The insubordinate

For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.  – Titus 1.10-11

I chose to skip over the qualifications of pastors and deacons because Paul wrote to Timothy about them. But as we pick up here we see why those roles are established. We know that those positions were designed partly to equip all of us for our ministries and now he warns us about the opposition. We have elders and deacons to lead because not everyone out there is a ‘good guy’

There are going to be opponents to the word of God. Paul uses all kinds of names for them, but here he calls them 'insubordinate.' The old King James called them ‘unruly.’ These are folks who just refuse to be under any kind of authority. They are ‘idle talkers’ and deceivers. They undermine homes and families and churches. They are so dangerous that they need to be stopped. They are false teachers and they teach purely for their own gain.

It is wonderful to be inclusive and at peace and unified. The Bible stresses those things all the time. But at the same time we need to be aware that sometimes we have to deal with error. These insubordinates ‘must be stopped’ before they destroy lives and families and local churches. False teachings must be dealt with.

That is hard to do. Most of us don’t like to confront people. But we must be willing to stand for the truth. We must compare what with hear with what the word of God says. Love. Be compassionate. Don’t argue over the silly stuff. Seek peace.

But at that same time stand for truth.