Teach The Good Stuff - It's Called Sound Doctrine

I was reading Titus chapter 2 this evening and looking at it from a big picture perspective. Often when coming to this chapter we reflect on what Paul is telling Titus to teach to the various groups; older men and women, and younger men and women. But look at how the chapter begins and ends.

The first verse in this chapter says "But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:" Paul is telling Titus (and us) that what we speak and teach must find its basis in sound doctrine, something that is surely missing in the church today. He then goes on and gives us examples of teaching that is based on sound doctrine when he tells us what to teach to the various groups of men and women. Take a minute to read Titus 2.

Isn't it interesting how little of this is taught in the typical church today? The churches see their primary task as evangelizing, not edifying and building up the saints. Churches worry about whether they are "seeker friendly" or whether they are using the best marketing methodologies to bring new people into the church. Yet as we read this passage, the teaching to each group is supposed to edify and build up the families present such that the church of God is a vibrant and radiant example of what God calls his people to be like. Evangelism is part of dominion taking and is expected of each and every family in the church. The church is to build the families up that they might be more effective in the process. How many churches are focused on building men, young men in particular, up to be leaders, leaders in their families and eventually leaders within the church and community? If they would train up leaders, dominion takers, then both families and the church would be strengthened. We would begin to accomplish that which God put us here for, rather than just biding our time.

This passage in Titus 2 ends with Paul saying "These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee." See it? All this teaching, according to sound doctrine, the teaching about how to live godly lives, our leaders must speak, exhort and rebuke with all authority. This teaching isn't to be a "good idea" or a "suggestion." No, it is to be taught with all authority ... thus saith the Lord! We are to teach it and to model it.

The last sentence of that passage is intriguing. "Let no man despise thee." What does that mean? It could be rephrased "Let no man exalt his own thinking above yours." In other words, if you teach and live carefully according to sound doctrine, then even though others despise your teaching, they can never quite exalt their own thinking above what you teach because your words are God's words. As long as you teach "thus saith the Lord," teaching his sound doctrine, others' attempts to dismiss your teaching will fail in their hearts and they will have to be ashamed of themselves.

We are to teach and live according to sound doctrine, that, as Paul said here, "the word of God be not blasphemed." God's word gives us all that we need for life and godliness. Let's choose this day to faithfully teach it to our families and to live it, that we might be that light, that city on the hill that others will look to and see our Lord. Remember, you might be the only Jesus some will ever see. Live according to sound doctrine glorifying God in all you do.