Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture from the book of Titus.
Titus 3:9 (KJB) But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
In order to be obedient to the teachings of Christ, we must be capable of avoiding contention. Contention is having a heated disagreement with somebody else, and to assert your opinion strongly in opposition and fight against them. I’ve been out on the streets talking to people about Christ for many years, but sometimes you are going to meet certain people who will push back very hard against the things that you are talking about. When they begin to do this, a true man of God must never become argumentative with them, like the way that two politicians might duke it out in a public forum. All that happens is a public shouting match, which is absolutely shameful for a professing Christian to participate in. You cannot ram the meat of God’s Word down an unbeliever’s throat, because in the first place, they cannot receive it, and secondly it shows a lack of compassion for the sinner. If they will not receive the truth when you humbly tell them the error of their way, it is because God has not yet granted them repentance unto life. At that point you are to avoid them and walk away. The longer you stay there and fight with them, the worse it’s going to get. You cannot give Spiritual truths to complete unbelievers because it will result in them hating you
Proverbs 9:8 (KJB) Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
When they are still in the state of unbelief, they cannot receive scripture because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 2:14 (KJB) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
A Christian is called to win unbelievers to Christ, not beat them over the head! Remember that you were an unbeliever at one time too, and we must patiently and humbly hold them by the hand, and gently lead them into the truth of scripture. The first thing that they must hear is what Jesus did for them at the cross. They must get forgiven for their sins, and then you can help nurture the seed of Truth inside of their hearts. This is so they can grow into the person that God wants them to become.
The servant of Christ must be humble and meek, not only to those who profess Christ, but complete unbelievers as well. Never, and I mean NEVER is a Christian supposed to fight publicly with somebody who cannot receive the teachings of Christ, because it will only stir them up to wrath which can result in all kinds of dreadful consequences.
2 Timothy 2:24-26 (KJB) And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
The Apostle teaches us to be gentle towards all men, and that means everyone. It doesn’t matter what kind of sinner that they might be. It doesn’t matter what type of lifestyle that they are living. In order to win an unbeliever to Christ, you must take a humble stance that is underneath them, rather than being above them. I’ve talked to many unbelievers over the years who were still living in their sins. But you know what? When you are humble and meek towards them, they can see the meekness and love of Christ through you. They see you as a very non-judgmental person, and someone that they can talk to. Remember that judgment is reserved for the house of God, which means that when people get baptized into the faith, then they need to be transformed which will happen through correction, rebukes and discipline in the church. But some people are not ready for the meat of God’s Holy Word.
1 Corinthians 3:1-2 (KJB) And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
The truth is that you cannot force feed an infant. What you have to do is trickle in the milk of scripture when there is an opportunity for them to receive it, rather than slamming them into a chair and having them eat something that they cannot swallow anyway.
The Apostle Paul ran into all kinds of opposition when he was out preaching, but he did not argue and fight with people who couldn’t receive the things that he was saying. Have you ever been out on the playground at school when an older kid wanted to pick a fight with you? Did you get up in his face and provoke him to anger, or did you walk away? If you didn’t avoid the confrontation, chances are he probably would have drilled you. This is not wisdom at all. Christians must avoid confrontations with others, just as Jesus did, who many times would walk away from contentions and hide himself.
John 7:1 (KJB) After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.
Another point is that you need to consider the Apostles, who would preach in people’s homes, but if people were contentious with the things that they were teaching, then their peace was supposed to return to them and they moved on to the next place. Some unbelievers can become extremely contentious, but the man of God must deescalate the entire situation by walking the other way.
Remember that at certain times, the church needed to be firmly rebuked, but that is a completely different situation than speaking with complete unbelievers. They need to believe the truth of how much Jesus loved them and gave His life for them on the cross. Those who are outside of faith in Christ are not going to be won to Him by beating them over the head, as it will only stir them up to anger and make them furious. Christians must speak the truth to others when God opens the door of opportunity, but never at the expense of becoming argumentative and contentious with them. The Apostle Paul wrote some incredibly strong letters to the church, filled with rebukes and corrections, but when you met him, he was an incredibly meek and humble person who cared about the salvation of others. He didn’t want any type of infighting going on within the church, but rather that the members were joined together perfectly in the teachings of the one true faith.
1 Corinthians 1:11 (KJB) For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
Remember that the greatest among you will be a servant unto all. A servant is somebody who reaches out to help others. A man of God wants to reach out and save sinners, but it requires placing yourself underneath them. Jesus taught his disciples that the greatest among them would be your minister. In order to serve others requires great humility. There are certainly times for rebukes and corrections, but only as much as people will receive it. A man of God will never place himself in a contentious argument with others, but will actively pursue peace at all times.
Hebrews 12:14 (KJB) Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Are you the type of person who will keep your distance from a hornet’s nest, or will you go up and provoke them to anger, until they finally attack you? That my friends is foolish. People can only receive as much truth as God is willing to open their eyes to. If they are starting to get upset with you, you must avoid the situation completely, because a Christian must seek peace at all times, and always remember to be,…..
……Non-Contentious
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.
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