“But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.” Titus 2:1 ESV
Reflection: who is teaching the young how to live as a follower of Christ?
Election season is upon us again. And, over the past few decades, there has been a strange resurgence of interest, and even belief in the ideas of communism. We can stick our heads in the sand, and say that it is not true, or that it doesn’t matter to our family, our neighborhoods or cities. But regardless on where we stand on the seriousness of this topic, we have to wonder why that is. From where did the ideas of such an evil doctrine come, and enter the minds of our youth? Or, perhaps the problem is even deeper. Do we as adults even see communism as a problem? Perhaps just a concern? Or even just a set of ideas that we don’t agree with? Or, do we even know anything about the subject, and the effects of it? Ok, I have only selected one set of beliefs, one doctrine to pick on here. But the truth is that if we talk with the youth, we will hear many ideas of lifestyle that we will not agree with, that we know as adults will lead to significant societal and individual problems. But, the question is, who is teaching the young what we would consider “sound doctrine”?
Most rely on daycares and schools for teaching the young. Perhaps some additional guidance around the dinner table. But, as most of the young have access to a computer, games, and even a mobile phone, multiple other “teachers” have emerged. The children being bombarded with all sorts of ideas of what is expected, acceptable, and even encouraged, to be part of society, to be included. It is “programming”, at the very basic level. We cannot expect the young to have sound minds and ideas if we don’t teach them such. If all they hear from school, from media, and so on, are non biblical values, how can they learn what is good, what is sound doctrine?
Where is the church on this?
Most of Paul’s letter to Titus is not about theology, but about how to live as a follower of Christ. How various groups in the church have different responsibilities, in particular as it relates to the young. So clearly, in the island of Crete, they too had many influences on the young that needed to be addressed. The young needed the right role models, from the members of the church. Paul didn’t leave this teaching responsibility to only the parents, and certainly not to secular schools. No, he instructed Titus to teach “living” within the church, starting with the older men and older women and their roles. Let’s read some of his direct instructions.
“Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.” Titus 2:2-8 ESV.
What i find very interesting here is Paul’s focus is on practical matters of living. Not theology, but behavior. How to live as a Christian. And, while many might say that his teaching here is not relevant to our modern society today, or that it is not the job of the church to teach how to live, I am wondering if we are missing a very important part of teaching what it means to be a Christian. That of how we live among each other as believers, and how we conduct ourselves in society. One thing is for sure, someone is seeing the importance of teaching the young.