The Reasons Quality Leaders are Needed

Pastorals: Message Forty-One

Titus 1:10-16

ETS: Paul explained why quality leaders were needed in Crete.

ESS: We need to be quality leaders because the world is full of difficult people to lead.

OSS: [MO: Consecrative] {SO: I want the hearers to understand the great need to be a quality leader.}

PQ: Why are quality leaders needed?

UW: Reasons

Intro.: James Dyke wrote a humorous short story entitled “The Disliked Dictator.” It reads, “The dictator of a small country was bitterly disappointed that nobody would use the newly issued postage stamps bearing his portrait. He questioned his postmaster, who explained that the stamps were not sticking. Seizing a stamp, the dictator licked it and stuck it on an envelope. “Look!” he shouted. “It sticks perfectly!” The postmaster faltered for a moment, then explained, “Well, sir, the truth is that the people have been spitting on the wrong side.” (Hodgin, p. 171, Story no. 417, James Dyke, Jan. 97)

Last week, we studied Paul’s explaining the specific type of elders (leaders) needed in Crete and stated that in today’s world, there is also still the need for a specific type of leader. This week, we will examine Paul’s elaboration upon why quality leaders are needed.

TS: Let us examine together a few reasons why quality leaders are needed.

Quality leaders are needed because there are many rebellious people. (vv. 10, 12-13a)

Notice first the preposition that explains the nature of this passage: γὰρ (for) is an explanatory preposition here functioning to continue the thought from verses 5-9 elaboration specifically why it is important that the elders (leaders) be leaders of the Gospel, or those who remain faithful to sound doctrine.

There are many rebellious people which are described as full of empty talk and deception, especially from the circumcision group. Akin stated that “rebellious” spoke to their “attitude” and “empty talk” spoke to their “actions.” (Akin, 247)

Lea argued that the group of circumcision specified that “in this context the false teachers would be solely limited to Jewish converts, i.e. “the circumcision” group (cf. Eph 2:11)” (Lea, 288). He further stated that though the issue did not seem as severe as that in Ephesus described in 1 Timothy, it still posed a serious threat to the Cretan church.

The rebellious people need to be silenced. (v. 11-12)

The wording here presents a strong picture: that of muzzling an animal’s mouth (Lea, 289).

Lea wrote, “In the Greek the verb dei (“it is necessary”) is used twice in v. 11. The first usage expresses that it is necessary to silence opponents. The second usage, appearing as a negative (me dei), expresses the thought that the opponents were teaching things which are not necessary [teaching what they shouldn’t per CSB].” (Lea, 289).

The reason the command to silence them is so strong is because they are ruining entire households. This could refer to individual family units or it could refer to actual house churches (Lea, 289).

Daniel Akin wrote, “These men must be muzzled, stopped, shut up. Confront them with the truth of the gospel. That is our primary weapon. Confront them with the real results of their activity: they ruin whole households. Confront them with their motive for ministry: dishonest gain. These types of persons are nothing less than ministerial mercenaries! They are hired guns, ministers motivated by money.” (Akin, 247)

Kostenberger commented on the fact that they act in order to get money dishonestly writing, “Paul warns that such false teachers don’t have the well-being of their converts in mind. Rather than genuinely caring for others, these teachers are motivated by a desire to “get money dishonestly...” (Kostenberger, 319).

Commenting on v. 12, Lea wrote, “The details of the quotation are applicable to these false teachers because “teaching things they ought not to teach” proved them to be liars; their rebellious, out-of-control nature proved them to be “evil brutes” [beasts per CSB]; and their desire for “dishonest gain” proved them to be “lazy gluttons.” These Cretan false teachers, who evidently claimed to be Christians (1:16), were in fact living up to the reputation given them as unregenerate people centuries before Christ.” (Lea, 290)

The rebellious people need to be rebuked. (vv. 13-14)

The need to rebuke them sharply spoke to the nature and urgency of the need. However, notice the tone, nature, and goal of the rebuking or confronting: so that they may be sound in faith and may not pay attention to Jewish myths and the commands of people who reject the truth.

Regarding such, both Lea and Akin commented. Lea wrote, “In dealing with error in the church, the primary goal should always be the correction and restoration of those teaching error.” (Lea, 290); Akin wrote, “What is our goal in performing this spiritual surgery? [alluding to the analogy of a surgeon removing a diseased portion of the body] It is pastoral. It is redemptive. It is so that those who are self-deceived and deceiving others may be “sound in the faith.” We cut to cure. We operate to liberate those trapped in the quicksand of spiritual bondage and malnutrition. We confront, but we confront in love. We love them enough to point out their error and with the hope of their recovery to spiritual health and vitality.” (Akin, 249).

The rebellious people need to be set straight. (vv. 15-16)

Lea commented, “The pure” are those persons who are pure by virture of their faith alone. This is clear because “those who are corrupted” (i.e., “unclean”) are specifically referred to as “those who do not believe.” Therefore, to those who are pure, all things are pure in the sense that ceremonial cleanliness is totally unnecessary and of no value.” (Lea, 292)

Additionally, please note that those who were corrupt “confessed” or claimed to be Christians. However, their actions or works show otherwise.

Lea concluded with a powerful statement, “Unfortunately, we must recognize that both historically and currently many of the church’s problems are from within. What Satan cannot destroy through external forces, he will insidiously attack through internal confusion.” (Lea, 293).

CONCLUSION:

The reason, simply put, that quality leaders are needed is because rebellious people exists who oppose and even seek to destruct or distort the Gospel. We must be of such quality to confront. What stands between you and truly serving God as one who is a leader, even to the point of confronting false teaching?