For there are many
insubordinate,
both idle talkers and
deceivers,
especially those of
the circumcision,
whose mouths must be
stopped,
who subvert whole
households,
teaching things which
they ought not,
for the sake of
dishonest gain.
Titus 1:10–11
It is a
sign of weakness to hold onto a theory, or a presupposition, or some ideology,
even a theology that has not been examined and verified. It is a sign of
weakness to just accept what is being propound as factual or truthful and not
investigated whether or not it is acceptable according to sound doctrine. This
then, sound doctrine, must be taught soundly, according to what is the
foundation of that doctrine for if the foundation is not sound, or being thrust
upon a person who is weak and feeble according to their knowledge of the Bible
they are following deceivers, those idle talkers who subvert even whole
households teaching them things they ought not: why? Dishonest gain! Gain is
not to be singularly money, it may be power, a desire for some sort of celebrity,
to be in front of people feeling this power but are nothing more than idle
talkers. Am I talking about non–Christians, at least those who profess to be a
Christian who talk about the same God as other Christian Churches teach? No, I
am speaking about those who say they are teaching Christian Doctrine and sound
so truthful even pointing to Scriptures, those proof Scriptures, that are not
in context, such was the case for the Judaizers who were demanding that it was
necessary to follow traditions; i.e., sacrifices, men’s commandments as set
forth by the Pharisees, etc., but this is still in the Church today in other
forms; i.e., must wear hair a certain way, must wear a head–piece, must be
re–baptized, must, must, must, must, when often the one teaching such things
are only idle talkers and deceivers for much of what is demanded has no
foundation in Scripture, they teach what they ought not. These men are not true
witness of God: “They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being
abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work” (Titus 1:16). We
have what the early Christians did not have; a complete Bible, those inspired
writings in a complete book, and not just a few letters that were circulated
among the congregations. Some who copied the early writings did the abominable
thing, they interposed their own presuppositions, or redacted what they could
not believe, they were as what the Cretans were called: One of them, a
prophet of their own, said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy
gluttons” (Titus 1:12). To Cretinize was to lie as this was the colloquial
use of the word. We have liars in the Church and many households have been
given false teaching leading them to be so liberal in their lives, doing things
which the Bible clearly denies and commands the children of God not to be
involved in such things, this is to set aside the true testimony of scripture
and we are: “This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that
they may be sound in faith, not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments
of men who turn from the truth” (Titus 1:13–14). The goal is not to just
condemn those false teachers, it is to show them the truth of Scripture and
turn back to that which is pure: “To the pure all things are pure, but to those
who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and
conscience are defiled” (Titus 1:15).
We are to approach these idle talkers, those insubordinate men who are
not just insubordinate to man, but to God and: “But as for you, speak the
things which are proper for sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1). This sums up the
desire and the purpose of this blog, to teach, not what I believe from my
presuppositions, rather to obtain my presuppositions from Scripture and verify
my presuppositions by Scripture. To teach the truth, to study, not only those I
agree with but those who I may not agree with to come to an understanding of
what is being taught and whether or not it is pure and then to teach the purity
of God’s word.
Some will
not do this, they will not examine what they believe in fear that they may find
out that what they believe is not of Scripture even though it has the ring of
truth, it is not. They read other books that are by supposed Christians, and
many of those books are good as an aid, but to not examine the author, and the
words written with Scripture is to become insubordinate for God has instructed
us to study, to show ourselves approved by God, and then to pragmatically apply
the truth in our lives. Many will object, even family members, friends, and
others, for you may no longer do the things you used to do, to no longer go to
events that are far often satanic, in the least, or most, they promote
promiscuity, a looseness towards life. It may mean a change in the type of
clothes you wear, and it may mean that you spend more time with your brothers
and sisters in Christ. All of which may cause you persecutions. So what! Are
you living for this life or for the life to come? Are you living for God who
elected you to salvation by dying on the cross as the Son of God, God’s very
own Wisdom clothed in flesh paying yours and my debt we cannot pay? Paul
certainly gives us sound advice: “Likewise, exhort the young men to be
sober–minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in
doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that
cannot be condemned, that the one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having
nothing evil to say of you” (Titus 2:6–8).
Can we do
this perfectly? We could if were not for one thing: original sin, our fallen
nature that leads us into bad thoughts, and at times wicked actions, maybe not
such as adultery, or drunkenness, but how we speak and act towards those who
speak evil of us. But we have something that gives us the aid we need if we
will draw upon that aid, the Holy Spirit, God’s inspired word. Make use of the
Holy Spirits aid, draw upon Him, and do this with the reading of Scripture, and
in communication with God in prayer. Then, you will be a martyr for Christ, a
witness. This is why we are here on earth after believing upon Jesus Christ: to
be His arms and legs, His mouth, to be His witness and spread the Gospel in all
the world.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
And the
Lord Jesus Christ.
I thank my God, making mention of you
Always in
my prayers, hearing
Of your love and faith which you have
Toward the
Lord Jesus and
Toward all the saints, that they sharing
Of your
faith may become effective
By the acknowledgment of every good thing
Which is in
you in Christ Jesus.
Philemon
3–6
Today subject yourself to God: Be blessed
Richard L. Crumb
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