Jump Start # 3445

Titus 1:10-11 “For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.”

Multiple times in the N.T. there are warnings about the rise of false teachers. Jesus first told of wolves in sheep clothing in His famous sermon on the mount. In Paul’s letter to Timothy there are warnings. In Peter’s letter there are warnings. And, here in our verse today, we find yet more warnings.

The Titus warning follows setting things in order, which meant appointing elders in the congregation. And, the words of our verses today are directed towards those shepherds. There are mouths that must be silenced. Who would do that? The elders. Within the realm of protecting the flock and feeding the flock is making sure the sheep are being fed a proper diet. We understand that in our homes. If the kids had their way, breakfast would be M & Ms, lunch would be candy bars and dinner would be cake and coke. And, it wouldn’t take very long until that diet would make them sick and you’d be spending half a day at the dentist’s office. Proper diet means saying “No,” to certain things. A proper spiritual diet means saying “No,” to certain things.

Notice some things from our passage:

First, those who are spreading the false teaching are not good people. They are not confused. It’s not that they meant well. Paul describes them as: rebellious; empty talkers; deceivers. Rebellious to the way of God. Rebellious to the apostolic way. Rebellious because their heart and spirit are not humble, thankful nor submissive to Jesus Christ.

There are some who just cannot admit that some religious teachings are wrong and some preachers are simply false. The kindness of some would somehow even excuse the devil. Paul’s not that way. The Holy Spirit is not that way.

Second, there seems to be two avenues of motives. First, it was to upset families. Get people thinking differently. Present alternatives. Challenge the Biblical way. Question the Bible. Create doubt. Toss out the years of learning from others.

The other avenue of motive seems to be personal profit. The passage ends with, “for the sake of sordid gain.” Sordid means dishonest. They are saying things to pad their pockets. Some preach just for the money. Their interests were not in helping people see Jesus. They were not concerned about building the kingdom. Rock the boat and make some money, seems to be what these wicked teachers were all about.

Third, there are some people who should not teach. The text states, “teaching things they should not teach.” One shouldn’t preach what he doesn’t know. Opinions, agendas, pet peeves should all stay at home and not be taught. Complaining, making fun of others, mocking God’s people is not something that God smiles at.

Simply put, there are some who should not teach. They are dangerous. They like to push buttons and see how far they can stretch the envelope of what people will tolerate. They are not bringing an understanding to the Scriptures, but creating doubt, suspicion, and harm. Here in the passage it says that they were “upsetting whole families.” They were not making families stronger. They were not building faith. They were not making things better. Upsetting. Hurting. Trouble.

Fourth, the mouths of these teachers must be silenced, is what the apostle says. There was not period of wait and see if things get better. No. Stop the talk. Time for action. Mouths must be stopped. Now, how was this to be done? Paul is not inviting violence. He is not talking about someone physically escorting someone out of the church building. He is not saying that someone ought to punch these guys in the nose.

The way error is dealt with in the Bible is through the pure teaching of God’s word. Two things would take place. First, opportunities for these wicked teachers to teach would be closed. People would know about them. The doors of teaching would no longer be opened for them. Second, a positive and swift response would take place through the teaching of God’s word. By knowing and understanding what is right, these upset families would realize how crooked and wrong these others things were. They would recognize the danger they were in when they understood God’s perfect word.

Teaching the Gospel is God’s way of dealing with error. Truth has nothing to fear. Error will run. Error will hide. Truth stands the test of investigation. Error cannot answer the questions of truth. Error is inconsistent. Error changes.

We live in a time when a lot of things are said. Not all of it is true. Not all of it ought to be said. Hold up the Bible and measure everything by it.

Roger

Jump Start # 1105

Titus 1:10-11 “For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced because they are upsetting who families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.”

One of the hymns we sing begins with the line, “Troublesome times are here…” Paul’s words to Titus remind us that in the early years of the church was not all wonderful and peace. Things were not a paradise as we may idolize ancient history. There were many huge obstacles. There was an aggressive assault by the Jewish leaders to undermine and even destroy the church. These attacks were sometimes verbal, other times physical. Later, the heavy hand of Rome came upon the church. Those were not the time for fair-weather Christians, those who rode the fence, nor those who stood on the side lines of their faith. Weak Christians didn’t make it. The pressures were too much. Many quit. Many considered survival more important than faith.

In our verse today, Paul, warns Titus, a young preacher, about such verbal assaults. There are a series of expressions Paul uses here.

First, in describing these Jewish attackers, Paul says they are:

• Rebellious men: they are not obedient. They are not following Christ. They are rebels. Lawless. Contrary to the way of Christ.

• Empty talkers: nothing to what they are saying. Useless arguments. Shallow thinking.

• Deceivers: verbal con men. Liars. Twisting words and ideas. Confusing people.

Second, Paul reveals the impact these rebellious men are having:

• Upsetting whole families. People are buying into their lies and deceit. People are getting confused. Faith is being shattered.

• Teaching things they should not teach: they are not pursuing truth. They are teaching doubt, speculations, opinions, rumors, doubt. Faith is built upon the word of God. Doubt is built upon confusion.

• They are doing these things for sordid gain: profit is their goal. They are committed to evil to make money. The destruction that they leave behind bothers them little because of the fame and fortune that it brings them.

These were serious matters. Paul’s words to Titus was that these false men must be stopped. He says, “their mouths must be silenced.”  This wouldn’t be easy nor pleasant. This work would fall upon the elders who were given the responsibility to watch and feed God’s people. Any one disrupting that would have to be dealt with.

How would they silence their mouths? In a Godly fashion. They would not stoop to counter violence. They would not use force, but with two main things.

First, error is not given a platform. God is not in the tolerance business. If it is not truth from God’s word, then it must be not be heard. Such thoughts would cause the political correctness crowd to run in horror today. You mean, not everyone’s opinion counts. That’s right. You mean, not everyone can be heard. That’s right. You mean, some do not get to state what they think is right. That’s right. The reason is, God has already stated what is right. There is nothing to vote upon, decide, amend or declare.  God has spoken. When someone wants to present radical ideas, upset what the Bible teaches, no, they do not get a platform. They do not get to be heard. No their voice is silenced.

Sometimes, often times, this trouble comes from preachers. They get filled up with fanciful ideas in a college class or they read some hot shot new book and without thinking things out they are off advancing new ways, new ideas, and a new look at the old, old Gospel. Some call it a “new perspective.” They have found some secret and new way to look at the Scriptures that no one else has known for centuries. This new look changes everything. Books are published. Lectures are given. A new excitement takes place. These bright new scholars have finally found what no one has ever known. Without these new discoveries in ancient language and in archaeology and in the culture of ancient times, Bible verses would be hopelessly misused, and misunderstood.

These very things are happening right now. What bothers me about this is the consequences that it leads to. This means that some family living in Europe in the 1300’s could not have known God’s truth. These scholarly discoveries were not known until recent times. Without them, God’s word was misunderstood. Is that the conclusion that is acceptable? Maybe, these new discoveries are deception and empty talk. Maybe it’s a bunch of nothing.

The other way those empty talkers would be silenced is by using the word of God. Nothing trumps truth. God’s word is what stopped Satan in his tracks. God’s word is what Jesus used to get around the trap of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Error is stopped by truth. These mouths would be stopped when Godly men stood up to these deceptive ideas with the truth of God’s word.

There is no need for anything else. Upset families can be rescued by the truth of God’s word. Look into what God said. Establish that solid foundation. Return to what is known. Stand upon the absolutes. God’s word is a rock. It will stand the test of time.

Some things should not be said. That’s what Paul is saying to Titus. These empty talkers were teaching things that they should not have been. Bible classes are a platform to teach God’s word. It is not a platform to air agendas, complain about things, float ideas that have never been thought out, suggest prejudicial ideas, or quote the last author someone read. Bible classes are to teach the Bible. They are to be faith building.

Our hope is built upon Jesus Christ. Tell me the story of Jesus, write on my heart every word. Tell me the story most precious, sweetest that ever was heard. Those are more than lines from classic hymns, they are what the New Testament teaches.

Strong leaders in God’s church will protect the sheep, even from each other, when one gets a wild hair and wants to test new ideas and new ways.

Our look is backward—to the old, old Gospel.

Roger

Jump Start # 340

Titus 1:10-11 “For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.”

  Our passage today shows Paul’s concern for the young church. As the gospel spread, so did opposition and conflict. The term “circumcision” refers to Jewish influences. These threats were real and the carnage was destructive. Whole families were being upset. These teachers, especially the Jewish ones, were rebellious, deceptive and they were teaching what they should not.

  Now this present to us several lessons to consider. First, the make up of the N.T. church is not like the United States. With our Bill of Rights, we have free speech. A person can say what he wants. Not so within the church. What is said influences people. Paul told the Ephesians that there is “one faith.” Jude wrote, “contend earnest for the faith…” God has delivered His will. The recorded word of God is the platform that we must stand upon, be united on, and teach. There are still rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers today. They still upset whole families. We should expect, and even demand that a person teaches the Bible and not his own agenda. A person should teach the Bible as God intended, not taking verses out of context or twisting things to make it fit what he wants. These empty talkers had a platform because they found an audience that would listen to them.

  Another lesson here is that Paul expected these empty talkers to be silenced. That’s serious. That sound like trouble. How and who is to do this is important. Our verses are found following what is commonly called the qualifications of elders, “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you.” Elders—always a plurality in every church. Elders, they are the overseers, the shepherds, the leaders within a local congregation. It was God’s design that every congregation have elders. These spiritual men, experienced in the word of God and able to teach, would care and protect the church. The call of silencing the empty talkers would fall upon these elders. This is their job. Wolves among the sheep cannot be ignored. They will not go away. They must be silenced.

  Now, just how do elders silence empty talkers? We know violence isn’t the answer. That doesn’t fit in the total picture God has for His followers. When Paul went to the Jewish synagogues he “reasoned with them according to the Scriptures” (Acts 17). The word “reasoned” means to debate. Elders, using the word of God, will confront, defend and silence the empty talkers. The empty talkers would be identified as false. Brethren would be taught why these talkers were not correct. They would be told to ignore and avoid these talkers. Fellowship with them would be cut off. This is the language Paul used in Romans 16:17 toward similar false teachers.

  Empty talkers can do their damage face to face, through writings, through blogs, Facebook, emails. They can appear innocent. Even Satan can appear as an angel of the light. They can be long time friends. They can be within our family. Usually, they have been influenced by someone else. A rebellious spirit caught their attention. They are captivated. They spend more time listening to what is wrong with the N.T. system than learning God’s will. Their minds become corrupted with rebellion. In many ways they become spiritual terrorists. They go on a mission to win others. Others listen. Others become influenced. The church becomes a mess. Soon division takes over.

  The answer to all of this? Stay with God’s word. Learn it. Know it. Recognize what isn’t right. Defend God’s way. Support godly elders.

  You won’t find many churches today talking about these things. You find fewer churches doing anything about empty talkers. In fact, some churches will invite empty talkers to come and spend a weekend with them and even give them a platform to spread their poison. And the result will be a mess. Everyone confused and believing different things and basically doing whatever each person feels like. That’s not the unity you read about in the N.T. One mind. One heart. One voice. One faith.

  God wants you to grow and be strong. You need to protect your soul, your family and help your church. You do this by standing upon the word of God.

Roger