Paraphrase: (2/1/03)
2:1 You must take care that your words and your teaching reflect the sound doctrine of Truth.
Key Verse: (2/1/03)
2:1 - Speak only what agrees with sound doctrine.
New Thoughts (2/2/03)
But as for you, speak out, do not remain silent. You who know the truth, who are rooted in real understanding, fed by the Spirit of God, speak out! So many who are only capable of spreading their own foolishness speak out readily enough, and the foolish readily follow them. Don't leave this situation unchecked, don't remain silent in the presence of their lies, speak out. But, in speaking out, comport yourself well, speak so as to stand out as one eminent in understanding, speak out with the authority of Him who sends you. Constrain your words, don't dilute the truth of your message with your own clever asides. Speak only what is assured to be free from all error, only that which accords with the teaching you were taught, with the authoritative doctrine of Christ.
There's so much to learn from this! Would you be eminent among men? Speak out the Truth! Speak out only the Truth! Would you be earnest in serving your Lord? Speak out the Truth! Speak out only the Truth! While the phrasing of this verse doesn't really accent the idea of not being silent, yet the meaning is there, and the idea has been brought out previously. But as for you, speak. What was the description of the position Titus was tasked with filling? The candidate must be able both to speak positively from a base of sound doctrine, and to refute those who disagree with that doctrine. He must have the understanding and willingness to not only know the Truth, but to apply it vigorously both in positive and negative ways. If error is creeping into the Church on cat's paws, it is our duty to see the encroaching danger and speak out.
Yet, wise limits are placed upon our speech. Speak only that which befits one of sound doctrine, only what agrees with the doctrines of Truth. Don't embellish. Don't try to improve it with your own wisdom, with ideas gleaned from worldly thinkers. Don't try to simply drown out the opposition with empty chatter and idle rhetoric. Speak Truth. Jesus tells us that we will give account for every idle word we speak when the day of judgment comes (Mt 12:36). Ho much more true will this be for those who have been laboring in His service? If we are guilty of not heeding our Master's instruction, will we be immune to His anger? Speak only what is true, what is right in the sight of God. Check your words before they spill from your lips. Don't let your tongue become a weapon for destroying those around you. Rather, let it be a tool of healing and restoration.
There's another facet to this. If all who speak with the authority of the church speak only what accords with true and sound doctrine, then there will be unity in the leadership. There will be order in the front office. Only in this way can there be any expectation that those being led will come to order. If the leadership is disorderly, their disorder cannot help but spread to those around them. If they are uncertain of their own direction, those who were following will quickly be scattered. In the presence of such 'leadership,' the church will rapidly cease to be. None will long follow a leader who can't even put on a reasonable semblance of certainty of direction.
This is not true solely at the helm of the church, but remains equally true for every ministry within the church. The ministry will dissolve, having been totally ineffectual, if the leadership is either indecisive or caught up in endless arguments as to what should be done. In our church, it seems every ministry has developed to a place where there are multiple people operating in a leadership capacity. I don't know to what degree this has been planning on the church's behalf, and to what degree it has been a more organic, spiritual development. However it has unfolded, it has brought with it a requirement that those who lead understand this concept that the leadership must be united if there is any expectation of having anybody to lead. The church itself is under a trio of pastors, and they must (and do) model this unity of vision and purpose to the rest of the church. For those of us working in leadership under this model, sometimes we have been slow in learning this lesson. But God has a way of making the issue clear to us.
Unity is so critical to the church's survival and growth. There is only one way to achieve that unity, and that is to allow ourselves to be led by His truth, to allow Him to set our agendas and determine our course. Where He is leading, and His leading is being heeded, unity cannot help but follow. Where the people truly hear His voice, and will truly listen to no other, all will be joined on the path He takes us down.
Lord, You know the things that have been happening in the area of worship. You know the challenges that we have faced, and have struggled in our foolishness to solve by our own power. I thank You, Lord, that You have moved upon our hearts and minds to follow Your plan rather than our own. I thank You that You have moved to establish a unity of direction in this area. I pray that You empower us to hold to the path You lay before us, that You will inhabit our praises, empower our worship, employ our talents in Your service. I pray that You draw this ministry to new heights as we join in unified pursuit of Your ways.
