Why do people who follow Jesus behave so badly? Is it because they lose sight of their senses? As I have gotten older and more aware of my own sinfulness it is a question I ask myself: why do I react that way? why do I think like that? When I already know. Have I forgotten? What have I forgotten? What do I need reminding of?
Paul in his letter to Titus returns to complete his instructions for living. He starts with an interesting word in verse 1:
‘Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.” (Titus 3 v 1-2)
Tell the people what they already know.
Remind them.
They already know how to be a godly citizen. Under this Roman government and rule they know what is right.
And so do we.
This is not a blind obedience. The Assisted Dying bill which the British government are voting on this week has rightly meant Christians have petitioned their members of parliament. This is being a good citizen. But inflaming riots on our streets by calling people to do so and even taking part, isn’t. We have to respect those who rule even if we disagree with them.
But Paul goes further in his call for a reminder apart from our civil responsibility.
Remind them to be law-abiding. Continuing on from being a godly citizen it may seem strange in the UK and other western nations to instruct a Christian to keep the law. But when the law is enforced by law-breakers who are corrupt; traffic police officers seeking bribes; when the very core of those who rule is rotten (you might think the UK is not far from those descriptions) then what does it matter if as a Christian we also break the law? It matters.
Remind them to do good.
Remind them to be peaceable.
Remind them to be considerate.
Remind them to always be gentle to everyone.
I’ve stopped expanding these thoughts as you can see.
I know and you know these things. We don’t need clarity on them.
We have been taught them. We know.
But we need reminding. I think continually. Why?
- If everyone is breaking the law and benefitting then why can’t I?
- Doing good often means I am getting nothing back from it. “I’ll start doing good when good is done to me!” No!
- Being peaceable means I cannot bear a grudge and it means I have to apologise when I am in the middle of a dispute.
- Thinking less of myself and considering others ahead of me is too sacrificial.
- If I am gentle to everyone then I cannot be angry with anyone!
This is why we need reminding.
You already know. But you do need a reminder.
Missions Paul 