Roles And Responsibilities In The Church
(Part II)
Titus 2:1-8
In the increasingly politically correct society in which we live, there is a push to remove any distinction between the sexes. But there are many differences that cannot be ignored. Consider a few of them:
There are differences when it comes to nicknames: If Laura, Kate and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Kate and Sarah. If Mike, Dave and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla and Four-eyes.
There are differences when it comes to money. A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs. A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn’t need but it’s on sale.
There are differences when it comes to items kept in the Bathroom. A man has six items in his bathroom: toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel. The average number of items in the typical woman’s bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify more than 20 of these items.
There are differences in arguments. A woman has the last word in any argument. Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.
There are differences when it comes to dressing up. A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the trash, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail. A man will dress up for church, weddings and funerals.
There are differences when it comes to sleeping at night. Men wake up as good-looking as when they went to bed. Women somehow deteriorate during the night.
There is a difference when it comes to the children. A woman knows all about her children.
She knows about dentist appointments and, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams. A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.(Source - http://www.pedagonet.com/blog/)
Yes...there are some differences between the men and the women and this is because God created us this way. As you survey the New Testament you will find that there are differences in the duties of men and women in the church. Some people don't like this fact, but it is true nonetheless. God, in His infinite wisdom set in order certain roles and responsibilities for different groups of people.
Last week we began examining this passage of scripture in Titus chapter 2. As Paul continues to instruct Titus as to how to "set things in order" on the island of Crete he addresses 4 specific groups of people in the church. He lays out their specific roles and responsibilities. He describes certain attributes that should mark the lives of the older and younger men and the older and younger ladies in the church.
Concerning the older men, they are to be teachers, they are to be sober, reverent and self-controlled they are also expected to be sound in the faith, loving and patient.
There are also some clear expectations of the older Christian ladies in the church. They are expected to be reverent, truthful, sober and they are to teach. These ladies have a God given responsibility to teach the younger ladies.
We will see in these verses that they are to train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands.
Let's pick up where we left of and examine "Roles And Responsibilities In The Church (Part II)
Verses 4 and 5 describe in great detail....
I. The Role And Responsibilities Of The Younger Women - v4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
Apparently there were some women in Paul's day who had neglected or outright rejected their responsibilities to their homes and families. This is a problem that is present here in the 21st century as well. Let me be the first to say that God made men and women equal. But God did not make men and women the same. Some think that somehow biblical teaching diminishes the role of the female. God's Word never diminishes the role of the woman but it does define it! When it comes to men and women, (older and younger)... you will never find a more fulfilled person that the one who follows God's plan for mankind.
If you remember in the previous verses Paul says that the older women are to teach the younger women "good things". Here in verse 4 and 5 he explains what those "good things" are.
- First of all the young Christian lady is to:
A. Be Sober - "teach the young women to be sober"
If you will notice all 4 groups (younger men, older men, younger women and older women) are all instructed to be "sober". "Sober" means to be "vigilant and alert". This speaks of being wise and careful when making decisions. The "sober" Christian focuses on what really matters... the things of God! Those who are "sober" are also alert and watching for those attacks that come from our Adversary.
- Along with being sober, the younger Christian lady is to
B. Love your husband - "to love their husbands"
This is the only time in the entire Bible where the woman is "admonished" to "love her husband". The men receive very detailed instructions about loving their wives in Ephesians 5:25-33
" Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it"
"men ought to love their wives as their own bodies"
"He that loveth his wife loveth himself"
"let every one of you (men) in particular love his wife even as himself"
Also Colossians 3:19 (says) "Husbands, love your wives". Perhaps Paul realized that the men need to be reminded a little more than the women. Regardless, here the women are told to "love their husbands". Ladies, your relationship to the Lord should be your first priority, and a close second should be your love for your husband.
- The younger women are also instructed to:
C. Love your children - "to love their children"
Most women are born with a natural maternal instinct. For the most part mothers loving and protecting their children just comes natural. But the responsibility of a mother is not limited to nurturing and caring for their children physically. When a mother truly loves her children she will seek to teach those children to have a godly character. And ultimately she will seek to point those children to saving faith in Christ.
- As Paul moves deeper in this instruction to the Christian lady, he also says that she should:
D. Be self-controlled - v5 "To be discreet"
This speaks of one who has good judgment. The best way for the younger Christian lady to learn this trait is to witness it in the lives of the older, more mature Christian women.
- Moving on she is also instructed to:
E. Be pure - v5b "chaste"
This refers to a moral life that is above reproach. She is faithful to her husband. She reflects a godly character and her husband is blessed to be able to trust her completely.
- These younger Christian ladies are expected to:
F. Be a homemaker - v5c "keepers at home"
Keepers at home literally means to be a home worker. It is common in our day for many women to have a job outside the home. I understand that in many families this is a necessity. But biblically her home and family are to have the main focus of her attention.
- Number 7 on this list is for the Christian lady to:
G. Be good - v5d "good"
This simply means to be kind, tenderhearted and compassionate. These are Christ-like actions that should be modeled in all of His followers.
- Finally we see that the older Christian woman is to teach the younger Christian woman to:
H. Be submissive - v5e "obedient to their own husbands that the word of God be not blasphemed"
This verse echoes what both Paul and Peter wrote in other passages in the New Testament:
Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Colossians 3:18 ¶Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
1 Peter 3:1 ¶Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:
Submission is defined as "yielding one’s will to the leadership and direction of another." Submissiveness is more of an attitude than an action. But it is true that your attitude will certainly determine your actions. I may not be a woman, but I can assure you there is no greater way to live than to follow the instructions that are set forth in the Word of God. And this is a power packed passage that will help you to live victoriously in Christ.
Now we come to the final group of people who are addressed in these verses. Look with me to verses 6-8 as we examine:
II. The Role And Responsibilities Of The Younger Men - v6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. 7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
Paul instructs Titus who in turn is to instruct the younger men. This is also a responsibility of those older men in the church that was covered in verses 1-3. Younger men in all walks of life need good role models. If you look at the prison population and overwhelming majority of those young men had not positive male influence when they were growing up. And the impact this is having on the current and future generations is disastrous.
It is vitally important that young men in the church have older men who will teach, train and mentor them as well. What should they be taught? We should teach them to:
A. Be Sober - v6 "Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded"
The young men are to control their thoughts and passions. He is to be alert and ready to fight any attack or temptation that comes their way. He is to possess that self control that was covered in the earlier verses of this passage. When he does this he will be a good witness for Christ
- He will also live a life that is an example for others. in fact this is the second thing that is covered in this list. The young Christian man is to:
B. Be A Good Example - v7 "In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works"
Titus was a young man, no doubt Paul was reminding him of these truths as well. And Titus was to share this exhortation with the other young men in the church. They were to be a "pattern of good works". This literally means to be an example for others. Paul was an example to Titus, Titus was to be an example to others and those others were to be examples for even more young men.
The men who are strong and mature in the faith are great examples to the younger generation that is coming up today. Let us never forget that they are watching us. We are having an impact on them whether it be positive or negative. Let's do our part to ensure that we are a godly example for these young men!
- In order for these men to be good examples they must:
C. Be Sound In Doctrine - v7b "in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity"
It was a very real possibility that the younger men in Crete could be fooled by the myths and fables taught be the false prophets in their day. This hearkens back to the exhortation to be "sober". The young men in the church must be rooted in the Word of God in order to be sober and vigilant! The Bible gives us all of the instructions that we need to live a life that pleases God. In order for this to take place we must spend ample time in the Word. We must know what we believe and why we believe it and this is impossible apart from the Word of God! When the Christian man is sound in doctrine there will be evidence in how he talks and (what he talks about.)
- Listen to the final instruction given to the younger Christian man:
D. Be Sound In Speech - v8 "Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you"
The Christian man who is rooted in the Word will have "healthy" or "pure" speech. What he says will please God and His conversation will not push people away from Christ. Unfortunately there are many who claim to be Christians and they do more harm to the cause of Christ than they do good.
- Dr. Danny Akin says - "The gospel in our own day has been subjected to a great deal of ridicule. Far too often the cause of offense has not been the message, but the messenger. If persons refuse to come to Christ let it be the message that they say no to, not the messenger who because of a shameful life clouds the purity of the Word of salvation."
This goes back to what Jesus said in - Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
May we live (and speak) in a manner that points people to Jesus rather than pushing them away. We have received a wealth of knowledge over the past 2 weeks concerning how each of us are to live and how we should teach one another.
The Older Christian Men are to be teachers, to be sober, reverent and self-controlled and they are also expected to be sound in the faith, loving and patient.
The Older Christian ladies in the church are to be reverent, truthful, sober and they are to teach.
The Younger Christian Ladies are to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands.
The Younger Christian Men are to be sober, be a pattern of good works, be sound in doctrine and to be sound in their speech.
You know where you fit in these verses. The simple question that you must answer is "am I doing what I should"? Are we following the instruction givens to the Church here in God's Word? I pray that you can say yes, but if you can't you can take the proper steps to address that issue in your life right here and right now. Then we can say that we are carrying out our "Roles & Responsibilities In The Church".
