A GOOD CHRISTIAN IN A BAD WORLD |
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It has often been said that a Christian is someone who is in the world but not of this world. Christians are citizens of another country. The Bible says in Philippians 3:20, “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.” The word “conversation” is based on the Greek word for “city” and refers to one’s citizenship. Paul was declaring that those who are saved are citizens of heaven.
The Bible speaks of Abraham as a pilgrim who “looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and make is God” (Heb 11:10) The writer of Hebrews spoke of the saints as those who “desire a better country, that is, an heavenly” (Heb 11:16). Praise God, there is a better country awaiting those that are saved.
However, Christians still live in the world. As we continue our study of Titus we see that Paul moves from the behavior of Christians in the Church to the behavior of Christians in the world. In verses 1-3 he talks about being a good Christian in a bad world.
In verse 1 he instructs Titus to, “Put them in mind.” There are certain things he wants him to call to their attention and cause them to remember. He wants them to be mindful of who they are, and what they are to be as Christians in the world. Christians are on their way to a better world, but while they are in this world, they are to be mindful of certain things.
Let’s look at verses 1-3 and consider the following. First, let me briefly say a word about:
1. BEING MINDFUL OF OUR COMMISSION
Paul’s instructions in the opening of chapter 3 are anchored in the great responsibility of Christians influencing the world in which they live. Paul instructs Titus to remind Christians that as they live in the world they have been have been commissioned to:
A) Show Christ to the World
There is a two-fold purpose in living a proper Christian life. First, there is the matter of pleasing God. The glory of God is always the objective of whatever we do, and living as the Bible commands is motivated by the desire to glorify God. Furthermore, there is the matter of showing the world of what Christ can do in a person’s life. In verse two the word “shewing” reminds us that there is something to be seen in the life of those who claim to be Christians.
It has been well said that the only Bible some will ever read is our life. Does your life present a distorted version of the Bible or one that is a true reflection and interpretation?
I think of a story from Marie Chapian’s book Of Whom the World was not Worthy. She told of the sufferings of the true church in Yugoslavia where so much wrong had been perpetrated by the politicized ecclesiastical hierarchy. That which had gone on in the name of Christ for the enriching and empowering of corrupt church officials had been a terrible affront to decency and a blight on the name of Christianity.
She told about an evangelist by the name of Jakov who arrived in a certain village. He talked with an elderly man named Cimmerman on the tragedies he had experienced and talked to him of the love of Christ. Cimmerman abruptly interrupted Jakov and told him that he wished to have nothing to do with Christianity. He reminded Jakov of the dreadful history of the church in his town, a history replete with plundering, exploiting, and even killing innocent people. “My own nephew was killed by them,” he said and angrily rebuffed any effort on Jakov’s part to talk about Christ. “They wear those elaborate coats and caps and crosses,” he said, “signifying a heavenly commission, but their evil designs and lives I cannot ignore.”
Jakov, looking for an occasion to get Cimmerman to change his line of thinking, said, “Cimmerman, can I ask you a question? Suppose I were to steal your coat, put it on, and break into a bank. Suppose further that the police sighted me running in the distance but could not catch up with me. One clue, however, put them onto your track; they recognized your coat. What would you say to them if they came to your house and accused you of breaking into the bank?”
“I would deny it,” said Cimmerman.
“‘Ah, but we saw your coat,’ they would say,” retorted Jakov. This analogy quite annoyed Cimmerman, who ordered Jakov to leave his home.
Jakov continued to return to the village periodically just to befriend Cimmerman, encourage him, and share the love of Christ, with him. Finally one day Cimmerman asked, “How does one become a Christian?” and Jakov taught him the simple steps of repentance for sin and of trust in the work of Jesus Christ and gently pointed him to the Shepherd of his soul. Cimmerman bent his knee on the soil with his head bowed and surrendered his life to Christ. As he rose to his feet, wiping his tears, he embraced Jakov and said, “Thank you for being in my life.” And then he pointed to the heavens and whispered, “You wear His coat very well.”
Do you wear His coat very well? Christians are in the world and have been left in the world by God to show Christ to the world. It is by the life we live that we show Christ to the world. That is why in Titus chapter 3 Paul instructs Titus to make Christians mindful of how they are to live as Christians in the world.
Furthermore, we are not only to show Christ to the world, but we are also commissioned to:
B) Share Christ with the World
Our commission involves both our walk and talk. There is what we are to show and there is what we are to say. In what we know as the Great Commission, as Jesus departed back to heaven, He said: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Jesus was speaking of how Christians are to share their faith, tell others, talk to others about being saved.
An unknown author has written what he called The Paradox of Our Times:
There are taller buildings... but shorter
tempers;
Christians live in a world where people need to hear and know that Jesus died for them. Evangelism is heaven’s mandate. It is our commission. Christians are not of this world but none-the-less live in this world. Our commission is to take as many people to heaven with us as possible. Our ability to fulfill this commission depends on our showing and sharing Christ to and with the world.
Understanding what is behind Paul’s words; let’s look closer at his instructions on:
2. BEING MINDFUL OF OUR CONDUCT
We read in verses 1-2, “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, [2] To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.” Paul is speaking about how we behave in the world and to those in the world that do not know the Lord Jesus.
As we consider his instructions we see that one of the things that are to characterize a Christian in the world is:
A) Submissiveness
We are “to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates.” The words “principalities and powers” refers to those in authority over us. It speaks of those in secular government and laws that are over us. The word “principalities” means “the first” or the “leader.” It speaks of one who is in a position of authority. It would describe for us governmental leaders. The word “powers” refers to the system by which we are ruled and would be descriptive of the laws of our government. “Magistrates” speaks of rulers or people placed in authority to enforce the laws of a system. We would think of policemen, judges, etc.
In Romans 13, Paul likewise speaks of the Christian’s responsibility to be subject and obedient to those in authority over us. We read in verses 1-3, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same.”
In Romans Paul gives specific reasons why Christians should be “subject unto the higher powers.” First, human government and the governing authorities have been established by God. They have been “ordained of God.” Secondly, to resist such authority and authorities is to resist “the ordinance of God.” Thirdly, those who do resist will reap condemnation or shall “receive to themselves damnation.” Fourthly, government is designed to restrain evil rather than create fear for those who do good for “rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil.” Government is designed to promote the “good” of its citizens and society.
I once came across an interesting list of states laws:
· In Lexington, Ky., there is an ordinance forbidding anyone to carry an ice-cream cone in his pocket. · In Waterloo, Nebraska, barbers are forbidden to eat onions between seven a.m. and seven p.m. · In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts it is against the law to eat peanuts in church or to use tomatoes in making clam chowder. · In Zion, Ill., it is illegal for anyone to give lighted cigars to dogs, cats and other domesticated animals kept as pets. · In Carmel, N.Y., a man can’t go outside while wearing a jacket and pants that do not match. · In Gary, Ind., persons are prohibited from attending a movie house or other theater and from riding a public streetcar within four hours of eating garlic. · In Baltimore, it is illegal to take a lion to the movies. · In Nicholas County, W. Va., no member of the clergy is allowed to tell jokes or humorous stories from the pulpit during a church service. · In New Jersey a person can be arrested for slurping soup in a public restaurant. · In Oklahoma you cannot take a bite of another person’s hamburger. · A Lynn, Mass., ordinance states babies may not be given coffee to drink. · In Winona Lake, Ind., it is illegal to eat ice cream at a counter on Sunday. · In Corvallis, Oreg., young ladies are not allowed to drink coffee after six o’clock in the evening. · In Richmond, Va., it is illegal to match coins in public restaurants to see who pays for the coffee.
Obedience to these laws would mean that a good Christian who lives in Lexington, Ky., will not carry an ice cream cone in his pocket and if you live in Okalahoma you will not be going around taking bites out of other people’s hamburgers. In all seriousness, as a Christian, we are to be subordinate and obedient to the laws of the land and to those who have the responsibility of enforcing those laws.
The only exception would be if a law violates a command of God. God’s commands are the ultimate authority and His commands are never to be violated, even if it is the law of the land in which one may live.
Secondly, there is a matter of:
B) Readiness
In verse 1 Paul speaks of being “ready to every good work.” Paul is speaking of a readiness to perform good deeds for others and be involved in the improvement of our communities and the people of our communities. Christians should not be reluctant to help others, but instead looking for opportunities to help others and do things that benefit others.
Paul said in Galatians 6:10, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” There is to be special attention given to our brothers and sisters in Christ, but our care should not be limited to just fellow Christians. Paul encouraged us to “do good unto all men.”
James Draper in his commentary on Titus writes: “Christians ought to be involved in the political and social processes at work around them. We should work for the improvement of our community. We should encourage good things to happen and be interested in raising the level of life for those in need.”
Being “ready” implies there should not be a hesitancy or reluctance to help others. But instead, a willingness, eagerness and readiness to help others and to do all we can to help those around us.
Thirdly, Christians are to be characterized by:
C) Kindness
We read in verse 2, “To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle.” The word translated “speak evil” gives us our English word “blasphemy.” It speaks of maligning someone, to slander, curse, and treat with contempt. As Christians, you can find yourselves the object of such treatment. However, as a Christian it is not to be our behavior toward others.
The word “brawlers” has the idea of being contentious. When it comes to the lost we are to be friendly and peaceful, rather than quarrelsome and belligerent. Instead, Christians are to be “gentle.” The word carries the idea of being moderate and fair in ones treatment of others. As Christians, we live in a world that is anything but kind to Christians. But as Christians, we are to respond in kindness to the world. No matter how we are treated, we are not to treat others with contempt or in a belligerent way, but with kindness.
Alexander Maclaren said, “Kindness makes a person attractive. If you would win the world, melt it, do not hammer it.”
Lastly, a Christian is to be characterized by:
D) Thoughtfulness
Verse 2 ends with the instruction of “shewing all meekness unto all men.” The idea of is showing consideration to others. It is closely connected to the matter of being “gentle” but goes further by showing consideration and being thoughtful of others.
Once again I remind you that Paul is thinking of how a Christian behaves in the world. He is thinking about the Christian having the kind of testimony that aids in evangelism. How we treat others does make a difference in our ability to reach them for Christ. The greatest hindrance to the gospel is those who claim to be Christian but live as anything but a Christian. There are a lot of people in hell because of people who are going to heaven.
Lastly, in Paul’s words we see the matter of:
3. BEING MINDFUL OF OUR CONVERSION
Paul says in verse 3, “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.” Paul often reminded the believer of what they used to be. It is good for a Christian to reflect on what they were and how they lived before they were saved. It keeps us grateful for the saving work that has taken place in our life. It will keep one rejoicing in their salvation.
In Paul’s words we see: A) A Reminder of our Past Life in the World
He reminds us of what we were. We were “foolish.” The word speaks of a “lack of intelligence” or being “unwise.” The simplest way to explain what Paul said is that we were stupid in the way we lived and things we did. I have often looked back at things I did in my past and thought, “How stupid I was.” The sinful lives we lived were “foolish.”
We were also “disobedient.” We walked contrary to the laws of God. We had no desire to be obedient. Being blinded and “deceived” by sin and Satan, we lived “serving divers lusts and pleasures.” The word “divers” means “various” or “manifold.” Our sins, as the song says, were many and our virtues were few.
We lived in “malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.” The word “malice” is descriptive of our “depravity.” That depravity was manifested in how selfish we often treated others, being envious, hateful, and hearts full of hate.
Paul doesn’t paint a nice picture of what we used to be. The simple truth is, there is nothing pretty about the kind of person we used to be before God saved us. Some were worse than others, but all were sinners.
Paul also gives us:
B) A Reminder of our Past Likeness to the World
Every word Paul uses is descriptive of the world in which we live. We must never forget that we were just like the world. We acted like the world and behaved like the world. We were the world! But, praise the Lord, something happened in our life. We were changed by His saving grace!
As a Christian, never get over being saved! Always be mindful of what God has done for you. I would encourage you to think often of the day God saved you. Be mindful that God has done a wonderful work in your life, saving you and changing you by His grace.
It will help you to be a good Christian in a bad world. |