. Also though, in more general areas that show I don't have the best fruit when it comes to control. Example? I often over-eat. I eat really fast and I eat too much, causing myself to feel bloated and generally sick. This happens ESPECIALLY when it comes to PIZZA... I pack it away and then I am sorry I do. I would say "I can't help myself," but that is a lie. I can... I just often do not exercise the self control I should.
1:9 -- A bishop/overseer must give sound doctrine and rebuke those who contradict it?! Wow. Honestly until now, I had NO idea this verse was even in the Bible! How much it is needed for the heresies that plague the Church today. Not only to teach good doctrine is the command... but to rebuke those who contradict it, spreading false doctrine. This is practically never done today... for if you do, you are labeled as someone who is just causing trouble. We can't interrupt the status quo... how DARE us notice and point out heresy that happens to be on the best sellers list of the local Family Christian store... or on the Top 20 list of Christian Rock. ::sigh:: the state of the American Church is growing worse guys... pray for her.
1:10-11 -- those who cause trouble from a BIBLICAL standpoint... that is, they teach false teachings and deceive believers... they must be SILENCED. I wonder if the Church had done this in the past few hundred years, what would the state of various errors / heresies be... what about Mormons? Jehovah's Witnesses? Oneness Pentecostals? Emergent Church? Seeker-Sensitivity? If the Church had lovingly silenced the heretical teachings of these groups before they spread alongside of Christianity, would they even be as alive today?
1:15 -- This verse, I find, is overused and even to excuse sin to some degree... the person will claim they see an action as pure when it truthfully is not. However I guess this has to do with the eating of certain foods... you CAN'T use this as an excuse to look at blatant porn or something of that nature.
1:16 -- Many claim Christ, but this does NOT mean they are genuinely saved. What is a way to tell? Fruit. Their works. Are they growing in holiness? Can WE say definitively whether or not the person IS saved, just by works? No. Fruit IS evidence to be sure. However I know I do not produce the best fruit 24/7 and do sin from time to time. Not continuously as the unbeliever, but I do stumble. If someone gauged me from my fruit, the outcome would not be perfect. Far from it. So can we look at fruit? Yes. Just because someone sins and has some bad fruit does NOT mean he is not saved. But if ALL the fruit is rotten, the person needs to be approached by a fellow believer so that he may offer repentance from that sin.
Wow... This is going to take a bit longer than I thought. But maybe doing this in increments is best... you are more likely to actually READ it if it is shorter.
Anyway, I will continue this soon.-Ryan
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