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A little while back we began a brief look at the book of Titus as a window onto biblical strategies for ministering in a context similar to Crete (see here). As Paul describes the situation, “One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons'” (Titus 1:12). Titus has to plow the hard soil of unregenerate hearts in a culture of dishonesty and fleshly living. How do you labor in such a climate?

First, Paul commands Titus to appoint solid leaders.

Second, those leaders must rebuke people so that they’re sound in the faith. Paul writes:

For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, that they may be found in the faith, not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. (Titus 1:10-14)

I wonder if we ever hear church plant strategists emphasize the ministry of personal rebuke as an effective strategy? I don’t think I have. But it’s part and parcel to ministry in a difficult context. How else will the corruptions of a fallen culture and fallen heart be addressed?

I suspect most of us are more inclined to finding what seems a softer, gentler, even wider path to acceptance in tough contexts. We tend to be afraid of such locations. That’s partly why we call them “tough” or “difficult” or “hard to reach.” So we don’t want to be confrontational if we can help it.

But Paul’s view of leadership requires courage to confront. The stakes are high. The goal is to ensure that people “be found in the faith.” The Cretan reality is “They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work” (v. 16). For such persons outside the faith there is only damnation, which is far worse than a hard life in a difficult neighborhood. Hell is far more difficult. So, loving leadership leans into the moral, theological and spiritual hardness with a word of correction to bring people into the faith and establish the church on the truth. With the help of the Holy Spirit we are endeavoring to fit people for heaven. That can’t be done with scared leadership or leaders too calloused about people to lovingly correct them.

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