In all things shewing thyself a pattern of
good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness,
gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that
cannot be condemned; that he that is of the
contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil
thing to say of you. Exhort servants to be
obedient unto their own masters, and to please
them well in all things; not answering again;
not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity;
that they may adorn this doctrine of God our
Savior in all things.
Titus 2:7-10
The change in language and a new definition or understanding of the word(s) causes a need to at times to define a word to understand clearly what the writer wrote. For instance if you ask certain Christian groups about the word "doctrine" you'll normally get the doctrine of their denomination they have come to understand that word in that manner. So I take time to address words that may have meaning for some and a different meaning for others to bring clarity to what the Bible writer actually was saying and to whom he was saying it to and in this case the people spoke Greek. The Greek word translated doctrine, a noun, speaks of the act or occupation of teaching and it can also mean information, and instruction is often translated as a matter taught, or a precept, or doctrine. so it is not a bad translation to say doctrine but we need clarity and Paul writing to Titus is telling him to hold himself to a pattern of good works and missing teaching as well as uncorrupted, etc., so the onus is upon us to ensure that whatever precept or doctrine is being taught is actually scriptural.
Over the years, from almost the inception of Christianity, men and women have gone overboard in their religiosity, or their desire to be a Christian. There were those who interpreted the words given to them, the Christian faith, in such a way that they left their jobs and their families to await the imminent return of Jesus Christ.
G.K. Chesterton wrote in this regard,
One of the most tragic things in life is when a man twists
certain Christian truths and holy Scripture into an excuse and even a reason
for doing what he wants to do, instead of taking them as guides for doing
what God wants him to do."https://www.pbc.org/files/584509099ad2b149c6f68844/3895.html
The apostle Paul confronted this misuse of faith. He wrote to us to channel a proper response to our faith in challenging us, Authentic Christian Believers to go about our business and our secular activities with more zest and enthusiasm and to do this following the precepts as talk to us in the Bible. If this is done then this would bring more honor to Jesus Christ, to our God, and give no cause that we should be named due to our following the truth of Scripture.
Paul was encouraging believers to respond as noted above, calling them to the priority of the love of Jesus Christ, I do have an eternal point of view, and holding a healthy indifference to the things of the world and to grow in our zeal for spiritual maturity that would lead us to perform the essential qualities of an Authentic Christian Faith. Paul did not see any inconsistency between the two, that is living in this world and handling are secular needs, our secular life, along with our Christian life. To do so is a characteristic of a person who holds to Authentic Christian Faith is to have a desire to please God in all our thoughts, and words, and actions; to take the revealed Word to be the rule of belief and practice; to let our light shine before men (Matthew 5:16).
No occupation is demanded of us, no pursuit is forbidden, no science or art is prohibited and no pleasure condemned as long as it is consistent with this principle. It must be noted that Authentic Christianity does not embrace an inordinate desire or fervor in the pursuit of wealth or fame, nor does it look with favor on politicians who seek office in order to attain admiration, personal power or great affluence instead of serving to see the piece, comfort and security of the common citizens. We must never forget and our leaders of our government must never forget that our nation is a sum total of his individuals and the true prosperity of the nation is the sum of the total happiness of each individual.
I am never suggesting the nation should become a theocracy even though it sounds good this can only happen at each individual was an Authentic Christian. This we know is not true for it cannot happen as many men and women do not want anything to do with God come with Jesus Christ, or Christianity. We were told that this would be the case so we should not be amazed. As Authentic Christians we know that as strangers and pilgrims in this world does not mean we do not have a responsibility to the nation and to the people of this nation or any nation that we belong to, and we have a care for each other and do so all the while holding fast to the teachings of Jesus Christ and as given to us with explanation through the apostles and the other Bible writers, not just men who wrote, even though they may write what does good, they are not the apostles inspired by God, no we read the Bible. From that everything we need to know about life and how to handle it is found in those pages. One instructions? Read the Bible!
Woe to them the devise iniquity,
and work evil upon their beds!
When the morning is light, they practice it,
because it's in the power of their hand.
Micah 2:1
God loves the faithful
Richard L. Crumb
The apostle Paul confronted this misuse of faith. He wrote to us to channel a proper response to our faith in challenging us, Authentic Christian Believers to go about our business and our secular activities with more zest and enthusiasm and to do this following the precepts as talk to us in the Bible. If this is done then this would bring more honor to Jesus Christ, to our God, and give no cause that we should be named due to our following the truth of Scripture.
Paul was encouraging believers to respond as noted above, calling them to the priority of the love of Jesus Christ, I do have an eternal point of view, and holding a healthy indifference to the things of the world and to grow in our zeal for spiritual maturity that would lead us to perform the essential qualities of an Authentic Christian Faith. Paul did not see any inconsistency between the two, that is living in this world and handling are secular needs, our secular life, along with our Christian life. To do so is a characteristic of a person who holds to Authentic Christian Faith is to have a desire to please God in all our thoughts, and words, and actions; to take the revealed Word to be the rule of belief and practice; to let our light shine before men (Matthew 5:16).
No occupation is demanded of us, no pursuit is forbidden, no science or art is prohibited and no pleasure condemned as long as it is consistent with this principle. It must be noted that Authentic Christianity does not embrace an inordinate desire or fervor in the pursuit of wealth or fame, nor does it look with favor on politicians who seek office in order to attain admiration, personal power or great affluence instead of serving to see the piece, comfort and security of the common citizens. We must never forget and our leaders of our government must never forget that our nation is a sum total of his individuals and the true prosperity of the nation is the sum of the total happiness of each individual.
I am never suggesting the nation should become a theocracy even though it sounds good this can only happen at each individual was an Authentic Christian. This we know is not true for it cannot happen as many men and women do not want anything to do with God come with Jesus Christ, or Christianity. We were told that this would be the case so we should not be amazed. As Authentic Christians we know that as strangers and pilgrims in this world does not mean we do not have a responsibility to the nation and to the people of this nation or any nation that we belong to, and we have a care for each other and do so all the while holding fast to the teachings of Jesus Christ and as given to us with explanation through the apostles and the other Bible writers, not just men who wrote, even though they may write what does good, they are not the apostles inspired by God, no we read the Bible. From that everything we need to know about life and how to handle it is found in those pages. One instructions? Read the Bible!
Woe to them the devise iniquity,
and work evil upon their beds!
When the morning is light, they practice it,
because it's in the power of their hand.
Micah 2:1
God loves the faithful
Richard L. Crumb
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