Straighten Out

Titus, like Timothy had been left in a city that was in bad need of godly leadership. Right from the third verse to Titus in the letter, Paul makes clear that Titus's job is to bring order where there is much chaos. A pastor's job is to straighten out the church. God is a God of order.

One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, (Titus 1:12, 13 ESV)

I just realized, Paul uses a prophet of the people's country to call out their character.  If you did the for America you'd have plenty of material.  

The early church fathers testified that this came from Epidimes of Crete.

Paul also calls this testimony true.  All truth is Gods truth no matter where it comes from.

And the response for Titus the man of God... "rebuke them sharply". The man of God must be firm and quick in his reproof of those who spread false doctrine.

Verse 11 puts it like this: "They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach."

I see a lot of this in Paul's letters. He seems to be very comfortable with pastors being firm. I'm amazed at how often we're shocked by a pastor who is firm. I think that we are deceived to believe that a pastor is a passive person. Yet nothing in Scripture indicates that that is the case.

I'm glad Gods word lays out what a Pastor should be instead of what the church-people "feel" he should be.  The man of God is entrusted with protecting Gods redeemed.  How could he mildly stand by as souls hang in the balance.

PRAYER,

Father, help me to be firm as you want to be firm. Help me to emulate the character of Christ and the pattern of Christ when it comes to fighting for the faith once and for all delivered to the saints.