Church Leadership In Crisis!

An Examination of Leadership from the Book of Titus

Paul, in his letter to Titus, gives insight on the role of leaders in the church and how to deal with those who oppose the faith. There are many heresies or false teachings outside and within the Church. Paul gives biblical counsel on how to deal with these types of issues.

"7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. 10 For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain. 12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." 13 This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth." (Titus 1:7-14 NASB)

Titus was a young Pastor residing in Crete. Paul counseled Titus in the ways of leadership in body of Christ, and how to deal with those who contradict the faith.  The Greek word for overseer is the word Episkopos which means: "a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, elder, one who over sees the Christian Church." (Strongs Dictionary)

The list of requirements for an overseer is detailed and long. Paul stresses that an overseer is to hold fast the faithful word. This is the word, which has been given in accordance with what God has given us through revelation to His people, namely the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament. Paul encouraged Titus and the other Cretans to hold fast the word in which they were taught and to teach others. Our church leaders need to rise up and take responsibility for the education of the body of Christ and teach them how to share their faith in order to refute those who contradict the Gospel of Christ. Our church leaders need to rise up and take responsibility for the education of the body of Christ and teach them how to share their faith in order to refute those who contradict the Gospel of Christ. Today, divisions in the Church are caused by false teachers outside and within the Church and we, as Christians, need to be equipped in order to stand up for the truth.

Paul addressed the need of confronting and silencing those who are teaching things that are not truth and causing divisions. The only way the Christian Church can do this is by knowing true Christian doctrine. The Christian Church needs to also learn about other religions and their beliefs so that they can both evangelize and expose them. Within the last 100-200 years, the Christian Church has had so many false prophets and teachers who have caused divisions and confusion among the body of Christ. Today the number of cults and false prophets is staggering. It is now, more than ever, that Christians need to be grounded in the Word of God and in their faith so that they may be equipped to defend the Gospel. The rise of the cults and false prophets will not go away until the times of the end come with the Lord Jesus coming again. However until then our duty as Christians is to proclaim the word in truth and if possibly lead those in opposition to the faith.

"6 Likewise exhort the young men to be sober-minded, 7 in all things showing yourself [to be] a pattern of good works; in doctrine [showing] integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, 8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you." (Titus 2:6-8 NKJV)

Paul also instructed Titus to exhort the young men to make every effort to do good works and show integrity in doctrine. Paul deals with many things within the Church such as leadership, older men in the faith, older women teaching younger women and the role of young men. In verses 6-8 Paul again deals with how we as Christians are to do good works and showing integrity with what we believe in doctrine. We as Christians are to be people of faith and live a life that reflects what our faith is so that others will see our good works and glorify the Father. (Matthew 5:16) With our integrity we live with godly principles, honesty, maturity in our faith. We are to be honest and mature with our doctrine so that we will be able to put to shame those opponents of the faith. We are to make sure that they do not speak evil of us, even if they do not agree with us. In our day it is difficult for Christians to not be spoken of as being evil whether in life, doctrine, or history. However we are to do our best to live a life that truly reflects our Lord Jesus Christ, and are to be people who reach out in love and rebuke with the proper attitude.

"8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. 9 But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and striving's about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. 10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned." (Titus 3:8-11 NKJV)

In the first chapter Paul instructed the leaders to teach sound doctrine and refute those who contradict and those who cause divisions. In the second chapter, Paul continued to exhort the older men to be of sound faith and young men to be sound in speech and doctrine. In the third chapter, Paul continued with the same type of issues. Again, Paul addressed the issue of those who cause divisions and contradict the faith. We are to maintain good works and do those things that are of profit for the body of Christ. We are to avoid those who bring up foolish disputes and contentions, which are useless. What are foolish disputes? What are contentions that are useless? Bible scholar W.E. Vines states the following observation: "controversial and frivolous questions and discussions on intricate and trifling points are impractical and futile. They do nothing to arouse the conscience or enlighten the mind, or build up on the faith, or direct the will; all they do is to waste the time and mar Christian testimony." (Vines Commentary on Titus) These are the type of people who truly do not care what you have to say and are opposed to what the truth of the Scripture truly teaches. Many of them just want to argue and not discuss anything that would be worth anything. They would sooner talk about you being wrong, or about themselves being right, without taking the time to examine both sides of the coin. These types of people do not want to have an open mind and thus are those who cause divisions either on purpose or by being blindly deceived.  "He usually has one note on his violin and plays it to death. Soon he gathers around himself a coterie of people with a negative outlook, and the rest he drives away. He will divide an assembly rather than abandon his doctrinal hobbyhorse. No church should put up with such nonsense. If after one or two warnings, he refuses to desist, he should be expelled from the fellowship of the local church and the Christians should refrain from having social contact with him." (Believers Bible Commentary Titus 3:10-11)

How do we know who is a "divider"? How do we effectively witness to those who are opposed to Christianity? We must be honest, show that we truly care and want to have a serious discussion with them. Many people do what is called the "Bible ping pong game", which means they go back and forth sprouting out verse after verse to prove a point and yet accomplish nothing. Those who want real answers are willing to consider things from both sides of the coin. There will be those who may not agree with you, but are willing to listen and examine what you have to say. They may disagree, but the effort is not in vain. Many who belong to a cult do not really know the history of the group that they are involved with and when they are confronted they are shocked and stunned at what they are hearing. Therefore it is important to realize they can only handle so much at one time. It is good to plant seeds over time and establish relationships with these people. It is important to discuss things in portions and not try to cover everything at once. However with those who are contentious and are divisive we are to exhort them with love, and with truth, and if they do not show that they truly want to discuss these things then you reject them and let them go. Paul in Titus 3:10-11 talks about those who are divisive or heretics, those who are an answer to themselves. In other words they have it all together and no matter what you say they will not change. We reject them not in the sense of calling them names, or insulting them, but in that we let them go and we pray for them.

Paul wrote this: "24 The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will." (2 Timothy 2:24-26 NASB) Our goal in sharing the faith is to lead them to Jesus Christ and to the knowledge of the truth that they may escape the snare of the devil. If they are not willing to listen, we leave them alone and pray for them. Those who are willing to listen or reason without contention are more receptive to the word of truth. There are many who have come from within the Church who have went off teaching things that are contrary to the Word and caused divisions. We are to rebuke these individuals. If they do not listen to the word and are rebellious we are to reject them, and at the same time warn others about them so that they may not be deceived by their errors.

Paul wrote with an attitude of concern for the Church in Crete, and wanted to help them in their Christian lives in order that they could be an example to others and live by the truth of the Word. Paul knew there were those who were teaching false things and wanted Christians to be aware of them, and to be prepared to silence them.

As Paul said, "10 For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain", this speaks to us today as it did then for the body of Christ worldwide. The Christian Church needs to become better equipped so that these false doctrines will not invade the lives of the brethren. We need to stand up to the heresies and lies that are dividing the Church today so that the body of Christ may be united.

May the Lord open our eyes to the reality of the deception around us and within our Christian Churches and to be able to refute them in truth.

"17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." (2 Peter 3:17-18 NASB)