God’s Book of Titus for Lent Wednesday of Lent 2 What Accords With Sound Doctrine Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ! Amen. You heard God’s apostle Paul command Pastor Titus, “teach [the people] what accords with sound doctrine.” Stated another way, teach people to live everyday life in a manner that reflects what they have heard from God’s Scriptures. Dear Christian friends, Earlier, Paul instructed Titus to appoint pastors “in every town” on the Island of Crete (Titus 1:5). Then Paul went on to explain to Titus 1) what qualifications are necessary for men who would be pastor (Titus 1:5-9); and 2) how these pastors will be continually opposed by false teachers and belly-serving Christians (Titus 1:10-16). Tonight, Paul declares that Titus and every other pastor must Show [himself] in all respects to be a model of good works, and in [his] teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. What does this mean? It means that you must expect your pastor NEVER to confuse his person and his office. His person must be pressed into his office, like a nerd into a gym locker. The pastor’s office must confine the pastor’s person so that the divine work of his office will not be impeded by his arrogance and self-infatuation. That is the sum total, not only of this letter to Titus in Crete, but also of the two letters sent to Timothy in Ephesus: Preacher, do not confuse your person and your office. Some Christians mistakenly think the pastor is an exception. That is to say, some Christians believe the pastor should be held to a high standard—“above reproach,” as Paul said earlier—but that the people do not need to be quite so concerned with how they live. Stated somewhat crassly, some Christians believe that the pastor should swim in a fishbowl while they themselves wallow in hog barn. My Christians, this should not be! As much as your pastor must distinguish his person and his office, so you also must distinguish your person and your office. The pastor’s office must confine his person, so that the divine work of his office will not be impeded by arrogance and self-infatuation. So must your office(s). As much as the pastor must press his person into his office, forcing his person to conform to the office, so also must you—in every manner—force and press your person into the mold of the high and holy office(s) God has given to you. To use Paul’s Words, “teach [the people] what accords with sound doctrine[teaching].” That is, teach people to live everyday life in a manner that reflects what they have heard from God’s Scriptures. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. [And you can stop pretending you are younger than you are.] Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers [that is gossip, by the way, and plenty of you do it] or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women [if you fancy yourself a young woman, then stop thinking that you know everything and at least pay attention to the lessons that older women are trying to teach you] to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled [because they are somewhat comparable to feral cats]. To summarize what Paul is saying: Distinguish carefully between your person and your office(s). Stop idolizing your person and glory instead in your office(s). Why? Because that is how you practice “what accords with sound doctrine [teaching].” When you live in accordance “with sound doctrine [teaching],” it does not mean that you will no longer sin. None of us can stop sinning, but that is not really the point because all sin was gathered into the flesh of our Christ and crucified with Him. Sin is not the point because your sin is forgiven and your person has been washed clean in the blood of Christ, the Lamb who was slain. Living in accordance “with sound doctrine [teaching]” has to do with distinguishing your person from your office. Living in accordance “with sound doctrine [teaching]” really means that the Good News of God’s forgiveness has not only made it into your ears and your heart and your mind, but also into your hands and your feet, your eyes and your ears and all your members. Your office and my office are not merely examples for how to behave. Your office and my office are examples of how to believe (1 Timothy 4:1). May God grant that to each of us that we continue to believe. _______________________________________________ Sermons mailing list [email protected] http://cat41.org/mailman/listinfo/sermons
