To Encourage You

Titus 3:1-2 “Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities . . . to speak evil of no one”

There are some things in this world that seemingly everyone does.  There are some things that are so commonplace that we never give a second thought to whether they are right or wrong. We almost never ask ourselves, “Should I really be doing this?” God would have us to know that there are things like this that we may be blind to, and He points to such things in His Word. 

In Paul’s letter to Titus he gives him a summary of the things he should be preaching and teaching as a pastor.  In Titus 3 he gives him a whole list of things that he is to remind believers about. The use of the word “remind” should tell us that these are things that believers tend to forget.  One such command has to do with how we are to relate to those in government, i.e., secular “rulers and authorities.” He tells Titus that he is to remind those under his charge to speak evil of no one. This includes the very rulers and authorities that he includes first in his list of reminders.  It is important to note that the political leaders in Paul’s day weren’t Christians.  Paul was eventually executed by the infamous Nero.  Yet, Paul tells Titus to remind the believers to not speak evil of such leaders.  Paul would have us to know that we should not expect non-believers to think and act like believers. Why in the world would they?!  Paul also knew that the call God had given him was to preach the gospel to everyone. He was called to love his enemies.

Jesus set such an example as he hung on the cross. As He was tortured by the Romans and mocked by the Jews who hated Him, He prayed these words: “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).  So, what about us?  I suppose in my lifetime I’ve never seen such polarization along political lines.   As I think about this, I confess that I’ve been quick to speak evil of (which means to vilify or to speak reproachfully) the politicians I disagree with.  Of course, I typically do this as I speak to like-minded individuals, for to speak like this before those who don’t think like I do just invites conflict.  But should I be doing this? Should anyone be doing it?  As we see politicians whose views we strongly disagree with speak on television about this or that, what should our reaction be? Should we shout at the TV? Should we rant and rave? Should we post mocking memes on social media to denigrate such people?  Well, as God would remind us through the apostle Paul, we are to speak evil of no one, no matter who we are speaking about or to. 

But what should we do?  Should we ring our hands and just silently seethe? Should we despair because we see the world “going to hell in a handbasket” because of way our leaders lead? Well, to this God would remind us of another alternative, i.e., His ways, which are so much higher than ours.  He has told us through the words of the apostle Paul that “First of all . . . I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,Who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4). 

Notice that Paul’s priority was the salvation of all people. This included the people who were the leaders of his day.  We can be sure that rather than rail at the authorities, Paul constantly prayed for them that they would come to the knowledge of the Truth.  And what were the results? Listen to the personal greeting Paul gives to the church at Philippi: “Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household” (Philippians 4:21-22).  At the end of his letter to the church at Rome, Paul sends his personal greetings to Erastus, the city treasurer as well as Aristobulus, Herodion, and the family of Narcissus, who were all believed to be people from within the palace.  Then there were men such as the Roman centurion, whom Jesus commended for his great faith in Matthew 8, and the jailer in Acts 16, whom Paul led to the Lord after a miraculous earthquake had opened the prison doors while he and Silas were held there. And there’s this command from Jesus in Luke 6:27-28: “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” Obviously, this is, at a minimum, a call to prayer for those with whom we disagree. 

So how are you doing along these lines? I confess that I could be doing a lot better than I am. May God help us to pray for others as opposed to speak evil of them, for that’s God’s will for us as He reminds us in His Word.