TWO GENERATIONS AGO, health was defined simply as the absence of disease. In recent decades however, health care researchers have learned that giving attention to diet, exercise, and lifestyle, help maintain the balanced function of the body. Balanced function, they have discovered, can prevent many diseases from occurring. Much about the cause of disease is still not understood, but it is known that our bodies must function in balance. When they do not, disease is the result. Balance is not only important for physical health. The Bible teaches that balance is important for spiritual health as well.

In his letter to Titus, as in his two letters to Timothy, the Apostle Paul repeatedly expresses his concern that Christian leaders, churches, and individual believers have a "healthy [or sound] faith" (see Titus 1:9&13 and 2:1,2&8; also see 1 Timothy 4:6 and 6:3). Our words hygiene, hygienic, and hygienist come from the Greek word Paul used in his original letters to Titus and Timothy. In choosing this word, Paul indicated God's concern that we be preoccupied with developing and maintaining spiritual health as the means for preventing and fighting off spiritual disease.

There are some similarities in the three letters (called the Pastoral Epistles), and there are differences. The first letter to Timothy is more of an "in-house" letter to an established Christian who was working in a well-established church of Christians, some of whom had strong Jewish backgrounds and lots of religious knowledge. 1 Timothy delineates key elements of healthy faith for believers within the context of the church. 2 Timothy has a longer term perspective. In it Paul is concerned with the qualities required for reproducing healthy faith in future generations of Christians.

Paul's letter to Titus, a non-Jew, was written to give him direction for his work among a newly established church in Crete that was apparently comprised largely of non-Jews. The concern of the apostle in this letter is more evangelistic. He encourages Titus to nurture new believers in a faith that is healthy enough, not only to distinguish them from their culture, but which draws others to Christ from that culture. The New Testament letter to Titus stresses three necessary qualities of a healthy faith that influences the world.

1. LEADERSHIP: The Defining Standard Leadership has been a hot topic on booksellers' lists in recent years. Most discussions of leadership-even discussions of Christian leadership-center around the tasks and the dynamics of leadership. They emphasize such issues as the need for developing vision, establishing goals, building teamwork, etc. Leadership is also a significant topic of the Pastoral Epistles (1&2 Timothy and Titus). But here, issues of leadership dynamics are secondary. The emphasis is rather, on the character of leaders. By their character, leaders set the standards to which group insiders aspire and by which outsiders evaluate the group. The influence leaders have on those they lead was captured in Jesus' words, "everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher." (Luke 6:40). It is for that reason, as James says, that those who presume to be spiritual leaders are "judged more strictly" (James 3:1). Titus was to make this understood to the believers of Crete through his selection and training of church leaders there. In a pagan culture, the influence of the Gospel message would be determined by the character standards church's leaders embodied. Identifying quality leaders and censuring destructive ones is necessary, if the Christian faith being nurtured in local churches is to be healthy enough to impact believers and impress unbelievers who are caught up in a morally cynical and slothful society.

a. v.6-8 Leaders are to be blameless in their relationships the general parameters of "blameless" v.6-8 (see 1 Timothy 3) 1) marriage relationship 2) family relationships 3) church relationships the necessity of being blameless v.7a (see 1 Timothy 3:15) b. v.9-16 Leaders are to have strong convictions about the Christian faith because convictions encourage believers in the faith v. 9 because convictions establish protective boundaries around the faith v.9b they facilitate discernment of the"opponents" v.10-12 they provide incentive for dealing with opponents v.13-16 2. SELF CONTROL: The Fitting Instruction Dress for Success was a popular book in the 1980s. It made many people aware of how appropriate colors and styles of clothing could enhance their appearance and make an impression on others. In the moral chaos of Crete, as in our day, the Apostle Paul wanted Christians to be conscious that putting on the "clothing" of quality lives would enhance the truth of the Gospel in the eyes of non-Christians. But believers needed to realize that this issue involved more than merely putting a good face on their faith merely to impress others. Pretense is obvious, and nothing but a turn off to most people. Pure motives for dressing the Good News with quality living must come from deep within us or we'll be no different than the spiritually hollow hypocrites who Jesus consistently rebuked. Self control is one of the outward expressions of healthy faith, which believers are encouraged to develop. Therefore, understanding the "why" for developing it, as well as the "how," is essential. a. v.1&15 The mandate to teach self control (see v.2,5,7,12, also 1:8; also see Acts 24:25 and Galatians 5:22-23 b. v.2-6, 9-10 Explanation: What is "self control"? word meaning: strength of mind, judgment: prudence aspects of self control 1) endurance: long term faithfulness in relationships v.2 2) attitude, choice of words, physical appetites v.3 3) attentiveness to family responsibilities and relationships v.4-5 4) positive attitudes and trustworthiness in the workplace v.9-10 c. v.2-10 The methods: How to teach self control gender specific-both genders v.2-6 age appropriate-intergenerational 2-6 informally-within the context of relationships v.4 by example-modelling by role models v.7-8 (also see 1 Timothy 4:12) vocationally applied-inclusive v.9-10 d. v.11-14 The rationale: Why teach self control? because self control is rooted in the grace of God v.11-14 1) the grace of God teaches us self control --it teaches us how to live self-controlled lives "in this present age" to reject what is not godly v.11,12a to embrace what is godly v.12b --its vision of the future gives us an incentive for self control v.13 we wait for a "blessed hope" we anticipate the"glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ" (see 1 John 3:1-3 future orientation shapes present behavior)     2) the grace of God empowers us for self control --the completeness of Christ's redemption (He gave himself) --the purpose of Christ's redemption to free us from slavery to sin to purify us for himself to purify us to be a people for his very own (see Ephesians 5:25-26) to purify us to be a people who are eager to do what is good   because Self Control is a key to Christian witness 1) self control gives credibility to the word of God v.5b 2) self control inhibits those who oppose us v.8b 3) self control makes the Christian message attractive v.10b       3. DOING GOOD: The Supporting Evidence What do you normally turn to in order to find the latest news, the National Enquirer or your local newspaper, television, or radio station? Our willingness to even bother listening to the news we hear, let alone giving it credibility, is significantly determined in our minds by the dependability of the source through which it is communicated. If this is true for the daily news, why would it be any different in gaining a hearing for the Good News. Jesus described our good works as shining spiritual light that would influence others to glorify God. (Matthew 5:13-16). The Apostle Peter (1 Pete 2:12,15), and the Apostle Paul restated his teaching. a. v.1, 8b-11, 14 The mandate to emphasize doing good remind people v.1 (see 2:3b,7,14) stress these things v.8b warn divisive people v.9-11 insist that people learn to devote themselves v.14 b. v.1b-2 Explanation: What is "doing good"? be subject to rulers and authorities be obedient be ready to do whatever is good --to slander no one --to be peaceable and considerate --to show true humility toward all men c. v.3-8, 14 The rationale: Why do good? because doing good is evidence that God has changed us v.3-8 1) we failed to do much good-before we were saved v.3 2) we did no good-in order to be saved v.4-7 --we were saved by the kindness and love of God in Christ v.4 --we were not saved because of righteous things we did v.5a --we were saved solely because of God's mercy toward us through Jesus through the washing of rebirth v.5b-7 through renewal by the Holy Spirit through justification by God's grace   3) we are to be devoted to good-because we have been saved v.8a (also see Ephesians 2:8-10)   because doing good is good v8b, 14 1) it is excellent 2) it is profitable for everyone 3) it enables us to provide for daily necessities 4) it enables us to live productive lives

Outline based on Sunday messages presented in the Fall of 1998.

Recommended Sources

William Barclay, The Letters of Timothy, Titus & Philemon, Westminster Press, 1975
Stuart Briscoe, Living As God's Very Own People, Harold Shaw Publishers, 1994
John Stott, Guard the Truth: The Message of 1 Timothy & Titus, InterVarsity Press, 1996

Thanks!

To Paige Hackney and Gail Sweeting for giving their skills to assist my efforts to communicate the truths of the Bible to the Evangel family and our community, and to the members of the Evangel church family many of whom live the teaching of Titus more effectively than I will ever preach it.

--Steve Wilson