“Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake” (Titus 1:11).
TEXT —Titus 1:11-16
Message
Crete, one of the largest islands in ancient Greece, was engulfed in unhealthy mythological beliefs despite the presence of the church founded by Apostle Paul, by the grace of God. The citizens accepted doctrines that promoted polytheist cultures against the Christian teaching that there was only one God. Moral decline followed. The Cretans became “abominable, and disobedient, unto every good work reprobate.” Finally, Crete became proverbial for immorality in that age. Its glory was drifting.
A spiritually fortified personality mentored by Paul was needed to take up the challenge of pastoring the Cretan congregation and restoring Kingdom sanctity and sanity. Titus, a diligent Greek follower of Jesus, fitted this description. The uncompromising apostle could count on him to deliver. He was Paul’s “own son” in the Lord. He had given a good account of himself as a faithful servant in the mission works he had undertaken for the Church as required by Paul. He possessed the bishopric qualities: born again, blameless, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, apt to teach, holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
Dealing with critical concerns in the house of God, as witnessed in the Cretan assembly, must not suffer delay or sentimentality. Nor should the situation be handled with kid gloves. It should attract the attention of all: the shepherd, his co-ministers, the workers, and the Christian congregation, and in line with God’s desire that we seek the lost and bring them back to the fold.
All hands should be on deck to also clean up false teachings and practices that have infiltrated the Church of God. What we are seeing is not different from the apostasy Paul instructed Titus to address. It would take consecrated, committed, and courageous Christians to preach the undiluted doctrines of Christ, warn the erring ones of the judgment that awaits them if they do not abandon their unscriptural way of life. Lukewarm and indifferent believers should be alerted that they will be similarly judged if they do not return to their first love.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
