Declare The Truth

DEVOTION
TITUS
DECLARE THE TRUTH
Titus 1:10-15
10 For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. 11 They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach — and that for the sake of dishonest gain. 12 Even one of their own prophets has said, "Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons." 13 This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith 14 and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth.
NIV
Is this a warning to all believers, to me about being a rebellious person? Am I to examine myself and see if I am nothing more than a mere talker and deceiver? Or should I look out for such people who proclaim Christianity but preach and teach a different gospel? I think the latter is at my best interested for I know in my heart I am not a mere talker nor am I a deceiver for I proclaim the true gospel of Christ. I know in my heart I have no such ambition for dishonest gain, but only to do what my Lord desires of me and to do that in order to benefit the Kingdom of God rather than my own self. I know there is great history regarding this whole section about the Cretans and there supposed prophet, but I need to see how that deals with my life in the present. I believe if I encounter someone who certainly defames the true message of the gospel I should rebuke them sharply. That should be the command of every true believer, not just me, but I should be ready, willing and able to speak up for the truth when some would rather pay homage to tradition instead. I am amazed at the variety of doctrines and beliefs which have infiltrated the body of believers, even beliefs which belong to the ways of the world rather than the ways of God. Maybe the reason is this traditional idea of departmentalization, being Christian in the spirit and acting sort of like one when with other believers, but then having a life outside of the church which rather mimics the concepts and ways of the world. The spiritual and physical having their own separate ways is not the true gospel. Why would I what to adopt any belief system which comes from those who reject the truth? Why would I even try to find something in the scripture to justify my accepting their worldly ways? I know if the message they preach is not from the holy word of God than I know they have rejected the truth and I should not only refuse to hear and ascribe to their way of thinking, but I should rebuke them, speak up against them, loud and clear, so that any who might be influenced by their message could be sound in their faith. Way too many believers, I fear, have been drawn down the path of tradition rather than truth. Many have fallen prey to the theory of departmentalization of life. Many have been deceived into believing they can live both in the world and in the Kingdom, having dual citizenship. I must be true to the Word of God, and declare the message.