Titus 1 reminds me of stereotypes. These are negative attributes that are common to all people, selectively applied, in order to dehumanize an individual. This very short book was written by the apostle Paul, to one of the first Gentile converts to Christianity. Titus was a test case. Could one become a Christian without first becoming a Jew? Titus faced bigotry, slander, and false claims from the establishment, yet he did not faulter. Titus was an experienced leader, assigned to care for the weak and corrupt church in Crete. Paul introduces himself as “a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ”. Remember, Paul first visited the Jewish Temple in every city. He always presented the gospel to the Jews; and then only after he was rejected, to the Gentiles. Paul presented “the hope of eternal life” through faith, trusting that Christ met the righteous requirements of the Law. Therefore, he addressed the letter to “Titus, my true son in our common faith”. He begins, “The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished”. His first job, “appoint elders in every town”. The following standards have been used to select church Elders ever since.
Paul begins his list of qualifications, “An elder must be blameless”. This word means, having a level of integrity such that accusations don’t stick. It implies a known history of business and personal ethics. Next Paul includes the family. A church leader should be “faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe”, and are not “wild and disobedient”. Marriage is a symbol of the unbreakable relationship Christ has with His church. Lack of fidelity wounds both parents and children. He continues with temperament, “not overbearing, not quick-tempered”. Arrogant leaders tend to receive very little honest feedback. They discourage debate to stifle deliberation. The list continues, “not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain”. This describes a pattern of behavior. If any one of them are occurring, the person should be disqualified from church leadership. Paul notes Elders should “be hospitable”. They should enjoy being around people; they ought to be both welcomed as well as welcoming. The list concludes with a series of descriptions related to righteousness. Together these words describe a stable trustworthiness; “self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined”. Paul adds, they also need to understand God’s Word in a personal way, so they can “encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it”. The church should be a place of learning, healing and hope. The Elders should represent those qualities.
Next Paul describes the church in Crete. “There are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception”. He singles out “the circumcision group” as most destructive. They taught that circumcision was required to access atonement. Paul notes, “they are disrupting whole households… for the sake of dishonest gain”. The corrupt often charge for the special access only they can offer. God’s grace is a gift that cannot be earned or purchased. Next Paul quotes a local philosopher’s description of these people, “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons”. Paul has a simple solution for Titus; “rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith”. Paul understands that everyone can change. None are beyond hope, and none are too rebellious to be saved. “To the pure, all things are pure”. What happens to those who embrace the ugly labels? Some will use that as an excuse for foolishness. By rejecting wise teaching; “both their minds and consciences are corrupted”. They will claim to know God, but “by their actions they deny Him. Titus must recognize some will not repent. They will remain “detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good”. You are a test case. Friend, is it time to put in order what was left unfinished?