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"Order
And Orderlies" • 9.18.16 • Calvary
Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service
Intro.
- As we noted last week, Titus has been a
silent partner in the Apostle Paul's background since the end of his first
missionary journey.
- We discussed that he was a trusted friend and
co-worker, assigned to difficult tasks of all shapes and sizes and this is a
record of his latest assignment from God through Paul.
- Today, we have the opportunity to consider
the task that he had in making leadership choices for this new group of
believers. What was he to look for?
- More importantly, what matters to the heart
of God when it comes to who leads His people?
- If the church belongs to Christ and it's goal
is to worship, adore and grow in love for Christ, then it must be lead by men
who have been touched by Christ!
- What does that look like? I believe we'll get
a glimpse as we study together. Let's begin in verse 5.
Text
•
Titus 1:5.6 : "For this reason I left you in
Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint
elders in every city as I commanded you—if a man is blameless, the husband
of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or
insubordination." : "I left you in
Crete" seems to indicate that Paul had been there with Titus. The preaching
of the gospel had produced groups of believers.
-
When Paul left, Titus remained on the Island of Crete to set things in order.
The Greek word here gives us the basis for the word "orthodontic."
-
Literally, Titus was left there to straighten out, and arrange for the things
that were lacking at that time. One commentator notes that Paul doesn't mention
churches but cities.
-
The connotation may be that there were not even organized meetings taking place
yet or that there wasn't anyone taking responsibility to see that they were.
Titus must get them up and running!
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If you have ever been of the mind that God's Spirit can only work in chaos,
think again. The Biblical data seems to record quite the opposite, from the
opening pages, until the end.
-
God created the World, logically progressing from one task to another. He could
simply have spoken everything into existence in a moment of time.
-
The fact that he took a week, a period of our days, communicates his desire for
order.
-
Consider God's dealings with the people of Israel during the days of their
wilderness wandering. If there was ever a time for random, formless religion,
it was then!
-
Israel, having left the bondage of Egypt, began what would become a 40 year
period of wandering in the wilderness.
-
Soon after, God began to instruct the people through Moses, giving them the law
in Exodus and prescribing their
order in Numbers.
-
They were numbered for war and assigned duties relating to the Tabernacle that
was in their midst. Numbers 2 is a
record of how God required certain tribes to assemble themselves.
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This group was to be set up on the east and that group was to camp on the west.
When they moved through the wilderness, Judah was selected to lead them out in
an orderly fashion.
-
In chapters 4 and 5, God assigns certain Levites to
specific jobs pertaining to the Tabernacle. -
When you read through Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers, you will be struck with how fastidious God is in making
sure that there is order and that every contingency is addressed properly.
-
The same can be said for the New Testament church. Why do you think there are
so many letters written to the church in the New Testament? God cares about how
we assemble ourselves.
-
When the church in Corinth conducted their services with little regard for
order, Paul corrected their thinking by declaring to them that "God is not
the author of confusion but of peace."
-
For those interested in further study on this topic, I Corinthians 14 is an excellent treatise that I would commend to
your review.
-
Paul, writing from the office of the Head of the church, calls upon Titus to
impose order, to make things straight and proper for the Holy Spirit to then
freely work among His people.
-
Part of that is concerned with the appointment of elders. We mentioned last
week that the word in the KJV is "ordain." He's not calling for a
vote or seeking a majority rule.
-
He is to observe and recognize men that are already exhibiting a call from God
in their actions! Titus is to designate, identify leadership.
-
The body of Christ is to know who is responsible for spiritual oversight in their
church. Why is this necessary? For one, the church requires men who will guard the
fellowship from error.
-
Elders are responsible before God to make sure that the spirit of the Lord's
church is honored. They are to watch over the tone that is set spiritually.
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If you had a concern about what was being taught or what you were witnessing in
my life, it would be incumbent upon you, after talking to me, to approach our
elders.
-
Similarly, elders govern in matters of faith. What happens when a person falls
into sin? Certainly, there are times when sin is not criminal according to the
state.
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However, because the church operates under both the law of the land and the law
of love for the Lord, there is the need to discipline and correct members that
are outside the lines of the faith.
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What other authority is going to correct you by saying, "Haven't you read
this scripture?"
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This isn't something that came up with the advent of the church. When Moses'
Father-in-law came to pay him a visit, he found that he was busy judging
matters for the people all day long!
-
He told him that he wasn't doing what was good and that he needed to appoint
men that were able to judge smaller matters and reserve his time for more
difficult duty. (Exodus 18:17-24)
-
In the New Testament, I Corinthians 5
and 6 provide a great backdrop to
this concept. In chapter 5, there
was a man who had involved himself in a sexual relationship with his
step-mother.
-
It seems that the church tolerated it, but Paul judged it without having to be
there. That man was to be put out of the church, delivered to Satan for the
destruction of his flesh.
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Paul tells them that he is not called to judge those on the outside, in the
world, those that are unconverted, but there is implicit authority to judge
those on the inside. (I Corinthians 5:12)
-
In the next verses, Paul laments that brothers have taken brothers to court.
Isn't that what you are supposed to do? Not in a church! Listen to Paul's admonition.
•
I Corinthians 6:5,6 : "I say
this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even
one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law against
brother, and that before unbelievers!"
-
The implication is clear: God has set up elders within the church to help
settle matters that come up between people who have put their faith in Christ.
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Each city of Crete, there are three upon the Island today, required their own
elders.
-
Being an elder means being connected with the situations and circumstances of a
particular church. Each individual church required their own body of
leadership.
-
That reality begs the question: "What kind of man does God want in a place
of authority within His church?"
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With such a disorganized group, you might think that the requirements would be
relaxed!
-
Not so much! Paul begins with the word "blameless" referring to a
currently clean record morally. Whatever a person has been in their
pre-conversion state is irrelevant to a certain extent.
-
Today, with his commitment to Christ in tow it is essential that you not find anything
to pin on him that would stick! This doesn't mean that people won't try.
-
Accusations will be made, but Titus is to be sure that when they do, they
bounce off of him! And where was Titus to look first? His home!
-
A man's ministry must be seen first in the home that he governs. He's to be the
husband to one wife, or as we might say, he's to be a "one woman
man."
-
His eyes aren't roving and you won't catch him in compromising positions with
members of the opposite sex. He's not a womanizer. He can be trusted to treat
women properly.
-
If they are younger, as younger sisters in Christ. If they are older, as
sisters. A bit older than that, as Mothers or Aunts in the faith.
-
His general blamelessness extends beyond himself and his wife and into his
children. He's a man with faithful children.
-
Sometimes this word can refer to reliability but in this case, it would seem
that it refers to children who are sound in their understanding of the faith.
-
They are to be sound in their belief, which should issue in their proper
behavior. They are not accused of dissipation or insubordination.
-
Our word "category" comes from this word translated "accused."
"Titus, you cannot categorize his children in dissipation or
insubordination."
-
When a person considers an elder's children, these aren't the categories that
they flip to. This doesn't mean that they aren't at certain times. It does mean
that they aren't ALL THE TIME!
-
"Dissipation" is an unsaveable character, issuing in an abandonment
toward all types of evils. "Insubordination" speaks of being
uncontrollable, unable to be stopped.
-
At some point in the past, the question was asked about a Pastor or Elder whose
son was in this condition. The Pastor tendered his resignation, but the board
of Elders refused to honor it.
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The reasoning was that while his son acted this way, the Pastor made sure that
he did not act this way while in his home.
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If he were to tolerate this behavior and allow him to remain, he would be party
to this behavior. If he allowed that behavior there, how could he govern the
church?
-
An elder's children will demonstrate faithfulness to God in the home or they
will have to seek other living arrangements. That type of discipline is
difficult, but to shy away from it is worse!
•
Titus 1:7,8 : "For a bishop must be
blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given
to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is
good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled," : A Bishop, an Episkopos, like the Elder, must also maintain a
blameless character. It goes without saying that he is also to have similar
relationship to his wife and children as well.
-
There are those that believe the two offices are synonymous. That might be
true. I'd suggest however, that the Elder, the Presbyter, has less to do in the
public eye.
-
The Bishop, from what we are about to see, is a much more public figure with
greater responsibility in terms of relating to God's people and the actual
regular service schedule.
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He's first a steward, a manager, an administrator of the person and presence of
God.
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The picture here is incredibly rich. In the great houses of the East, the
owners would often busy themselves with the networking associated with their
business, traveling extensively.
-
While they were away a household manager would be appointed, to act as a proxy
for his owner, settling debts and raising children of the estate.
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Their most important daily duty however, was the distribution of food to the
house staff.
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The Bishop then, has the key to the storehouse of God's food for His people!
-
Even more telling, what the steward used to feed the staff had been apportioned
by the will of the Householder. The steward was to feed them using the
householder's resources!
•
Matthew 13:52 : "Then He said to them, 'Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who
brings out of his treasure things new and old." : That is my job: To give you what God has left you to feed upon!
It isn't mine and it doesn't come from me! It's His for your sake!
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When the Bishop deals with God's people, he cannot be self-willed or
self-pleasing.
-
Other translations use the word "arrogant," "overbearing"
or "headstrong." The congregation isn't there to serve him or his
ego.
-
The Bishop is to be thoughtful first of the Lord's will and then the assembled
congregation. He is God's servant and he is the servant of the congregation.
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To be self-willed is the first of five negative characteristics that Titus is
to search out in potential candidates. The second has to do with the Bishop's
temperment. He's not soon angry.
-
This doesn't mean that he doesn't get angry, but it's a long process to get him
there when it comes to personal offense.
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Bishops are to get angry on behalf of their congregations, when they are
wronged or victimized. That is part of being an overseer. But their anger leads
to righteous venting in prayer.
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The Bishop deals well with insults and disappointments. You won't find him
staying near to the wine cellar for long! Interesting that Paul connects anger
with alcohol.
-
Statistics indicate that three million violent crimes are committed each year.
At least half of those were committed by those who had been drinking. The
scripture speaks clearly on the subject.
•
Proverbs 20:1 : "Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise." : Now, understand that the Bible does not say that total
abstinence from alcohol is necessary to serve. Rather, this speaks to
indulgence. I say, "Why even start!?"
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Titus is to make sure that a Bishop candidate is not one who isgreedy for money
or out for sordid gain. This doesn't mean that he shouldn't expect to have his
needs met by the congregation.
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The idea is that he is not espousing the latest money making scheme that
everyone seems to be on.
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You won't find him soliciting or seeking participation in a "get rich
quick" scheme out in the parking lot after church! He's content with what
he has and not searching for what he doesn't.
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These are the practices that are not a part of his life. With the word
"but," we find those practices which are a part of his life beginning
with hospitality. Simply put, the Bishop loves strangers.
-
The NLT takes this out a bit too far here, as it relates the concept of loving
to having people in his own home.
-
That may be an expression of his hospitality, but the sense here is that there
isn't a group of people that he won't greet or make feel at home.
-
The Bishop is not an introvert only interested in solemn and solitary activity
divorced from those "pesky people!" He wants to be involved in their
life and the life of the church!
-
A Bishop loves all good things about life, but he isn't frivolous. He able to
have the same kind of fun that everyone else is having, but he's able to be
serious and sober at the appropriate time!
-
He lives the type of life that you would expect from a righteous person. He's a
man who is set apart for the Lord, and tempered in all things.
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He's not given to extremes. Nothing masters or controls him. You won't find
something more important to him than his walk with the Lord. These are marks of
his life.
-
What about his actions before the church? What marks his service to them? Verse
9.
•
Titus 1:9 : "holding fast the faithful word as
he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and
convict those who contradict."
-
To hold fast is to hold firmly, to cling to, to grasp with the full intention
of keeping what has been handed to him against all odds!
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The Bishop actively, presently stands against every kind of opposition. He is
doing this with the faithful word, the body of truth given to the church.
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He will not deviate from what he has been taught. He's immovable! Does he do so
because he is stubborn? Not at all!
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He holds a firm position so that he may be able, by sound doctrine or hygienic
clean teaching, to minister to the body of Christ!
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He has received these clean teachings and has been made whole. Now, he is
transmitting them to the believers that they may be whole!
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That is the very essence and core nature of the ministry. We exist simply to
give you what we have been given!
-
Born again Christians have found the only thing on planet earth that causes
true spiritual transformation and we want everyone to benefit from it! It
begins with exhortation.
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The idea of exhorting speaks of coming alongside of. There is a sense of
discouragment in the word itself. The Bishop's teaching will come in the form
of encouragement.
-
He will administer the word of God personally to a person who has need of being
lifted up. When the Bishop sees this what does he bring with him?
-
A word from scripture that will raise the head of the weary soul! He won't draw
out some inspirational anecdote or seek out some secular source. He'll come
with God's Word!
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At the same time, he'll work to convict those who contradict! Convict speaks of
a direct correction, which may be sharp in the moment. It's severe and cutting,
as with a surgeon's blade.
-
It cuts deep into the heart of those who actively oppose the truth of God!
- You may be
thinking, "Haven't we covered this material before?" You'd be
correct. I Timothy 3:1-7 contains
much of the same instruction with a few different phrases.
- In that
chapter, Paul assigns Timothy the work of choosing new elders in an older, more
established work. Here, he gives Titus the same instruction for a new work.
- The point is,
that in God's church, no matter the time or place, God's church requires order
for His Spirit to have freedom and men of a character which resembles the
Christ that they honor!
Conclusion
- Let's pray!
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