1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.  [Tit 3:1-2 ESV]  We can think of these verses as Paul's recommended sermon outline to Titus, a young preacher on the island of Crete.  It is interesting that it starts with "remind them".  So the list that follows is not a list of new, unexpected, or "advanced" guidelines for Christian behavior they needed to start working on.  They already knew they ought to do these things, they just weren't doing them.  These things all seem pretty easy to do.  Really, all it says is obey the law, don't badmouth people in public or in private, and be quick to help out those in need.   Those don't sound hard at all.   So where is the problem?  Those last three words in verse 2 are the problem!  Toward all people.  It says we are to do this universally.  The reason we don't do these things that are easy to do is that we "insert" our own judgment into the process.  I obey this law or that law ONLY if I agree that it applies to me and I'm not in a hurry.  I don't badmouth everybody, I ONLY badmouth the "bad people" who deserve to be badmouthed.  And I am always ready to help the needy...but ONLY if they have a proper attitude and deserve my help.  Paul understood that this judging we do is the real problem so he tells us in the next verse why that attitude won't fly:    3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. [Tit 3:3 ESV].  Isn't verse 3 the very list of judgments we apply to others when we deciding whether or not to do verses 1 and 2?  The same list that described each and every one of us before God offered us the priceless gift of salvation?  If He did not withhold salvation from us, do we have any business withholding good things from others?
FB 1/2/23 Monday

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