A sensible middle schooler can likely grasp the teaching, found throughout the New Testament, that although as Christians we may be disregarded as naive or bizarre, we are not to live in such a way as to be dismissed because we are bad, intolerant, rebellious, or disrespectful. Christians are to be exemplars of obedience—even in a non-Christian society!
This was the case in Crete when Titus was pastoring there. In the first century, the church found itself placed under a religiously pagan and institutionally corrupt government, not a blissful Christian state or a nation founded on Christian principles. It was a government far worse, arguably, than anything that America has ever known. Nevertheless, Paul says that in such a context, Titus was to “remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people” (Titus 3:1–2).
As we read these verses today, they represent a call to rediscover the nature of our Christian citizenship—that is, not our citizenship in heaven (though that is certainly important and worth considering) but how our Christian identity should shape our participation as citizens in our worldly societies. What should Christian citizens look like? Paul gives us six marks.
First, as citizens in the world, Christians should uphold the rule of law by being obviously subject to the authorities nd internally characterized by hearts of obedience—“submissive to rulers and authorities” and “obedient.” Christians of all people should recognize the chaos that ensues when law is disregarded. Of course, Peter and John insisted that it was more important to obey God than to obey men (Acts 5:29). That is a valid and necessary exception. But in the history of the church, there has been a proclivity to call down the exception clause to excuse all kinds of conduct and ignore the call of Scripture to live exceptionally lawful lives.
Second, Christians should be marked by an eagerness to render whatever good service they can—“ready to do whatever is good.” It is out of an awareness of this truth that some of the greatest social and educational advances have come in the history of the Western world. Believers who understood this sought the benefit of all humanity, often at great cost to themselves. As God looks upon our culture, He expects us to be salt and light in our society, shining forth His own goodness (Matt. 5:13–16).
Christians should uphold the rule of law by being obviously subject to the authorities.
Third, Christians should not take part in insulting and abusive language toward others—“to speak evil of no one.” Slander is a sin whereby we seek to exalt ourselves by defaming others and, in doing so, destroy relationships. It is not what we are called to, even—perhaps even especially—when speaking of those whom we perceive as our ideological or political opponents.
Fourth, Christians are not to be fighters; they are “to avoid quarreling.” The Greek word Paul uses here is amachos, which means “absence of fighting” or “without fighting.” Christians, in other words, are to resist the temptation to take the law into their own hands and mete out punishment.
Fifth, the Christian in society is to display consideration—“to be gentle.” Not only is belligerence to be absent, but in its stead there is to be a spirit of sweet reasonableness toward the fallen. We should be prepared to yield personal advantage in order to express help and consideration for others.
And sixth, the Christian citizen is to display a humility that is marked by meekness—“to show perfect courtesy toward all people.” The word praotēs (“meekness” in the KJV) refers to patient trust in the midst of difficult circumstances. As citizens in the world, Christians will doubtlessly be on the receiving end of wrongs—but they are to be prepared to patiently bear those wrongs while acting quickly to alleviate the wrongs done to others. They should not be immediately defensive of themselves, even as they are quick to go to the defense of others.
We should be prepared to yield personal advantage in order to express help and consideration for others.
Of course, to be such a citizen is a high calling—higher, indeed, than we can naturally achieve on our own. As Paul finally reminds Titus, “We ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another” (v. 3). It is only the grace of God that rescues us from remaining in such a sorry state.
In our relationships with our countrymen, then, we must resist the temptation to look down our theological noses to become pharisaical and condemn those who fail to meet a standard that we ourselves didn’t meet. God, we must remember, was and is gracious to us—and so we may show grace to honor the Lord, seeking to reflect His character as we embrace the joys and duties of citizenship in a lost and wandering world.
This article was adapted from the sermon “Living in Society” by Alistair Begg.
Truth For Life Blog