The Culture War

Why We Fight

Titus 1:10-16

INTRODUCTION

How do we deal with divisive people in the church?

v.10 – “For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party.”

I. RECOGNIZE THE RED FLAGS

Three characteristics of a divisive person

a. Insubordinate

Literally, “independent, unrestrained”

Hebrews 13:17 – “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.”

b. Empty talkers

Truth: You can tell what matters to a person by listening to them talk.”

Psalm 19:14 – “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.”

Matthew 15:18 – “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.”

Isaiah 29:11 – “These people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me.”

c. Deceivers

Truth: “You are never more like Satan than when you deceive.”

John 8:44 – “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

II. RESPOND WITH URGENCY

a. Silence the divisive person to stop the damage

Gk. ἐπιστομίζω (epistomizō), “to apply a muzzle.”

v.11 – “They are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.”

1. Whole Household Families

2. Whole Household Churches

“Families,” Gk. οἶκος (oikos), lit. “house.”

b. Rebuke the divisive person to restore them to the truth

1. A rebuke should be strong

v.13 – “Rebuke them sharply”

2. A rebuke should be restorative

v.13 – “…that they may be sound in the faith”

III. REMOVE THE UNREPENTANT

vs.15-16 – “To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.”

Titus 3:10-11 – “As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.”