I read the book of Titus today, from Paul to another young leader, who he had left in charge of Crete. Many themes seem to be similar to those in the letters to Timothy, but I suppose more specific to the situation that Titus was faced with.
In chapter 1, verses 5-9, he is given what looks like a condensed list of the qualities necessary in church leadership as seen in 1 Timothy. As expected, this indicates that it wasn't just a location- or situation-specific list, but can be applied to all locations and situations.
Paul also focuses on the importance of sound doctrine, not just having it but teaching it as well, and thus being able to refute opposition to it. He briefly highlights the opponents of the truth as rebellious, mere talkers, deceivers who must be silenced, teaching things they ought not to teach. Looking quickly at this, they are those who refuse to obey sound, godly instruction or follow His ways, they are those who do not live out the life they tell others to, or are unwilling to let their words translate into effective actions, they attempt to turn others away from the truth as well, it's not enough for them to live an impotent, disobedient 'Christianity', they must have others believe and act as they do so it will make them feel more comfortable in living that way. That is not the way that I want to live, I must be certain to walk in humble obedience, effectively living out of honesty and integrity, so that God can use me to speak what He wants said, rather than wishing that I would shut up.
In Titus 1:15-16, Paul gives a startling contrast showing the power of purity and impurity. To the pure, he says, all things are pure. Before we get too excited and use this as a license to sin (not God's heart, by the way), this isn't saying that impurity is pure. This isn't saying that if you think everything is pure, then you must be too. Look at the rest of verses 15-16: "...but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. / They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good." Clearly there is another side to this. The reason all things are pure to the pure is that their minds and consciences are coming at every situation from a pure, clean, godly point of view. Their life shows that they know God, not just their words. They are obedient to God, and when living, speaking, thinking, choosing the way God wants you to, what could be impure about that? I'm sure those who are impure see all things as pure, it's more comfortable for them to remain in their impurity and disobedience if they do so, but this is saying that it doesn't make these things pure, it just shows how their minds and consciences have become corrupt. We cannot trust our mind or conscience to be the final authority on right and wrong, purity and impurity, that authority has to be God Himself. The more we choose His way, the more our viewpoint will line up with His, and the more we rebel, the more impure our viewpoint becomes.
Let me give an example, in case you understand this, but still wonder what it means by 'all things' being either pure or impure depending on the state of the person. Strength and beauty are good things, they are attributes of God, and men often aspire to strength, and women to beauty. A person living in purity and obediently walking with God will have a pure perspective on these things, they will see strength and beauty for what they are. However, look at our impure culture. Strength is the word used for domination and abuse, a twisted and corrupted strength, to the point where many fear the very idea of strength. Beauty has been used to mean 'something you are not and will never be', it has sold countless products on the hopes and dreams of being seen as beautiful, it has sold impurity, adultery, and many spiritually harmful thoughts and actions to the masses as normal, a twisted and corrupted beauty, and many equate beauty with indecency or control, and shy away from it. This is just one example, and there are many. I can't overestimate the importance of purity. It affects how you see everything, how you respond to everything, and whether you are available, willing, or able to be used by God in many circumstances, the easiest to see being the ability to encourage others in purity.
Let us not be mere rebellious talkers, but let us live lives of truth, purity, and active obedience so that we can model the pure and true version of godly characteristics, reflecting them to those around us, and bringing His light in a dark and impure culture.
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