Pass It On

Titus 2:1 But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: 2 that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; 3 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things-- 4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. 6 Likewise exhort the young men to be sober-minded, 7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, 8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.

There are two primary influences in every life. One is the world, and the other is The Lord God Almighty and His Word.

We have to resist one to have the other.

Some propose man has no say-so in the choice of influence. I say experience teaches us otherwise.

The question is: How are we to learn which influence is in our best interest, given that we are literally made of the world – and that our default position is to follow after the world?

This, in essence, is the role of the church. (The true church.) It is the duty of the church to provide guidance for the young in the choices they make. This is to take place everywhere, in all phases of life.

We sometimes think of the church as a place we go. At its best, we may imagine the church to be the place we go to learn God’s Word and God’s ways. It is the responsibility of the pastor to teach us about how God’s Word fits our lives, and it is our responsibility to listen and determine whether or not what the pastor is saying applies to us.

When God’s Word is being taught plainly, it is good that we listen and consider – but there is so much more to the ‘life’ of the church than listening and, perhaps, doing what the Word of God says…

Here Paul teaches us we are to pass along what we have learned to the younger generation coming up next, and perhaps even to the generation coming up after them.

How helpful it is when those who have experienced the tragedy of worldly influence take the time and loving energy to pass along to the younger men and younger women exactly how beneficial it can be to follow ONLY God’s influence in this world.

There is SUCH a gravitational pull against the Christian tide, perhaps never more so than right now. How we need the older experienced folks to teach the younger inexperienced folks. The Word is life. The world is death. Pass it on…

-  Pastor Bill