Wednesday, October 26, 2022

Always the Way of The Way

Scripture: The reason I left you in Crete was to set right what was left undone and, as I directed you, to appoint elders in every town. Titus 1:5

Observation: Immediately after his greeting, Paul reminds Titus that he is in Crete to do two things. One is to appoint 'elders' who will lead congregations of believers in every town, and Paul goes on to describe the characteristics of a good elder. However, the first task for Titus was to "set right what was left undone." This task is not immediately clarified, and it seems clear that these two tasks are separate and distinct (the appointment of elders was not the task left undone).

This body of work for Titus has two characteristics. First, it was undone by Paul. Second, it needed to be 'set right'. This itself seems telling, as together these indicate something Paul was doing but was going a little sideways when Paul had to leave. Paul is not really known for 'doing' outside of evangelism. In Acts, his works are described as preaching the good news, receiving many into the faith, then teaching and guiding them in the ways of faith for a period of time while they themselves grow into a community.

With that definition of Paul's work, and the subsequent discussion about elders and the general challenges with people of Crete, it would seem Titus' work is to ... teach faithful behavior. Words he uses to describe the people - even those who already believe - are rebellious, lairs, lazy, evil, gluttonous, defiled, detestable, disobedient, and unfit. Those are harsh words! He further states these people believe old Jewish myths, and use such beliefs for financial gain.

Because they are defiled, they believe everything is defiled - said another way, because they are scheming and lying, they believe everyone is lying and everything is a scheme - and therefore building a community of faith and love and support isn't happening. It is ... undone. This leaves Titus with a daunting task. He is not the evangelist who needs to tell others about Jesus, but the one who must now overhaul cultural characteristics to allow a community of faith to exist and thus for the kingdom of God to flourish.

Application: I know the church I go to now is strong in evangelism. I know there is another nearby church that is great at sound Sunday teaching. Two weeks ago, I attended a church where the pastor expounded on their mission as warriors explicitly commissioned to address local cultural sins and to change the underlying behaviors of an entire region.

This is the universal Church, communities with common love and faith, but varying missions and directions from the Holy Spirit. It is one of the great mysteries of God, that he could bring his kingdom to earth through one singular message of love and faith, then have that manifest in seemingly infinite paths.

I see today this was always the way of 'the way'. Many of the churches Paul started became outposts of evangelism, but had different core missions. Some had a charge to restore the abused broken. Some were so strong they produced leaders that left them to lead other churches. Some used a foundational understanding of the God of Abraham to teach about the Messiah. Some taught of freedom from earthly sins found in belief in the one Creator. In Crete, the task is to correct a culture of deception and distrust.

All of these have one ends, which is to tell others of Jesus Christ, of the free gift of forgiveness and salvation, and to prepare them to receive that gift through faith.

Prayer: Lord, your ways are in fact a mystery, even when understood. There are many things about you that are binary for sure, but how everyone learns about and receives your love is always unique and individualized, because you truly are a loving father who knows us all. May your love, and your kingdom, be found today here on earth. Amen.

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