January 20, 2010 - The book of Titus

Woah! Have you read the book of Titus lately? Paul's letter to Titus is located in the New Testament. It's a fairly short book, so drag out those dusty old Bibles and crack it open. Watch out for moths.

Seriously, in trying to decide which passage to use, I simply couldn't. But what came to me is that some things about Paul did not change with his conversion. He's still a judgemental old grump. According to Paul, forget three strikes...all Paul gives you is two and then your outta there.

Paul begins by saying who can and cannot be elders in the church. Someone who is blameless, married only once, whose children are believers, and not accused of debauchery and not rebellious. Well... I personally have known many a church elder that does NOT fit that description!

Next Paul talks about silencing those who are rebellious, idle talkers and deceivers. Paul was not a fan of free speech, I see.

Ah, a nugget! "To the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure." Definite truth there.

In reading through Paul letter to Titus, I am very grateful that it is not Paul who sits at the judgement seat or none of us would make the grade. While Paul definately has good advice in how we should live our lives, he certainly doesn't give us much wiggle room for simply being flawed human beings.

Even in this, however, is this passage: "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of any works of rightousness that we had done, but according to His mercy." Now, THAT, my friends, is what I'm talking about... The mercy and love of God outshines the judgement of man every time. And praise the Lord for that!