Leading a Church and Leading Myself

Paul's letter to Titus is a very serious one. Titus has a big job ahead of him, he is supposed to help a failing church get back on track! False teaching have taken hold there, and it is general chaos in the church. He tells Titus to hold to the truth that he has been taught. Check out what he says in verses 2-3:

"We rest in this hope we've been given-the hope that we will live forever without God-the hope that He proclaimed ages and ages ago (even before time began). And our God is no liar; He is not even capable of uttering lies. So we can be sure that it is in His exact right time that He release His word into the world-it is now exploding with absolute clarity and life-saving-knowledge through the preaching that God or Savior has commanded into my care."

There is only one message that is life-saving. Where it is taught today, it is still exploding with absolute clarity. That is why it is so important that I choose my teachers wisely. I have to examine the scripts myself to see if what I'm being told matches the scriptures. Otherwise I am wasting my time at best, and at worst I start repeating things that aren't true to others! 

It is a big responsibility to lead a church. It takes a certain kind of person, and Paul outlines that in the first chapter of Titus. He encourages Titus to be picky, eternity is at stake here! I think too often we take these things lightly and let people lead just because they've been with us for a long time. But this is too important to leave to chance, it is way too important to take it lightly. 

Paul ends the chapter talking about people who are pure vs people who aren't pure (or unbelievers). I think it is improtant to note that he points out that there are people who think they are believers who aren't really believers. How do you tell? In the very last verse of the chapter he writes this:

"They claim, "I know God," but their actions are a slap to His face. They are wretched, disobedient, and useless to any worthwhile cause."

I think it is time for some introspection. How do my actions line up with what I say I believe. Actions reveal belief, every single time. I can say I believe something all day long, but if my actions contradict what I say...I'm lying to myself.

Enjoy the Journey