The "to do" list

So what do we do with this Sound Doctrine? Hold Fast!! Paul says kinda the same thing in 1 Timothy 3:9 where he says to "keep hold." Why is that important? Because, stuff comes along that sounds pretty good, and we need to know if it is good. Satan isn't stupid. He doesn't attack us with things that are obviously wrong right at the start. None of us would fall for it if someone in our church suggested that we have temple prostitutes to help us worship. I'm pretty sure that it wouldn't take a business meeting to decide that one. But Satan knows that, and so he is much more subtle about his take-over. He starts small with stuff that sounds good, but isn't quite right. I remember when I started going to a new church and attended an adult class that had no perminant teacher. I sat in class for 4 weeks as they took turns leading the class in discussion based lessons. They got into some interesting conversations that usually contained a comment that sounded good, but wasn't quite right. Like I said, I sat for 4 weeks as a guest (biting my tongue) when one of the men (whose words were always accepted as truth) made a comment that was not true at all, but sure sounded good. I couldn't take it any more, so I gracefully pulled out my Bible and showed them the sound doctrine that they were missing. It's like people quoting that phrase, "God helps those who help themselves," and believing that as some kinda scriptual truth. It just ain't there! It sounds good, but it's not. After that, I taught that class for almost 7 years (They named the class Truth Seekers).

Are you familiar with the Jewish fortress called Masada? It was built high on a mountain top and for years was impossible to conquer. In the Roman times, it became the last line of defense against the Romans (Okay, yes I am a P.B.S. freak). Even though the Romans had 10000-15000 men going against only about 1000; they still did not rush up to the fortress and take it. They couldn't because of the huge walls of rock all around. No, they spent months camped around the fortress, building this huge ramp one shovel-full of dirt at a time, until they could roll right up to the wall with a giant ram-rod. The Jews just gave up when they saw that and killed themselves. That is exactly how Satan works. He takes a shovel full of dirt and tosses it at the foot of our fortress. And what do we do? We brush it off and say, "Oh that ain't gonna hurt anything; I won't even bother with it." Before you know it, we have killed ourselves. We have to hold firm to sound doctrine so we can see him sneaking-up on us.

What else do we do with Sound Doctrine? Verse 9 says that we use it to encourage others. I think it is about time to take a sneak peak at the Greek. That word, encourage, is "Parakaleo" (to call along-side). It has the same root as the word "Paraclete" which is the Holy Spirit. I'm thinkin that the whole "you can do it" pep talk kinda encouragement isn't what we have going on here. The Holy Spirit isn't there just to tell us we are doing good, but also to guide us, warn us, and help nudge us in the right direction. We should do the same thing for those around us, except that we need to use sound doctrine to do it. We shouldn't give out advice based on what we think, but on what the word of God has to say. We should come along-side others and say, "lets check out what the Bible says about that." No opinions; just good solid God stuff.

Then there is the whole refuting thing. Refute those who oppose sound doctrine by using sound doctrine. That sounds a little crazy, but it was exactly what Titus needed to do. Them people were teaching some pretty crazy stuff, and he had to put a stop to it. How do ya stop the wrong stuff? By using the right stuff. But lets take a look at the "Refute" thing. As I have studied this word, it doesn't seem to come across as a "beat em over the head with a big stick" kinda thing. The word in the Greek (elegcho) means to convict or find fault, with the idea that the person would be ashamed and correct the problem. We don't see any comment about kicking them out or a good ole fashion bannishing. Paul says (vrs. 13) "rebuke them sharply." Why? "So that they will be sound in the faith (healthy faith). When I made that correction in the Bible study class, I didn't beat them over the head with anything. I simply showed them what God's word says and then asked them to look at our discussion as it lines up with God's word. It ain't my opinion in the discussion that matters; it's God's opinion that can make the difference in our lives.

So we need to use sound doctrine to correct the wrong around us.

We need to use sound doctrine to guide ourselves and others.

And we need to use sound doctrine to hold on when it gets rough.

I've been doing alot of hay lately with my old John Deere square bailer, and I was having some trouble with my bales breaking when we load and unload. As I played around with the adjusters, I noticed that the more hay that I could pack in a bale; the more sturdy it became. I thought they were breaking because they were too tight, but the more I loosened them the worse it got. When I packed them full; we could throw them off the wagon and they would hold together just fine. I think that is true of our Spiritual lives. The more sound doctrine we can pack in there; the less chance we're gonna break. So I hope things are stackin up for ya!

Sound Doctrine? What's That?

Titus 1:9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

This one almost slid right by me. I mean "sound doctrine," everybody knows what that is. So when Paul said to encourage and refute by "sound doctrine," I didn't even pause. I kept on cruising until I hit verse 13 where it says,"...rebuke them sharply, so they will be sound in the faith." That got my attention and slowed me down a little, but it was full on brakes baby when I hit the beginning of chapter 2 and it said to teach in accord with sound doctrine. 3 times in that small amount of writing tells me that this is heavy on Paul's mind and probably more important than I thought. So what's the deal? What is sound doctrine?
Most of us would say that it is one's beliefs or the belief of a certain religion. Well that is close to right, but that is the definition of doctrine. So what does he mean when he says "sound." Greek Freak alert!!! Sound in Greek is hygiaino, which is where we get our word hygene. It means to be well or of good health. You could say that Paul means a "healthy Doctrine."
So here's the deal, the people of Crete have been given an unhealthy doctrine filled with Jewish myths. And yes, like a bad pill, they swallowed it. And just how did they get them to swallow bad meds? Yep, they put a little sugar in it. A little doctrine mixed with a batch of Jewish myth, and their you have it; a poisonous religion that feels good going down.
Speaking of bad meds, I was forced to do some research on the Wicca religion (forced because a teen I spoke with was in to that). The Wicca religion (which has a bunch of earth worshiping, live in harmony beliefs) is hard to nail down, because their "faith" varies with each believer. They basically say that if it feels good, and doesn't hurt anyone, then it's all good. So how do they draw people in to their "Religion"? They make them feel good.
The other day I heard on the radio (Christian radio) about a drug that is capable of giving off something like a spiritual high (I think from Christianity Today "The end of Christianity as we know it").
So what's the point? Well, let me find my soap box and get to preachin!! Too many churches are focused on creating some spiritual experience to make people feel good at church. Too many people judging churches based on how good they feel while they are there. And too many pastors who are more concerned about telling cute stories or funny jokes than they are about teaching any doctrine. What can we give to people that they can't get somewhere else. If we think we can compete on the "feel good" level; then we are just plain nuts. People will more quickly run to immediate happiness long before a commitment to long term joy. That is what the people of Crete were doing, and Titus was trying to make them feel good about avoiding those things. Just say no. Oh yeah, that makes you feel good!! Paul says that you've got to give them something, and not just doctrine, but healthy doctrine. I think we do church backwards. I think that praise and worship should come after the preaching of the word. If you look in scripture; you will find that people worshiped after God did something or after the word was read. David danced, but only after God brought the arc of the covenant back. Josiah tore his robe and worshiped after someone read the book of the law that Moses wrote. Now you know that wasn't "feel good" reading.
I like watching the T.V. show "House". I guess I like arrogant people. In that show the doctors are always following the symptoms to find out what is wrong. They don't try to treat the symptoms, but they treat the source. I remember one episode where the patient lost sight in one eye, which was like symptom number 7 of whatever was killing this person. One of the underling doctors wanted to run some test to try and save the eye, but House responds with, "Sure go ahead and save the eye. He'll be dead in 24 hours, but at least he will have two good eyes." House understands that the source is what causes the symptoms. The symptoms never cause the source. So why be preoccupied with the symptoms. Paul is telling Titus (and of course us) to stop focusing on the fact that people are following the wrong things or going in the wrong direction. Stop trying to make people feel good. "Teach what is in accord with sound doctrine." Don't teach what they want to here; don't teach to the symptoms; teach what will heal them. Give them the meds no matter how bad they taste. We must learn how to be healthy! This ain't no "take 2 aspirin and call me in the morning."
If we are healthy at the core, then we can live healthy lives. But if the doctor (pastor) we are seeing is treating us for a skin rash instead of trying to save our lives; then we better see a different doctor. However, if the doctor is trying to give us some tuff meds because it is what we need to live sound (healthy) lives; then we should shut-up, take our meds and praise God for a man who cares enough to give us what we need.

Sound Doctrine: it does the body GOOD!!!!

You're the Man

Now, Titus was supposed to appoint elders. In 1st. Timothy 3:1 it says that anyone wanting to be an elder, "desires a noble task". So I guess we should all want to be one or at least be able to qualify to be one. I know that I don't like the idea of being involved with all the politics of church, but it is nice if someone thinks that I would qualify as one. Maybe I would turn it down, but it sure feels good to be asked. It's probably safe to say that we should all have these qualities listed for the elders.

I love how the list starts out with an easy one; "an elder must be blameless." Oh yeah, I can do that! Well, thank goodness that word doesn't mean perfect or spotless. It really means above reproach. It's not like they don't make mistakes; they just make it right, seek forgiveness, and try not to do it again. If someone continues in that same behavior; then they probably would not be blameless. Then he goes on to name some of those blameless things like: "not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain." Basically, not a Cretan. At least they can't act like one. That list reads like a resume for a Cretan.

Now, it would have been hard for the Cretans to change the behaviors that they have grown up with, and that they haven't really thought of as wrong. Talk about "everybody's doing it," that is really a fairly true statement here. So how do we fix that? How do we stop doing something that we are in a pattern of doing? What if I want to serve God so bad, but I just can't seem to change. I know that God loves me "just as I am" but how can I be better than I am to serve Him better?
Just like the Cretans, we have to change the way we think. We can't be thinking, "I've always done it like this" or "this is just the way I am." In Romans 12:2 it says, "Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." We have to change our brains; transform the way we think. It may have seemed okay before, but now we know better. Now we need to do better.
But how?? How do we stop doing what we have always done? It's near impossible to just quit. People don't just quit smoking. They use some gum or a patch. I remember my brother would chew on Popsicle sticks until they were nothing but splinters. The point is that you have to replace it with something. No, not Popsicle sticks, but that is why Paul gives us a different kinda list in verse 8. It says to be hospitable, one who loves what is good, self-controled, upright, holy, disciplined. The first part about the elders is the "to don't" list, but now he gives us the "to do" list. It's like a part 2 of the "above reproach" thing.
I'm not sure I buy into the theology of Thumper (if you can't say somethin nice; don't say nothin at all). That just leaves me angry and leaves the situation wide open for a repeat performance (that I will still want to say something not nice about, but probably a lot louder!!). I think a better saying would be, "If you can't say something nice; then say something else nice." Or, "Don't be hatin; be lovin." An elder has to be above reproach. It isn't enough to just "Don't," they have to "Do." We have to "Do."
Think about how Joseph handled his many oportunities to "not say something nice." I mean his brothers beat him up, threw him in a pit, and sold him as a slave. I can think of some choice words for that situation that would probably shed the hair right off of Thumper, But Joseph handles the "Don't" part by not saying something mean. He doesn't stop there however; he takes things "above reproach" by becoming the best slave ever. Then he gets falsely accused by Potipher's wife, and thrown in jail. Again he "Don't" say bad stuff and he "Do" become the best prisoner ever.

And then we have to consider what Jesus had to say about the whole Thumper issue. In Matt. 5 we find a phrase used over and over that says, "You have heard it said..." Then it lists some kind of "Don't." Don't Murder, don't say RACA, Don't Commit Adultery, Eye for an Eye, Tooth for a Tooth. Then he gives the "above reproach" stuff. Don't be angry, Don't say fool, Don't even look at a woman with lust, and if someone smacks you, offer the other cheek. If someone sues you for your coat, give him your shirt too. In verse 20 he tells us that, "unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees..." The Pharisees were usually on top of the whole live by the rules (follow the "Don'ts") thing. We should want better than that. We have to want better than that. They will know we are Christians by our love. Not love for a brother or love for a friend; how would that make us stand out? We are called to love our enemies!! That's over and above. That's how we should roll. That is Living "Above Reproach."