Titus got me thinking...
I was reading through early bits of Titus this morning, and it got me thinking about how poorly we (even/especially Christians) take correction and admonishment. Paul is adament about Titus appointing elders amd gives some very clear instructions on the sort of life an elder should be living. Paul goes on to detail for Titus how he should instruct older men, older women (who will in turn teach the younger women), younger men, and slaves. The structure of Paul's advised teaching is straight forward in it's uncompromising connection to one thing...honoring the Gospel with our very lives.
We cannot do this alone. We need instruction. We need mentors. We need admonishment. And yet we seem to get so wrapped up in our own interests and insecurities that anytime someone tries to step in and love us by speaking truth into our lives, we reject them, either through polite dismissal (passive-agressive) or by outright indignance. We should love correction, and be thankful to those who correct us by speaking truth into our lives in love. We need teachers to teach us how to live, with God being the greatest teacher of them all.
Everyone in the history of the world who has ever been saved began their journey with God by taking the same first step...conviction, the Spirit of God showing them their sin and just how much they need the sacrifice of Jesus the Christ. When people speak truth into our lives in love, they are doing just as the Spirit did in that first moment of salvation, and we should love them for it, and not reject out of our pride and insecurity and fear.
Too many of us struggle to get by, burdened not by our baggage, but rather by our unwillingness to let it go. We should not live as slaves to our past and our present pride, but as humble heirs, confident in the power of our Savior and in his faithfulness.
And it was curious at first, when Paul included the requirement for appointing an elder be that the elder's children be believers. Over the years I have seen far too many people in leadership in the church who's children are not simply struggling with their faith, but are living hedonistic, unrepentant (if hidden) lifestyles. If a mother and father do not teach their child about God, then they do not love God, and should not be trusted to speak and live in truth, much less hold leadership positions in the church.
Our children should be a part of how we are judged by others, both Christian and non-Christian alike. Unfair? So be it. The beauty of grace is that it makes life not fair. ;) (not sure who said that, but I like it).
We cannot do this alone. We need instruction. We need mentors. We need admonishment. And yet we seem to get so wrapped up in our own interests and insecurities that anytime someone tries to step in and love us by speaking truth into our lives, we reject them, either through polite dismissal (passive-agressive) or by outright indignance. We should love correction, and be thankful to those who correct us by speaking truth into our lives in love. We need teachers to teach us how to live, with God being the greatest teacher of them all.
Everyone in the history of the world who has ever been saved began their journey with God by taking the same first step...conviction, the Spirit of God showing them their sin and just how much they need the sacrifice of Jesus the Christ. When people speak truth into our lives in love, they are doing just as the Spirit did in that first moment of salvation, and we should love them for it, and not reject out of our pride and insecurity and fear.
Too many of us struggle to get by, burdened not by our baggage, but rather by our unwillingness to let it go. We should not live as slaves to our past and our present pride, but as humble heirs, confident in the power of our Savior and in his faithfulness.
And it was curious at first, when Paul included the requirement for appointing an elder be that the elder's children be believers. Over the years I have seen far too many people in leadership in the church who's children are not simply struggling with their faith, but are living hedonistic, unrepentant (if hidden) lifestyles. If a mother and father do not teach their child about God, then they do not love God, and should not be trusted to speak and live in truth, much less hold leadership positions in the church.
Our children should be a part of how we are judged by others, both Christian and non-Christian alike. Unfair? So be it. The beauty of grace is that it makes life not fair. ;) (not sure who said that, but I like it).
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