The Timeliness of Titus
Paul's Message to Titus, Today.
I am not jealous.
Really, I'm not.
Okay, I may be a little jealous. Here is why.
Last month, a group of about 30 people from our church went on a pilgrimage to Greece and Turkey—and I was not one of them. The pilgrimage was called "The Footsteps of Paul." The group got to go to places significant in the Apostle Paul's life and ministry, like Corinth, Athens, Ephesus, and even Troas. How cool would it have been to see those places?
One of the places they stopped at was an island known as Crete. There, they visited the Church of Saint Titus. Believe it or not, I am a big fan of Titus (the historical person and the New Testament letter named after him). However, if we are being honest, the letter of Titus is often overlooked today. When was the last time you heard a sermon series on Titus?
However, Titus's message is crucial for us today, and I would like to discuss just why that is.
The Context of Titus
In Titus 1:5, we discover that Paul intentionally left his "loyal child" in the faith, Titus, behind so that Titus could "appoint elders in every town" in Crete. This sounds like a challenging job!
Even more, the culture of Crete was very different from the culture of God's Kingdom. There was even a saying about the people who lived in Crete, quoted by Paul in 1:12: "Cretans are always liars, vicious brutes, lazy gluttons." That, my friends, was Titus's context for ministry.
It is not a stretch to say that Titus was ministering in a pre-Christian culture. Following Jesus was not the norm, nor was it what most Cretans were doing. With that being said, I cannot help but think of today and how we are mainly ministering in a post-Christian culture, or what Aaron Renn has called "a negative world."1
Thus, I believe we can learn more about living faithfully in a post-Christian culture today by looking to Titus (and the other early followers of Jesus), who lived faithfully in a pre-Christian culture.
Moreover, when I read Titus's letter, something becomes undeniably clear: The earliest followers of Jesus emphasized both orthodoxy and orthopraxy. I am convinced that this is absolutely necessary for the Church today.
Orthodoxy and Orthopraxy
Let us briefly review what these two words mean and how we got them. Put simply, orthodoxy means "right belief," and orthopraxy means "right practice." Here is the etymology.
"Orthos" in Greek means "straight" or "correct." (That is why a person who puts braces on you and straightens your teeth is called an orthodontist.)
"Doxa" in Greek, while often translated as "glory," can also mean "opinion" or "view."
"Praxis" in Greek means "doing" or "acting."
Thus, when a person is said to have orthodox beliefs, it means their beliefs are correct and "not crooked." Orthopraxy is similar: a person who has orthopraxy is not living crookedly but embodying good behavior.
Now, let us get back to Titus.
Orthodoxy in Titus
Throughout Paul's letter, we see him emphasize orthodox, sound teaching and doctrine. Here are just a few examples:
"[A bishop] must have a firm grasp of the word that is trustworthy in accordance with the teaching, so that he may be able both to preach with sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it."2
"But as for you, teach what is consistent with sound doctrine."3
"Likewise, tell the older women to be reverent in behavior, not to be slanderers or slaves to drink; they are to teach what is good."4
"In your teaching, show integrity, gravity, and sound speech that cannot be censured; then any opponent will be put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us."5
Preaching, teaching, and holding to sound doctrine were important. In Crete at the time, there were circulating deceptions6, myths7, and, my personal favorite, "stupid controversies.”8 All of this does not sound too different from today, does it?
In a world filled with unorthodoxy, Paul admonishes the Cretan Christians to hold fast to orthodoxy. May the Church do the same today.
Orthopraxy in Titus
Before you pat yourself on the back for affirming fundamental, historic Christian doctrines and exit this article, I want to say this: According to Paul's letter to Titus, orthodoxy alone is not enough for faithful Christian living. Just believing the correct doctrines is not enough. Orthodoxy must be accompanied by orthopraxy.
Let us take a close look at the following verses:
"[Jesus Christ] gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds."9
"I desire that you insist on these things, so that those who have come to believe in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works…"10
"And let people learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet urgent needs, so that they may not be unproductive."11
I could have quoted many more verses from Titus, but you get the picture. May we not be like those who "profess to know God, but… deny him by their actions.”12
I recently read an excellent book by Preston Sprinkle. In it, he unpacks historic Christian teachings on marriage. However, he spends the first chapter simply talking about lovingly and gracefully engaging in conversations with people who disagree with you.13
This line stood out to me: "Sometimes how we believe is just as important as what we believe." I want to be the kind of Christ-follower who holds fast to the truth while at the same time overflowing with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
A Good Reminder
You might be thinking, "Wait. I didn't learn anything new here. All John said is to hold fast to orthodox beliefs and live a life of good deeds."
You're absolutely correct. I didn't drop any new "truth bombs" or grand revelations here. I just wanted to remind us of what Paul said to Titus nearly 2,000 years ago. What we believe is important, and how we live is also important.
Orthodoxy and orthopraxy. In an increasingly post-Christian culture, perhaps in some ways mirroring 1st century Crete, this is the way forward.
Life in the Negative World, 2024, Aaron Renn
Titus 1.9
Titus 2.1
Titus 2.3
Titus 2.7b-8
Titus 1.10-11
Titus 1.14
Titus 3.9-11
Titus 2.14
Titus 3.8
Titus 3.14
Titus 1.16
Does the Bible Support Same-Sex Marriage: 21 Conversations from a Historically Christian View, 2023, Preston Sprinkle