Titus 1: Leadership in Transition

There Are False Teachers

On Feb. 5, 2007 Newsweek published a story about a Puerto Rican minister who said that he was Jesus Christ. At first glance, his congregation in Florida looks like a typical Hispanic evangelical church. But when Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda walks on stage, the crowd goes wild, shouting, “Lord! Lord! Lord!” They’re referring to him. Someone on stage announces, “It’s Jesus Christ himself!”

You would think that not many would be fooled by such deception, but in fact, Miranda presides over an organization called “Growing in Grace,” which includes more than 300 congregations in two dozen countries. He counts more than 100,000 followers and claims to reach millions more through a 24-hour TV channel, a radio show and several Web sites. The article reported that his organization has many wealthy, generous donors and he lives lavishly, including diamond-encrusted gold rings and fancy cars.

Miranda’s view of himself has evolved over the years. At first, he didn’t claim to be Christ. He was a pastor spreading his mixture of false and true doctrine: that “under a new covenant with God, there is no sin and no Satan, and people are predestined to be saved.” But as his following expanded, so did his claims. In 1998, he claimed that he was the reincarnation of the apostle Paul. Two years ago, he declared himself to be Christ. And, about the end of 2006, he called himself the Antichrist and revealed a 666 tattooed on his forearm. He explains that since he is the second coming of Christ, he rejects the continued worship of Jesus of Nazareth.

Miranda is only one of many false teachers who profess to know God, but by their deeds, they deny Him. Satan has always been active in raising up false teachers to oppose the truth. It was happening in Crete, where there were “many” deceivers (1:10). In our day, the number of cults and false religions that profess some link with Christianity is astounding. Mormonism is one of the fastest growing religions in America, if not in the whole world. The Jehovah’s Witnesses have their tentacles in countries all over the world. Other cults are thriving.

With that being said, we look at Titus 1:10-16 first today and find that there are also some false teachers who have found themselves hidden within the flock in Crete. Let’s quickly note what Paul reveals about these individuals.

(V10-11) These false teachers are speaking empty words with empty circular reasoning that is ruining families for the purpose of shameful gain. The individuals, we see, are unruly, they are arrogant and refuse to be taught but instead are proud and feel as though they are above any leadership or correction. The men, we see in v11, are shooting for homes. False teachers do this today. They try to weed themselves into homes to build a presence within a church community rather than come directly out with their destructive teachings.

(v12-16) Next, with v16 in mind, we understand that such people’s lives are not marked as though they are holding to a healthy doctrine, instead it is clear that these people’s beliefs have no changing power on people’s lives including their own. Here are a few things about false teachers to look out for:

First, they add works to salvation that is only found in Christ alone.

Titus 1:10, take note of them being called the “circumcision” This was a group of Jewish people who claimed to believe in Jesus as Messiah and Savior. But they insisted that those who professed faith in Jesus were obligated also to keep the Jewish ceremonial and dietary laws to be saved. Especially, they taught that a man must be circumcised to be saved. They could not bring themselves to accept Gentiles into the church on the basis of faith in Christ alone. They must also live like the Jews.

Paul and Barnabas had great dissension with such false teachers in Antioch, which led to the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15). The conclusion reached at that important council was that all people, whether Jew or Gentile, are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus, apart from keeping the ceremonial laws of Moses. But in spite of that decision, these zealous Jews kept promoting their errors. They especially dogged Paul’s steps, going into the churches that he had founded, perverting the gospel of grace. Paul writes against them often, but especially in Galatians. He said there that if anyone preaches another gospel requiring anything to be added to faith in Christ for salvation, then that person is accursed (Gal. 1:6-9)

There are many today who teach that in addition to faith in Christ, they say that you must add your own good deeds, whether baptism like the church of christ , keeping the Sabbath like the SDA church, going to Mass like the Roman Catholics teach, or whatever, to merit salvation. But Paul is very clear that we are justified by faith in Christ, apart from anything that we contribute (Rom. 3:24, 28; Gal. 3:6-14).

Second, they do not focus on the person and work of Christ.

In v14 Paul rebukes their attachment to Jewish fables. This is most likely the same thing that he referred to in 1 Tim. 1:4 where he says, “Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.”

These men spent countless amounts of time pressing and teaching worthless fables that didn’t further God’s purpose for our lives, which is Christ as all in all.

Every false cult from the first century onward has erred on the person and work of Christ. Some have said that He is God, but not truly human (Docetism). Others insist that He is human, but not truly God (Arianism). Others say that He is some sort of hybrid “god-man” (Witness Lee taught this). Many have said that He is our great teacher or example, but they have denied the necessity of His shed blood as the atonement for our sins. All cults supplement the Bible with their own writings or traditions, which invariably contradict the Bible and supersede it.

Third, they focus on legalism, not God’s grace.

Notice the statement “commandments of men” in v14. Look with me also at Colossians 2:20-23 which reads, “Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.”

Legalism involves emphasizing certain non-essential external matters to the neglect of certain essential heart matters. Legalism focuses on outward conformity to man-made rules, rather than on inward conformity to God’s righteous commands in Scripture. *Tell about my struggle with legalistic mindset*

Legalism always appeals to the flesh. It feeds the proud human heart that thinks that it can attain righteousness apart from being humbled before the cross. Legalists congratulate themselves for doing their religious duties and they self-righteously condemn those who do not do these things. But they do not judge the sin in their hearts or seek to please God from the heart.

People today may not necessarily obey the dietary laws, but there is still legalism. They teach that you can commend yourself to God by doing certain manmade commandments. But they do not deal with the defilement of the heart, because they deny the cross.

Paul is echoing what Christ said in Mark 7:7 where he says, “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” and in Matthew 15:8 “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.”

There are people out there with the nicest hair, the sharpest clothing, the finest smile; who could wear a suit to mow grass in or a skirt to their ankles that have hearts that are totally wicked. This is why Christ said, to the Pharisees, “Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” in Matthew 23:28

So, seeing the seriousness at stake we back up to v5 to see Paul’s solution to such issues. Godly Leadership.

It’s 1776, the revolution has concluded and King George asks his advisor what he thinks President Washington will do now that the revolution has ended thinking that it would collapse on it’s self like most revolutions did. But when King George discovered that Washington would instead return the Army to congress and would retire to become a civilian he exclaimed, “If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world!” It is said that without George Washington’s humility, he could have destroyed what became the world’s greatest nation. Moral of the story? Leadership matters.

In v7 we find that Paul regards these elders as “God’s stewards”

This comes from a word that was used to mean a slave who was chosen to manage his master’s estate, or in modern day terms, an employee who was specifically chosen by his boss to manage all of his bosses’ estate. It’s a big deal.

So, here in this text, Paul is going to show us what these leaders are for:

They are for Discipleship (v5)

Jesus wasn’t interested in lone ranger Christianity. His model was, and is very clear, go make disciples. He wanted them to be involved in local communities where they would be mutually accountable, where they would hold one another accountable, where they would sharpen iron with iron, where they would motivate one another to love and good deeds, where they would hear the word of God proclaimed, where they would live out that word, where they would show practical expressions of love to one another.

And we must understand that in the midst of a wicked and immoral culture, Christ has instituted the local Church as a place for Christian discipleship. And within this local context, Christ has distributed gifts to the Church that it would grow for His glory. In Ephesians 4:11-14 Paul writes, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”

It’s one of the ways that He manifests His rule and His care for the church, and Paul is saying to Titus, ‘Titus, here’s the first thing we need to do. We want to promote godliness in these churches, we want to grow people in grace, want to see people mature, see people discipled and the way we are going to do that is to place godly elders to lead them!

They are for Direction (v6-8)

As we consider the weight of the responsibility of this office we ask ourselves exactly what to look for and here in v6-8, Paul begins to provide a sketch of a man to seek with the first qualifying factor being that he is blameless.

Now, I believe that it is possible that this word blameless could have a double meaning. Paul uses this word blameless in 1 Corinthians 1:6-8 “Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”

And the word “blameless” seen in this text also indicates that this should be a man that this man is one that even if he is ridiculed or maligned it won’t stand. This is what Peter points to when he writes 1 Peter 3:16 “Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.”

So, what i’m seeing is that this man is one who stands before God blameless in Christ. And his life has been so radically changed by grace that everything about him has been affected. This is a man who is a living billboard that preaches, “I’ve been forgiven!”

But how do we examine this man? How can we see if he’s the real deal? Paul gives us a two ways:

First, His Home (v6)

His Marriage

The term here would literally read, “a one woman man”. Paul is insisting, then, on a candidate whose relationship with God is so genuine that his commitment to his wife reflects the love and faithfulness that the law requires, in that we shall not commit adultery, but what grace enables. The trophy of love for God in this man’s heart should be reflected or genuinely seen in the display case of his loyalty to his bride.

His Children

1 Timothy 3:4–5 KJV 1900

4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

Second, His Heart

5 vices to behold in v7

Not self-willed

The Greek word here is “authades” which means “overbearing or bold and arrogant” This word denotes someone who is self-centered. This is the man who seeks to please only himself and to promote his thoughts and desires without considering another.

Not soon angry

Not given to wine

Not a striker

The word here could also mean “not a bully”. John Stott said, “Pastors who have learned their leadership style from Jesus Christ will never ride rough-shod over other people’s sensitivities. They will lead by example not by force, and by humble service not by self-assertion.”

Not given to filthy lucre

There is nothing wrong with a pastor receiving support from the church for his ministry, however, to receive support and to tailor your ministry for the sake of greater support are two different things.

In the second century Polybius wrote this concerning the people of Crete: “In all these respects the Cretan practice is exactly the opposite [of the Spartans’]. Their laws go as far as possible in letting them acquire land to the extent of their power, as the saying is, and money is held in such high honor among them that its acquisition is not only regarded as necessary, but as most honorable. So much in fact do sordid love of gain and lust for wealth prevail among them, that the Cretans are the only people in the world in whose eyes no gain is disgraceful.… The Cretans, on the other hand, owing to their ingrained lust of wealth are involved in constant broils both public and private, and in murders and civil wars.”

This was a culture controlled by their hunger for money and today there are preachers who, as Ngewa said, “Who paint their greed in the colors of Scripture.” This biblical pastor is to be a man who is content and who’s stand on the truth is not up for purchase.

6 virtues to seek in v8

Hospitable

This is to be a characteristic of everyone in the church as Romans 12:13 calls us all to hospitality. Clement, who was an early church father that may have known Paul, said this about hospitable pastors, “hospitable men, who were always glad to welcome God’s servants into their homes without hypocrisy. And the bishops always sheltered the needy and the widows by their ministry without ceasing, and conducted themselves in purity always.”

These are to be men who make themselves available and who love people.

Lover of good men

Not only should he be a lover of people but a lover of what is good and longing to see that instilled in men.

Sober, Just, Holy, and Temperate.

A great statement for us to remind ourselves of often is that it take years to build a reputation, but only five minutes to destroy one.

This leader is one who is clearly devoted to his personal holiness, not in accordance to his own wishes, but in submission to his God.

Lastly, They are for Doctrine (v9)

The ministry of this man who is committed to the faithful doctrines of our forefathers. He is committed to the truths that the Apostles has entrusted us with. He is eager and zealous to teach others of the life changing doctrines of truth and is bold to stand against what is endangering his beloved flock.

One church father said, “A pastor needs two voices, one for gathering the sheep and the other for driving away wolves and thieves. The Scripture supplies him with the means for doing both, and he who has been rightly instructed in it will be able both to build those who are teachable and to refute the enemies of the truth.”

So, in closing we ask ourselves the question: What does this have to do with me?

First, we must view this pastorally as Paul intended it. As God has called us into a season of transition we rejoice that God has given us His Word to look to and within the confines of these passages we find the will of God for the man who He would have to lead His church. Why does this matter? It matters because the leaders of the Church are those who teach you truth, they look out for your souls, they administer the Word, baptism, prayer, and the Lord’s table to you. And they are your examples. The leadership of the pastor is not one merely done by demand, but by example. And they are to lead you in growth both in word and by example. 1 Peter 5:3 reads, “Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.”

Second, we must understand that if this passage is in reference to the men who are examples then the end goal is that the church should also reach that place, so as we read this passage we also learn that belief shapes behavior. (v16) and in understanding this we find that our lives will be counter cultural (v12-13)

Charge: Do you really believe what you say you believe?

Third, we find that the life of the church centers on healthy theology, the elders defend and equip the church with sound theology, and false teachers push false theology. Seeing the importance of theology in the life of the Church we must cultivate and pray for a hunger for truth.

Lastly, we find that the first place that we examine this potential candidate is within the confines of the existing ministry of his home. The principle that we should bring forth to our heart here is whether we are faithful where we are today or not?