Titus 2:2: Extraordinary Ordinary

You know that old saying that "opinions are like butts; everyone has one, and yours stinks." Well, chapter 2 of Titus doesn't exactly say that, but I would translate it to say, "Everyone has a level of ordinary, but our ordinary should be extraordinary!"

So verse 2 doesn't really start with the word "teach" like we find in the NIV. I suppose you could argue that Titus is teaching them, and so he will need to teach them these things. I think it is more like Paul is saying, "Hey, this is the way you should be."
The first part is for men, so men, "be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love, and in endurance." Now this is some of that Greek freak stuff, so check it out!
Temperate (NIV) Sober (KJV)= nephalios= abstaining from wine.
Worthy of respect (NIV) Grave (KJV)=Semnos=Reverend, Honourable.
Self-controlled (NIV) temperate (KJV)=Sophron= Sound mind, in one's senses.
So the first one and the last one are kinda related. Drinking a certain amount of wine will desensitize you. In-other-words, you will be out of your senses; which means you don't have a sound mind; which means that you are not self-controlled. If you are not self-controlled; then you are controlled by something else, like booze or really anything that compels us to sin. That's right; if we can't control ourselves; then we are not sober. If we are not sober; then we are not worthy of respect. Now that word (Semnos) comes from the root word "sebo" which means worship. Now that's some weight! Is there someone who worships you? No not like they bow at your feet, but they look up to you for something. It's not that we try to get people to respect us, but that we are "worthy of respect." No, this isn't a guilt trip; It's a measuring stick. You see, "old men" doesn't necessarily refer to how old you are. You can be 95 years old physically and only 2yrs old spiritually. I was saved when I was 8yrs old, and I am now 43. I have taught the word of God almost weekly for 16 yrs. I still ain't got this thing. In some areas of my Christian life I am an old man, but in others, I'm just a child.
So in some things I should be like a spiritual father, helping the young men learn the right way, but in other things I should be looking for a spiritual father for guidance (instead of pretending to have it all together : which is a major plague in our churches today, but I digress). The point is that we are not islands. As old men, you must realize that you are being watched. Everyday, every action, every word. It isn't just what you teach, but the ordinary everyday stuff that makes a difference. So, old men, whether you are gray haired or not, we need to have an extraordinary ordinary.

Titus 2: Big Buts

I like big buts and I can not lie! This is one time when I don't like my NIV translation. This verse has to start with a big "But". Paul just got done talking about a bunch of disobedient and unfit teachers at the end of chapter 1, and now begins chapter 2 with the exact opposite. They were detestable, but you be worthy of respect. They were disobedient, but you be self-controlled. They were unfit, but you be of sound doctrine. I guess that Paul is telling Titus that if he wants to make a difference on this God foresaking island; then he better get his "But" in gear.

God has always been about the "buts" ever since he set apart a people in his name. He told them not to eat certain things or do certain things because he wanted them to have a "but" in their lives. He has called us to be set apart; to be different than the world. That's what it means to be holy. So the real question is do we have big "Buts" in our lives or just a bunch of "ands". Those "ands" don't do us any good. That's like saying, " I believe that God can meet all my needs and I'm gonna get another job." "I enjoy praising God and telling dirty jokes." The "ands" in our lives don't set us apart. We are told that they will know that we are christians by our love, but the world loves too. So, what makes us different? As Christians we are supposed to love our enemies and turn the other cheek, and all that stuff. Now that is a big but of difference. Yes, this world has cultural norms that are acceptable to man, "but" not to God. Yes, it can seem like everyone is doing it, "but" not the godly. Yes we have to live in this world, "but" we don't have to act like it. Big Buts get noticed!!! Do you got one?

"But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine" (KJV). Yes, I did just throw some KJV in there, complete with a "thou" and everything. Sorry, but I just can't go with the NIV on this one. The NIV uses the word "teach", but the Greek is lalei, which is "speak". So what's the diff? Well, this isn't like a speech or lecture. This word is more concerned with just talking. Not like he says that we should teach or speak about anything in particular, but that the things we say should be appropriate and match up with sound doctrine. In-other-words, we got to be representin. If it comes out of my face; it should not be questionable. If I'm going to have an impact on those around me; then I can't have them scratching their heads wondering if I'm a christian because of something stupid that I said.

And this Greek word "lalei" is more like our word "talk". Like when we ask, "Can your baby talk yet." We aren't expecting great words of wisdom; we just want to know if the kid has said mama. You know, something ordinary. It's kinda like Paul is telling Titus that his "ordinary" ought to be lined up with sound doctrine. I think Paul assumes that Titus is already teaching or preaching in accord with sound doctrine, but now in ordinary everyday talk, what are we really saying? The most effective teaching I have ever had was during one on one talks. You know; someone is hanging on your words today. Will they fall back into the same ole discouragement that they had yesterday? Or will they hear something from your mouth that gives them a taste of sound doctrine and hope. Don't worry about speaking great wisdom. If you are a baby; everyone just expects you to say "mama". If you are a christian; everyone expects you to say "Abba" (Father). And when you start talking about your dad and everything that he has done for you; then your "but" is going to show