A Peculiar People...the Wayfarer 11/4/12

A Peculiar People
4 Nov 2012

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

As promised, we return today to the book of Titus for enlightenment in what is required of us to live a truly Christian life. Though Paul doesn’t cover every aspect of the character necessary to be a Christian in these writings to Titus, what is given us here is important to that quest for perfection that I mentioned last time around.

As I read the words of this second chapter, I can hear the thunder of Paul’s admonitions across the centuries, and see the necessity for these teachings in our own as well as other nations today.

It grieves my very soul to see the blatant disregard, not only of these writings, but the teachings of Jesus to which they refer.

“But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity in patience.”

(Titus 2:1&2)

Paul continues this missive to Titus telling him that not only church leaders must meet the requirements previously discussed, but that they also apply to all others that truly believe.

Once more he urges the teaching of sound doctrine, (the things that Jesus himself taught) and that Titus should teach the things that will allow this people to follow those teachings.

He begins to divide the particular needs of age groups and sex, as each has specific vulnerabilities that need to be addressed. The older generations of the male populace need to be sober, (serious not given to prankishness which leads to misunderstanding of the word). They need to have gravity in their personality with which to exemplify that soberness to the younger generations.

There is nothing wrong with a sense of humor, but the direction of that humor must be closely monitored to comply with the moral turpitude required for Christian living.

They need temperance, (self-control) in all things that is evident to those around them. Without that self-control, it is impossible to maintain the respect of the young, and the heathen.

Again Paul mentions sound in faith. We must know what we believe, why we believe it and share that belief with those around us!

Charity, (love) is required. This must first be shown in the home of the heads of household to that household, but must extend to all that we come into contact with as well. This demand for charity comes directly from the single commandment given us by Jesus that we love one another.

It is more than just the giving of alms, giving to charitable organizations, but is also a part of our very being and character and within our heart. An outward false showing of this charity involving only the contribution of money to various causes is inadequate. True charity often means true self-sacrifice to provide for the needs of others.

It requires our time, energy and devotion to the needs of those around us.

Paul again mentions patience. Patience is endurance. It is easy to become impatient in the face of adversity, or when argumentative folks hit a nerve that can spark anger.

Patience is difficult when our feelings are hurt, intentionally, or unintentionally, by those around us when we are attempting to give proper guidance.

I am certain that over the years of my youth I created frustration and impatience in both of my parents, and other elders who only intended to show me a better way to live a better life.

Youth has an effect of often seeming uncaring, stubborn and unwillingness to listen to the lessons already learned by our elders!

Paul continues:

“The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”

(Titus 2:3-5)

The first teacher a child has is his mother.  It is in the first few years of life that character is developed, morality established, and perceptions of how to live are formed.

It is through the character of the grandmothers and mothers by extension that we become who we are in life despite the additional influences that we later come into contact with.

What we learn is determined, not only by the actual lessons taught, but by the example of the life we see lived. It is therefore critical that that example be one of Christian living.

Note the things Paul admonishes in the aged women: “In behavior that becomes holiness.” A child is often most influenced by the belief or lack of belief in Christianity and morality by the example set by their mothers and grandmothers. The male is most usually absent for much of the formative time, of a necessity to provide for the physical needs of the family. Their example is important to the child, but the child is more exposed to the female of the home due to that absence. Children brought up in a Godly atmosphere more readily accept the truth of the gospel if they have seen that truth in action at a young age.

 This was the reasoning in determination of Jewishness through the genealogy of the child’s mother. The child traced his lineage through the father, but religion was and often still is determined by the faith of the mother.

Next Paul mentions “not false accusers.” The society where Titus found himself implanted was rife with the practice of those seeking every teaching around, gossip, false accusation and general busybody activity abounded.

These are all things that Paul warns about in several of his epistles. He does so because of the nature of people in general and the female population in particular being vulnerable to these acts.

The very effort required by rearing a child, keeping a home and providing for the needs of a husband and family is exhausting. This leads to the embellishment of stories or making up things all together for conversation with others just to feel that one has something important to add to a conversation. It was common that this led to false accusations being made against others of that society, and unfortunately of our own.

The next admonition is that they not be given to much wine.  As I stated previously, excess alcohol diminishes the mental and physical capability to provide the example that we are expected to provide our young.

I would add to alcohol the use of other substances that alter our mental acuity, lessen our concern for morality, and remove the required self-control that is required of us.

In our own society those substances not only abound despite the laws against the use of most of them but are a common practice not only in the home, but throughout the expanse of our daily lives, work, leisure time, and are riddling our education system as well.

They extend to old, young and all age groups universally and erode the essence of what Christ intended our lives to be.

Paul says they are to be teachers of good things. These good things are the morality and values by which the children need to live their lives in order to even comprehend the teachings of Jesus.

Next Paul says that the reason for this is to teach the young women to likewise be examples for the net generations. Sober has already been defined, and I need not elaborate on the word. It is the same for women as it is for men.

To love their husbands is next. This is given because Jesus said that when we marry, our mate becomes the center of our attention, above all other considerations of family.

Marriage is to be a special relationship between a man and a woman, with each more occupied with the needs of the other than their own. It cannot be a one Way Street, with only one partner devoted to the marriage, but both must be equal participants in its sanctity.

 This is why we see so many divorces, and live in relationships today. One partner cannot make a marriage work, it takes both.

To love their children is the next thing defined as important to the character of young women.

In years past, this requirement was almost a given quality possessed by all who were mothers.

Unfortunately, I find that it no longer hold true in many cases today.

The love that is required supersedes the needs and wants of the mother in her own life.

Far too many today are completely engrossed in themselves, giving no heed to the needs of anyone but themselves. This includes husbands, so called boy-friends, and most especially children. The children are physically and spiritually neglected because of this selfishness.

The first duty of any mother should be the well-being and spiritual needs of the child. This means placing one’s desires and ambitions second to those needs of that child.

Next is the word discreet, defined by my bible and Zondervan’s dictionary as sensible.

Sensible means the use of common sense in the way that you live your life as well as the required morality and values that you first must have in order to teach!

Chaste is next on Paul’s list. Keeping true to the vows made to give the use and love of her body only to her husband despite the temptations and seductions that she finds in others.

Keepers at home is more than maintaining a clean house for the family, it means to keep the home in such a way as to maintain the faith and love asked of us by Jesus. It is more than the physical acts of cleaning and cooking and doing the laundry and other chores that may be shared by others. It is keeping the essence of the family unit in accordance with God’s law in prominent honor to the best of her ability.

Good is the next word used as a requirement for young women to aspire to. This encompasses all that has already been covered and as much more as she is able to give to the family unit.

Obedient to their husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed is next.

This will no doubt raise the hackles of any feminist readers, and cause consternation in others who find themselves in abusive relationships.

As to the feminists, obedience to and placing your needs in accordance to those of your husband is a critical part of what a marriage is!

To those in abusive relationships, obedience does not extend to the endurance of abuse that of itself shows the lack of commitment to that marriage by your partner.

A real marriage is a loving and caring relationship that enhances the lives of both partners, and does not relegate one to slavery in any form.

This obedience that is required, if not followed, is an affront to God himself as it was He who personally instituted this sacred relationship.

Paul continues with admonitions to the young men:

“Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.”

(Titus 2:6-8)

Sober minded covers what has already been said about the matter, but is more difficult for a young man whose natural lusts are more apt to be foremost in his mind.

A young man is also more easily influenced by those of his peer group, and is often led astray by the morals and values practiced by those groups. This is why he must be continually aware of the teachings of Jesus, and measure the actions of others by this and only this yardstick.

Shewing in a pattern of good works is another way of saying that one should live in accordance with what they profess to believe!

The patterns established by the young become the habits of the old. There is no easy way to differentiate between the two once those patterns have been established.

If a young man is taught compassion, empathy, love, and moral values, it will remain a part of his character throughout his life despite the evils that he faces and endures through that life.

If he accepts Jesus as Savior, that commitment never leaves him, even when he fails to live up to the expectations of others.  He will sin in his life, but eventually he will find forgiveness through the true repentance of that sin.  As I have stated many times before, Salvation is forever, repentance is an ongoing daily requirement!

“In doctrine shewing uncorruptness”, is next on the list. If taught the true doctrine (teachings of Jesus) he will not chase every new age philosophy or religion that he is exposed to as he travels the road God lays out before him.

Gravity, having already been discussed, the next word requiring definition is sincerity.

Sincerity begins with a contrite heart, the knowledge that one has no ability to live perfectly and is therefore in utter and complete violation of God’s  law and his will for our lives, and that there is only one way to atone for that violation. It requires the moment when he conviction of the Holy spirit knocks you to your knees and the realization comes that unless you accept Jesus Savior and intercessor  you are hopelessly lost to an eternity destined to punishment in the lake of fire reserved for Lucifer and his followers.

That is why it is so critical that we reach the reachable and teach the teachable before they become lost forever, and are forever damned to this eternity described above.

Sound speech that cannot be condemned is next on the list of requirements for the young man.

Sound speech requires the use of the vocabulary learned throughout the years of education at home and at school.

 If you paid attention to the lessons being taught, you will find yourself in command of words with which to express yourself and your feelings without the expletives that add no real meaning to what you are trying to convey.

I have had people attempt to apologize for their foul language that they used before finding out that I was a preacher. None have used words that I have not heard in my wanderings on this planet, and I usually comment that it is not to me that an apology is owed, but rather to God and the poor teachers that they refused to listen to when they had the opportunity to learn the words needed to express themselves.

Sound speech also includes sound thinking, this means speaking the truth instead of avoidance of it! Paul concludes this portion of the scripture informing young men that if they use sound speech, no one may gainsay what they are saying, and that it will not allow others to speak believable evil against you, and that they will indeed find themselves ashamed of their very thoughts!

Next Paul addresses servants:

“Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;

Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.”

(Titus 2:9&10)

This exhortation sounds out over the years to include those fortunate enough to be employed by those more fortunate than they are.

The admonition to be obedient and please them well extends to doing what you were hired to do for the wage you were promised without the grumbling that they too are making a profit because of your efforts. Isn’t that what you told them you would do if they only hired you?

Not purloining (stealing) means exactly that, whether a paperclip or the discretionary fund to which you are granted access!

Shewing all good fidelity means being loyal to those who employ you instead of being loyal to the greed of others who forget to remind you that you have a job!

Adorning the doctrine of God our Savior refers to Jesus himself and the parable of the workmen hired in the morning for a price, midday the same price and late day the same price and the complaint of those who agreed to the wage in the morning. Jesus ‘ point, and Paul’s, is that what is fair, is to do what you say you will, not what you see others doing.

 Paul concludes the chapter of this missive with the following.

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.”

(Titus 2:11-15)

The grace of God, by which we are able to receive salvation through the shed blood of Jesus, is available to all mankind! Again Paul tells us the same thing Jesus did in John 3:16!

Whosoever includes Jew and Gentile alike!

That very salvation teaches us the lessons of how we are to approach life in this world, not looking at the possibility of gain or richness here, but to live in a manner that allows us to greet with joy the day that Christ returns for us to take us to the promised rewards in heaven.

Paul once again reminds us that this is only possible because of His sacrifice for US that the only redemption is through Him, and we are only purified by Him, which makes us that peculiar people that is zealous of living up to the standards He set to the absolute best of our abilities!

I close for now with the promise to examine the third and final chapter of this epistle at a later date.

Once more I salute my brethren and sisters in Christ with the love of this simple sinner saved by grace, through the shed blood of my savior, Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

AMEN and AMEN
the Wayfarer