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A Memo to Pastors

Titus 1:7-9 For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious s, not fond of sordid gain, 8 but hospitable , loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.

One aspect of pastoral ministry that has produced a fair degree of distress, sobriety and ironically motivation for me personally is the lasting effect of the ministry of some pastors. I am not referring to the faithful biblical ministry but rather of those who turn aside from the teaching in favor of their teaching and in so doing jack up people’s lives in devastating ways.

Of course this is nothing new. The Apostle Paul wrote to Titus, reminding him of the need to “set in order” matters in the church. This is to be done, according to Paul, by appointing qualified and gifted “elders in every city” (1.5). Paul goes on to describe what these guys are to look like in terms of their character and doctrine (1.7-10).

One aspect of these men who are able establish and maintain “order” in the church is an ability to be “holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.” (1.9).

There are so many helpful reminders for pastors here in these verses. I just want to briefly highlight some of them here for myself (because I forget and need to be reminded), for other pastors (because you need to be reminded), for others (so they can encourage and expect these things from their pastors).

/1/ A need to be holding fast to the Word. The pastor is to have a death grip on biblical doctrine. The participle here (translated ‘holding fast’) is in the present tense therefore we are to have a white-knuckled death grip on the truth. We have nothing to say to anyone apart from the truth. Be a man who holds fast the faithful word or get a new job. One who disregards the word is not a pastor but a shameful, unloving, and reproachable evil doer who has prostituted his ministry for sordid gain .

/2/ A need to recognize the priority of the Word. Notice the text says that we are to hold fast “THE faithful word” in accordance with “THE teaching”?! O’ how we need to be reminded of the supreme value that God puts on his book. The Scriptures are uniquely authoritative, revealing God as unrivalved in his glory, and it is the Scripture alone that works in concert with the Holy Spirit to change lives, even conforming saints into the image of Jesus. We need a fresh reminder that the word does not need to be updated, dressed up, or supplemented. Instead the exclusive word needs to be valued and clung to. O’ how many people’s lives would be preserved and protected if their pastor would spend more time in the word!

/3/ A need to scrap. Look, let’s face it, pastors are in a scrapping business. We are talking about souls and the infinite value of the glory of God. This is not a playground filled with sidewalk chalk, dandelions, lollipops and hopscotch. This is the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, who alone possess the right and privilege of saving sinners. Our King is opposed chiefly by the Devil himself and through a continual onslaught of those who hate him. Furthermore there are myriads of false religions who aim to undermine and attack “the teaching”. So as a pastor you need to be ready to scrap. Don’t run from issues but step into the ring, it is your job. Don’t expect the little old lady in the back row to put down her knitting materials and take on the heretic, that is your job pastor, to spend time in the study so that you will have something to say.

Paul writes that the pastor must “exhort in sound doctrine”. This of course presupposes that he knows doctrine. The pastor’s very heartbeat is intended to fuel a passion of continual doctrinal delight so that he might be changed himself and then work in the lives of his people. Too many pastors today have abandoned doctrine themselves in favor of discussion or drama. To abandon doctrine is to abandon your calling. So exhort pastor, exhort like you know and believe the truth and love your people.

Further Paul articulates another purpose for holding fast this word, it is to refute those who contradict. Notice that there is a right and a wrong. The right here is ‘the teaching’ and the wrong is everything that contradicts it.

There are men all over this country, and more than likely your own city, who spiritually molest their churches through the perversion of truth. These church leaders demote doctrine and promote their own agendas. The result of such pastoral perversion is a messed up life for their hearers. We also know that Christ, who actually runs the church, is pretty angry with this type of thing (he has actually been known to throw up when considering unfaithful churches—Rev. 3.16).

/4/ A need to remind yourself of the stakes. This goes with the previous point in some ways. Paul reminds Titus that his opponents are “many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.”

Families are being upset. This word is also used in John’s gospel to describe the scene when Jesus flipped over the tables in the Temple. Families are being flipped over and upset by false teaching. This was obviously happening within the church here in Titus. We learn elsewhere (Acts 20.29) that there will be savage wolves among the church that will be merciless to the flock. We understand in our day that both are true, there are churches that have a need to have men set things in order. There are also savage wolves rising up within the church. Furthermore, in our day we have the increased availability of false teaching through printed, television and internet heresy.

So what is the pastor to do?

The answer is pretty easy: Keep holding fast to the faithful word in accordance with the teaching. For if you hold fast to the teaching you will be able to exhort your flock in doctrine (equipping them) and you will be able to protect them by refuting those who contradict.

It is not a clean calling. It is filled with all kinds of tough days. But as a pastor you better make sure every day is filled with the intake of doctrine and a renewed resolve to hold fast the faithful word in accordance with the teaching, because if you don’t you are toast and so are your people.

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