“A New Year, and a New Start”

Scripture: Titus 2:1-15

Well, Christmas is over, and a new year is just a few hours away. Some see this season as an opportunity to let bygones be bygones, and to welcome in a whole new approach to life – they call these “resolutions”. (Covenants are better than resolutions, though!) But desiring a change in your life, however that may be accomplished, is almost always the right decision! 2017 has been an interesting year for us all – new opportunities to embrace, but also memories of painful situations and struggles that we would just as soon leave behind. The good has been good, but that is what was – what about the “to come”?

The truth is, we are more comfortable with what is, regardless of what “it” may be, than is the unknown that awaits us. But tomorrow holds excitement; it holds out a handful of possibilities. So why not embrace it and look forward to what it may bring? Carefully, of course! We need to have a vision of tomorrow, and how to enter it in a right way, to know what to leave behind in yesterday, and what to claim as the new way for tomorrow.

Read Titus 2:1-5

Titus was one of those new people who would be instrumental in spreading the word of Jesus Christ throughout the world. And was he ever “new” – he was a Greek gentile who had learned of Christ’s great promise from Paul, and now he had been sent to Crete to share what he knew about Jesus with other new “possibilities” in Christ. (Galatians 2:1-3, Titus 1:5) His charge was to teach “sound doctrine” to this new congregation of the Church. Notice that it wasn’t to be his idea of what the church should be about, and it wasn’t to be his thoughts on what Christian doctrine should entail – it was to be based in the truths that Christ taught, and not those that the world advocates for.

This entire book outlines the truths that he is to be introducing to the people of Crete. Interestingly, Paul begins this chapter of instructions to Titus with what he is to teach to the “older men”, or elders of the community. These would be the living examples that others would follow, and who would, one day, become leaders of the Church. The changes that Christian ideals would work in their lives would easily spread to the rest of the community. Consider some of the things that they were to learn – temperance, or a sober life; that they should be worthy of respect, and not simply respectful of others; they should exhibit self-control in both their words and actions; they must be rigorous in faith, love and endurance. These last three work so well together – they call us to live in Christ’s way and not in ours, to be loving and not condemning, and to never give up on the first two!

The older women are second, because they will have the greatest influence with the younger women. This concept of older people being good examples for the younger has been lost in our society. Respect and honor has somehow been transferred to the younger generation, and our elders tend to be conveniently relegated to nursing homes and elder communities. The young of this day are, typically, reluctant to be influenced by old ideas, until, that is, they come to the realization that their ways don’t always work as well as they initially thought they would.

So what are the young women to learn from the older ones? Seemingly, their list of items are very similar to the men’s! To live in reverence, or faith; to avoid gossip and lies about others, or, more specifically, to be respectful of others; to be temperate – to avoid all sorts of excesses; to teach goodness, self-control, and to be industrious in all they do. They are to be respectful within their families, and a uniting influence for them all.

But even more than this, the attributes that each of these influential people are to adopt are very similar to those that the Jewish priests were called to exhibit. Paul seems to be advocating for both men and women to be leaders and influencers within the Christian church! And why not? They had influence within their families as well as society in general, so their involvement as leaders in the church was a natural extension of the life they were already living – they would just be doing it in a new way and for a new purpose.

Read Titus 2:6-10

But the teaching wasn’t to be restricted to only the elders – Titus was called to also teach younger men, as well as the slaves, which was a radical departure from the norm! The young had always learned from the elder members of their family, and slaves simply did what they were told to do. There was nothing that an outsider should, or could, teach them.

And yet, this was a new day and a new way for them all. Gentiles not only being welcomed into the faith, but actually becoming leaders and teachers for the Church; men and women being called to similar responsibilities; even slaves were being taught Christian principles and were expected to live them out just as their masters were.

The Church wasn’t just a new faith expression – it was becoming a new way of life. It was setting the old, worldly and human ways aside, and it would call the world to live Jesus’ words in John 3:17 – that he came, not to condemn, but to save. And even God’s law that had been given to Israel a millennia before, wasn’t to be torn down – the ways of Jesus were the fulfilling, the perfecting of the law (Matthew 5:17-20). He came to make all things new (Revelation 21:5). It wasn’t that the Church was throwing everything out and bringing in different ways and beliefs – it was reestablishing the truth of God that had always been.

Read Titus 4:11-15

And Paul concludes this chapter with the purpose behind the teachings that Titus is to offer to the people of Crete. And these items, while a major part of what is to be taught, do not come from living the righteous life, but rather are the reason for living in righteousness. It is a concise summary of what the gospel message is all about. 1) Christ has come to bring us the salvation that only God can convey. 2) Our response to Christ’s salvation must be our rejection of ungodly ways and the perverse ways of earth. 3) We learn to live the ways that Titus is to teach – to live with self-control, in righteous and Godly ways, in the here and now. 4) This life is our gift to God for the redeeming grace that we receive from Calvary, and 5) it all comes together in the hope that we have been given for the Christ’s return and the eternal life that faith in him will bring.

And Paul’s final word to Titus is that he is to teach and encourage the people in Christ’s ways, and to rebuke the ways and false teachings that would justify the conduct of earth. And not only is he given the charge to serve the Lord in this way, but he is granted the authority of God to do so!

This is the newness of Christ at work in our lives. No longer is salvation for Israel alone, but is offered for the entire world by faith in Jesus Christ. God’s favor no longer resides in adherence to the law, but in acceptance of the grace that is inherent to all who believe. The love of God in Christ no longer is reserved for those who live in perfection (which no one can actually do any way!). It is now bestowed on those who live faithfully. And finally, authority to share the gospel message does not come by position or rank or heritage or human decision – it comes to all who the Lord chooses to receive it. And who does God choose for this blessing? It rests upon all who will witness faithfully to what the Lord has given them.

Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” And yet, the lives we live, and the testimony that we share, is the very evidence that world seeks. Oh, it’s true, that the world can still accept or reject anything that they deem unfit, but the Church must continue to be the proof of Christ for each and every one.

The new year, and the possibilities that it brings, is nearly upon us, and the opportunities and the authority that Christ conveys, are within our call. The authority to proclaim the truth of Christ is ours. A vision of salvation is ours to share with the world, and not just with each other. And above it all is our responsibility to be the Church for the world, in this place and in this time.

It is a new year, and with it comes a new start for each of us. Whatever we have done, or haven’t done, in the past is inconsequential – the only issue for us today is how we intend to live from here on. 2018 is a year that is filled with hope and promise, if only we will accept it.

Happy New Year, and may it bring a sense of newness to your life.