The Importance of Mature Teaching

Titus 1:10-14

As a missionary or evangelist, Paul had gone to the Island of Crete and started several churches there. He had spent enough time there to give sound instruction in the Christian life and doctrine, even sometimes spending several years in a city if necessary. Though they had been taught by one of the very Apostles for such a length of time, the people were still relatively new Christians. As a result their assurance of what they believed was susceptible to other influences.

As a more solidly grounded Christian, Titus was left behind as Paul’s representative to help the churches deal with problems that arose, helping them to find qualified pastors, to identify false teachings, and correct improper or sinful practices. As the churches became larger and more recognized, they became more attractive to those who wished to capitalize on their influence or make a profit. They also fell under increased pressure to yield to local culture and minimize their doctrinal stance.

A major aspect of Titus’ job was to help select and train pastors who would persist in “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.” (Titus 1:9). It was vital he do so because of the number of people wishing to profit from taking over an established group.

“For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.” (Titus 1:10-11)

The problem is no less severe today. In almost fifty years as a missionary kid, church member, missionary and pastor, I have been amazed at the number of people who want to take over existing works. Several told my dad “Since you already know how to build a church, you should let us take over this one and go start a new one.” Others have offered to help out, then begun secretly teaching slightly different doctrine. Once they gain a sufficient following, they use the different doctrine to divide the church and either draw away a group or to take over and claim the church for themselves or their own group. By doing so, they are able to give the illusion of quickly building a church, establishing a reputation as greater missionaries than those who actually did the work. It enables them to raise far more financial support.

As missionaries for the BBFI, some of the worst were evangelists and missionaries whose main base were BBFI churches. In Paul’s day, the worst offenders were some of what are called Messianic Jews in our day. Technically, Paul, and all the Apostles were Messianic Jews. In Galatians, Paul deals with false doctrines that some of the other Messianic Jews were promoting. Many of the doctrines are developed to isolate the group so they can be controlled and produce benefit for the leader.

II Peter 2:1-3 warns that there will be such teachers in every group. “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you:”

Many of the messages of modern ‘evangelists,’ including the television evangelists is focused on raising money than on the truth of God’s word. By modifying the message, to distinguish oneself, people will give to one in preference to another. The message can be about the Lord’s return, or marriage, or anything else, as long as it creates an excuse to support the preacher.

The second reason Titus’ job was critical was cultural. There are good and bad aspects in every culture. Unfortunately, most who live in a culture have grown up with the attitudes and traditions with nothing to compare them to. As a result, they accept them as being right, and resist any change. Until churches and pastors are sufficiently well grounded in God’s word to recognize problems with their culture and change them for themselves, pressure from the surrounding culture may well result in turning away from obedience. Titus must address these issues among the Cretians.

“One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.” (Titus 1:12-14)

The Cretian culture encouraged the attitudes and actions Paul describes, either by openly advocating them or by ignoring them, with the result that they have become the accepted practice. Not being familiar with their culture, I must examine cultures I am familiar with. there are a great many admirable aspects in Navajo culture, including an emphasis on loyalty and family that others would do well to emulate.

Their traditional attitude toward lying, on the other hand, is less admirable. Traditionally a lie wasn’t considered relevant until it had been told four times. After the fourth telling one was obligated to make it true. Other cultures viewed Navajos as systematic liars, similar to the way Paul describes the Creatians. To change that attitude about lying has required almost 100 years, and a great deal of teaching.

In modern American society, the casual attitude toward marriage and divorce is deeply ingrained. It is rooted in traditional false teachings about marriage. To change it to a truly Christian attitude will require consistent teaching of scriptural doctrine, and insistence on following the scripture exactly.

To establish a truly scriptural doctrine of marriage will require studying and developing a system capable of including almost 1200 verses relating to marriage and divorce in some way. Any verse which contradicts our basic doctrine indicates a flaw in our doctrine. Most will never study the subject adequately to identify errors in their own position, and will continue in it, assuming it is right. Others will recognize a problem and turn to another philosophy that deals with a particular problem, but never find out what the Bible actually teaches.

One such philosophy is that of the “born again virgin.” The theory is that if one who has indulged in sexual sin will abstain for a period of time, it will be as if they had never indulged. While it seems to address the problem of promiscuity, it is in contradiction to scriptural teaching.

In an attempt to resolve the number of divorces by changing dating and courtship practices, another philosophy has focused on the concept of defrauding found in I Thessalonians 4:1-7. It also runs afoul of scriptural doctrine about marriage.

To repeat what Paul said, “Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.” (Titus 1:13b-14) Religious or cultural standards may be contrary to the truth.