Joining Titus for a study in GOOD #4

Chapter 2 of the Book of Titus is the extract of Paul’s letter devoted to Titus himself. In it, Paul lists all the ways in which Titus should be teaching and encouraging the Christian community in Crete. It comes across as super prescriptive, although I get the feeling it is a crystallisation of everything Paul himself has observed and learnt over the years. He’s categorising everyone into groups and part of me resists that: everyone is an individual and not all older men need the same teaching and not all older women are called to play the same role. The roles all seem rather gender specific for our more modern way of thinking. But as a mentor in that particular context, Paul is trying to pass on the depths of his experience to his less experienced partner in the work of spreading the good news of Jesus here on earth – in a letter.

In the New International Version of the Bible that I am using, this section is entitled ‘Doing Good for the Sake of the Gospel’. So let’s see what we can glean about what doing GOOD looks like for an early believer and how that can influence the way we live as a Christian today. Remember, doing GOOD for me does not mean being a goody-goody and doing lots of GOOD deeds for the sake of being seen as GOOD or out of some kind of duty. It’s about an attitude of heart that is seeking to align with God’s GOOD and perfect way of living as a human being. The details in this passage give us pointers as to how that can be put into practice.

You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.  Titus 2

In God’s GOOD way, older men are to be respected for their restraint, their moderation and self-control. They are looked up to because their lives are grounded in faith and love. They model endurance and can be counted on to keep on keeping on.

In God’s GOOD way, older women are to be role models to the younger women in the community, modelling a right relationship with their partners. They show their respect to their God by teaching these younger women God’s GOOD way. They are careful with their words, using them to build others up and not to hurt and destroy. They keep their drinking under control. They encourage these younger women to take their role in the family seriously, to be self-controlled, pure and kind. This is how to live a live aligned to the GOOD will of God.

In God’s GOOD way, it’s all about self-control for the young men too. Others should have nothing bad to say about how these young men live, because they are living life as God intended human beings to live. All that they say and teach should be grounded in integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech.

In God’s GOOD way, slaves should treat their masters with complete respect,  showing that they can be fully trusted. They don’t talk back, they don’t steal, they do all that they’re asked to do to the best of their ability.

Roles in our society are not what they were at the time of Paul. Slavery has been abolished for a start. And gender roles are more fluid now. Life on earth has evolved, as so it should. But the underlying values that Paul lists in this passage still stand. Paul outlines a life of self-control and moderation, respect and integrity. Not the easiest way to live, but the best for sure.

But why? Why should we try to live life God’s way?

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.

By the time Paul is writing to Titus, humans have already made a right mess of living in relationship with each other and in relationship with God – and since then, in many ways, humans have done little to turn that around and plenty to make it worse! And it is because of God’s grace that He has offered us all a new and living way. He’s given each one another chance to turn away from all that is leading us down the wrong path – our unhealthy desires and appetites – and to embrace the GOOD life that God intended humans to live when He created them. This isn’t about giving up all that is fun and living a miserable life of abstinence – it’s about entering the joy of life in all its fullness. It’s a different life of abundance to what the media would have us believe is the best life, but it is the way of life that leads to life, eternal life in the presence of God that starts right now.

God’s people will be identified by their eagerness to get it right, to do what is GOOD. The whole world is watching – your neighbour, the person you sit next to on the bus, your daughter’s boyfriend… Everyone observes each other to see how they are living their lives, what choices they are making. We can choose to shine as a light for God in a dark world. We can choose to be a GOOD example of living life as God intended. We can choose to be kind, loving and respectful towards others, so that they have no valid reason to despise us.

This is God’s GOOD life.