As I continue work on my Doctoral dissertation, I am continually seeing passage with new eyes. My recent post encouraged Christians to live in harmony with one another and develop a positive view of church (I don’t always do that as well as I would like). But this passage from Titus makes another strong assertion–Christians must also learn to live in harmony with those outside the Faith.
Titus 2:15-3:6
So communicate these things with the sort of exhortation or rebuke that carries full authority. Don’t let anyone look down on you. 3:1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work. 3:2 They must not slander anyone, but be peaceable, gentle, showing complete courtesy to all people. 3:3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, misled, enslaved to various passions and desires, spending our lives in evil and envy, hateful and hating one another. 3:43 But “when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, 3:5 he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, 3:6 whom he poured out on us in full measure4 through Jesus Christ our Savior. 3:7 And so,5 since we have been justified by his grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.
I must admit I feel a strong conviction about this passage. As I look across the political spectrum, I see so many Christian voices violating this teaching from the Apostle Paul. Christians on the left still find it necessary to slander former US President George Bush because they hate his policies. Christians on the right find it equally necessary to slander President Obama because they fear his policies. Granted, our political system is different than the one in Paul’s day. Our system of democracy (a Constitutional Republic) encourages debate, and disagreement with political leaders is not considered slanderous. But how often do followers of Jesus cross the line of disagreement and become slanderous? I can’t speak for others, but I hope this passage will be a stronger guide to my own political rhetoric in the troubling days ahead.
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Thanks for the thoughts Joe. It is so hard to find the line of debate vs. slander or disagreement vs. hatred when in the realm of politics.
Glad to see someone else is struggling.