… by sound doctrine …
Summary: People tend to cling to their own perspectives. It is hard to let go. When we read something we don’t understand, we put a sticky note over the words with our own understanding written on top. This is where disagreements begin.
Paul has been telling Titus what kind of people to search out for leaders in the church. These are not people who are looking for praise or acclaim, but rather people who have a heart for the Lord and for obeying the Father as Jesus obeyed the Father. Now he is telling Titus what those people must do.
“Sound doctrine” is the key to everything. So what is doctrine exactly? Like so many words, the answer to this question depends on who you ask.
Strong’s defines it as “instruction (the function or the information).” I like this definition! It is succinct and to the point. My on-line dictionary defines it as “a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a church, political party, or other group.” So how did we get from the Greek meaning “instruction” to our contemporary English definition of a “belief?”
I don’t know, but I can guess with the best of them! My guess is that use by Christians over the years in describing the teaching of beliefs has resulted in smooshing. (Smooshing is a technical term that means two different words are smooshed together to make a word mean something new. You’re welcome. 🙂 )
The downside of all this smooshing throughout history has been a subtle change in emphasis. Instead of “hold[ing] firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught” we have wandered into the realm of something called “interpretation.”
Words have meanings. That is why we find ourselves looking at the Greek so often to try and understand the original words. But what happens when we add our personal meanings to words?
In our post, “In Paul’s Own Words” we lamented the fact that there are denominations of the Lord’s church. The primary reason for denominations has to do with another kind of smooshing.
When two people read the same words and come away with different understandings, that is normal. When those two people each claim to have the right understanding, that is pride. Pride says that my point of view is the correct one. Logic says that if I am right the other guy must be wrong. Jesus says, “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12)
Smooshing our perspective together with Scripture is something we do as individuals. We can’t help it. We are made that way. Claiming that our perspective is more right than everyone else is arrogance. You may be more “right” than the next guy, but none of us are as right as Scripture or the Author of Scripture.
Sound doctrine is what is in the Bible. If you don’t understand it, that’s okay. Admit it. Please don’t make something up and then claim to be right. Give God some credit and allow Him to speak for himself. If we all did that, if we all submitted to Scripture and admitted our understandable lack of understanding, denominations would evaporate. Suddenly we would find ourselves all sitting around the same Bible arguing about translations… No, Wait!! That’s NOT what I meant!! No, we would be sitting with our Bible sharing our perspectives and learning from each other. Encouraging each other with sound teachings from the Word.
Of course, the Lord’s church already exists. There are people in every denomination who understand that there is only one Jesus and that he is Lord over all. There are Bible churches like Bethel that focus on the Word exclusively. My prayer is that all churches return to sound doctrine and the humility of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Application: When you read your Bible, do so with an open mind and a humble heart.
Food for Thought: Divisions between people of faith are not all bad. How can division further the kingdom of God?
Divisions between people of faith are not all bad. How can division further the kingdom of God?
When I was a boy my dad was doing some remodeling to our home and I asked him if I could help. He said sure, gave me a hammer and took me to a pile of boards he had removed from the house. They all had nails in them and he showed me how to pull the nails and make them straight again., then had me do that for weeks. That’s where I started, there is a lot more to remodeling a home than what I was doing, but it was beyond my understanding. Today I know many things about home maintenance, repairsfnd remodeling, but I often find myself calling in an expert to properly repair some issue beyond me.
My wife and I both attend the same bible study, she with the women, me with the men. Each week we sit down before group meeting and discuss our response, answers to each question. It’s great! Every week she will see something I completely missed and I will see something else she missed. We are both right and by discussing what God is revealing to each of us, we grow.
God calls us to be transformed by a renewing of our minds, Romans 12:2. The word of God is like a multi-faceted jewel. We study it and as humans beings “finite beings trying to understand our Infinite God” we find ourselves focusing on one facet, the truth God is revealing for OUR personal benefit/growth. The next time we study the same passage, up pops another facet, another truth we had missed before, and on it goes. Our growth in Christ is a life time process, not a one time event.
Division is healthy only when we fully understand and accept the fact that God, His word are far beyond our capacity to fully understand, and prayerfully listen to others as we work toward the day we join Jesus.
Ron,
I appreciate the “divisions” you have shared. You begin with a division of labor and continue with division of roles and perspectives. Your conclusion that division is healthy only in submission to God is well said. Thank you!
I have always found it interesting that when Paul and Barnabas had such a great division over John Mark, they divided into two mission teams (Acts 15: 36 – 41). God took the bad and used it to increase the output of the gospel message. He later brought healing to the relationship between John Mark and Paul (2 Timothy 4: 11).
Division can further the kingdom of God because of God. He can overcome the bad and still do something good. He does it all the time. The cross is a permanent example of God’s redeeming nature.
Brother Rich,
What a beautiful point!
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
(Romans 8:28)
Yes, even in the midst of division, God is able to work his will.
Well,.. being a contractor,..I am considered a specialty division since I specialize in fences,..however general contractors have a bunch of divisions,..electrical, plumbing, HVAC, structrual engineering, concrete finish work, site work and a whole bunch of other divisions to build one building,..so yeah it takes a bunch of special divisions to make up the kingdom of God,..every division is unique in its abilities to build the kingdom just like a building,..you wouldn’t hire an electrician to do a plumbers job,..but it does take both for the building to be completed,..
As far as furthering the kingdom,..we need to continue building His church,..brick after brick, floor after floor, soul after soul, repented sin after repented sin, some of us are meant to preach, some of us are meant to share the message, some of us are meant to be an example of the message, but we are all meant to be part of the building of His kingdom,..and the only way to futher His kingdom is to work together for the same end result,..the only way to get to God is to go through Jesus and that message has never changed
Thank you, John!
I love your analogy! I especially appreciate your conclusion, that Jesus is the only way. Amen!!