Commitment to Christian Witness

This idea comes from a quote that is falsely attributed to St. Francis of Assisi that I don’t think is a good quote.

Preach the Gospel at all times, if necessary use words.

I don’t like this quote because Scripture is clear, Romans 10:17

Romans 10:17 CSB

So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.

What I feel is a better rewrite of this quote is this:

“Preach the Gospel at all times, even when you cannot use words.”

As Christians we are called to live a life that is distinct and different than the world.

To get a better picture of what this looks like we turn to the book of Titus.

First- A background to who these people are.

The people of Crete. Titus 1:12

Titus 1:12 CSB

One of their very own prophets said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”

this testimony is true.

This sets the stage for what they are and with that, lets read our passage.

Titus 3:1–11 CSB

Remind them to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people. For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life. This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone. But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, because they are unprofitable and worthless. Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning. For you know that such a person has gone astray and is sinning; he is self-condemned.

We Must Live Like Christians

We should be model citizens.

Submit to rulers and authorities

To obey

VERY Difficult to understand. What we seek to answer, how does a Christian interact in the public square?

Polybius, a Roman historian said this,

“Now it would be impossible to find except in some rare instances personal conduct more treacherous or a public policy more unjust than in Crete.”

So they likely had bad rulers and authorities, yet they are called to submit and to obey.

We see a further explanation of this in Romans 13:1-7

Romans 13:1–7 CSB

Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath but also because of your conscience. And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks. Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.

The understanding of Scripture is that Christians should submit to rulers and authorities. There is no expectation that these authorities are aligned with Christian witness or principles.

There is a clear exception to this: When they ask you to deny Christ, or exalt them over Him.

In this we are called to be faithful to the point of death.

We should reject authority when they call us to compromise our Christian values.

We should do this with respect and humility if possible.

We also must understand the contextual implications. This was during the Roman empire. It does not seem abundantly likely that there was much flexibility in the structures of authority that existed.

So in this world that we live in. How does this look? In a democratic republic where we have regular local, state, and national elections where our voices are heard, what does it look like to submit and obey?

Guiding Scriptural Principles for involvement in public life.

We should be involved in what is happening in the world.

When God’s people governed themselves, He expected that they follow His law. We should seek to support and enact policy that is Biblical, and oppose that which is not.

We should submit to authorities and obey, even when we don’t agree with them.

Do not conform.

But be a good citizen.

We should not lose our Christian witness because of what is happening politically.

There is no call to rebel and revolt in Scripture.

The call is to make disciples.

There are too many Christians who are more focused on what is happening in Washington D.C. than they are focused on the Throne Room of God.

This is so important because...

We must be examples of God to the world.

2 Corinthians 5:20 CSB

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”

We must consider whether we are being good ambassadors for Christ, or poor ambassadors.

If we are pleading on behalf of Christ, is our life intriguing?

Are we living up to the role of ambassador that we have been given?

Continuing through the prompts of the passage...

To be ready for every good work

Looking to live out our faith when possible.

To slander no one

Christians should not be involved in Gossip or speaking ill of others.

To avoid fighting

2 Timothy 2:4 CSB

No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the commanding officer.

We should not be entangled in pointless and fruitless fights.

To be kind

It is simple. “Treat others as you wish to be treated.”

Showing gentleness to all people

Regardless of who they are or what they believe we are called to be kind, gentle, and loving to all people, while speaking truth.

A way to test this is to consider the fruit of the Spirit in your life:

Galatians 5:22–23 CSB

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.

This is what it means to be committed to Christian witness. Our lives resemble the life Calls us to live. When we share the Gospel, it is already plainly visible and laid out in our lives.

Because ultimately...

We Must Remember Our Salvation

Everything hinges on this next part. The Gospel is what changes everything. This place where he said the quote about them being liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons was true.

In this, we remember that Christ died for all people, yes even that one.

This is where we must challenge our understanding of the Gospel.

Do you really believe in the transforming power of the Gospel?

We must remember our own sinfulness.

We too were foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.

We must remember the grace by which we have been saved.

But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us - not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy.

Saved in an instant to be renewed for a lifetime.

Through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior.

This is the understanding of what it means to be born again.

The language of “born-again” Christian has more recently been replaced with “evangelical” Christian. We see this in John 3:3

John 3:3 CSB

Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

This is what happens when we understand our sinfulness and turn in faith to Christ.

Paul explains it this way in Ephesians 2:4-5

Ephesians 2:4–5 CSB

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!

It is not about following rules of cleaning up your life.

It is about coming to Jesus for life. because you are dead in your sin.

We are then sanctified by the Spirit.

He gives us the power to live the life God calls us to live.

Galatians 5:16 CSB

I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh.

Because of all of this this our future is sure.

So that, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.

No one can take what has been given freely to us by God.

We focus on this, so that we may be reminded about how we should live.

This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works.

The Gospel is why we live the way that we live.

There is a beautiful juxtaposition here in the Scripture. In Titus 1:12-13a we see this: Titus 1:12

Titus 1:12 CSB

One of their very own prophets said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”

This testimony is true.

But in chapter three we see the full explanation of the Gospel. Titus 3:3-7

Titus 3:3–7 CSB

For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.

This is the Gospel. Lost people saved and transformed by the power of God. We are to live and to interact as those saved by the power of God.

For This reason...

We Must Discipline Those Who Divide

Our primary focus is the Gospel. Those who try to make it about something else are distracting from what our primary focus is.

Avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, because they are unprofitable and worthless.

We are called to discipline these people.

Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning.

The ultimate goal of this is reconciliation.

A life focused on foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law is not compatible with the Christian faith.

For you know such a person has gone astray and is sinning; he is self-condemned.

What Does Your Witness Look Like?

Are you a good example of a Christian in the way that you live your life?

The people you interact with each day, the people who observe you, how would they describe you?

If you preach the Gospel to someone, does your life confirm that you believe it?

Have you trusted in Christ?