"Teaching that's Attractive not Addictive"

Jan.19/03 Titus 2

Attacking Addictions

The human heart harbours all kinds of desires, longings, tendencies...some of them good, some harmful. Anything that attracts us may become a harmful addiction, depending what it is and how much we let it take over us. However, when we make God's teaching our primary attraction, we discover it is ultimately and infinitely rewarding, not destructive like this world's addictions. Hoping in Jesus' glorious appearing, we are transformed even now by His Spirit to be Christ's people - good, right, and pure (as we saw in the message from Titus 1: He helps us get a GRiP).

        Addictions were something people warned others against back in the first century as well as today. In Titus 2(3) Paul tells his protege to teach some people not to be "addicted to much wine". Other words in this chapter reflect vigilance against addiction. V.2, the older men are to be taught to be temperate; recall that the Cretans' tendency to be lazy gluttons and liars was proverbial (Titus 1:12). One word is repeated over and over in this chapter, in vv.1,5,6,12, and a derivative in v.4: "self-controlled", sober-minded, from roots that suggest being "saved-minded". Self-control is what can protect us against damaging addictions. Vine's Expository Dictionary comments that this term "suggests the exercise of that self-restraint that governs all passions and desires, enabling the believer to be conformed to the mind of Christ."

        Self-control is something BC Premier Gordon Campbell has probably been regretting not showing more of on a recent vacation in Hawaii. While there he admits before being charged with impaired driving he drank 3 martinis and some wine. Police samples showed his blood alcohol level to be .149, nearly twice the legal limit. The executive director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving has been calling for Campbell to step aside. The B.C. Alcohol-Drug Education Service says Campbell's arrest shows alcohol is a dangerous drug that impairs judgment. Although the premier insists the matter was his own responsibility because it happened on his personal time, and had nothing to do with the discharge of his duties, it's been damaging to his reputation; about half of people in BC think he should resign. Alcohol abuse can be deadly. Keith Roulston, editor of The Citizen, comments: "By driving while he was drunk enough to be weaving across the road, Mr.Campbell was risking the lives of those who might have met him on the road that night. If he had been wandering the streets of Maui firing off a loaded gun, would he have been able to use the excuse that he was on personal time? Isn't a two-ton car as dangerous a weapon as a bullet?"

        It's not only premiers who drink and drive. Snowmobiling has become a popular winter past-time, often in combination with stopping at various "watering holes". But drinking has led to snowmobiling's ranking as the deadliest winter sport. Each winter in Ontario an average of 30 people die and 400 are hospitalized as a result of snowmobile accidents. What do you suppose is a common factor in 70% of the fatalities? Alcohol. Addictions attack our wholeness.

        Substance abuse is not the only form of damaging addiction. Since last summer British police have made 1300 arrests of people illegally accessing internet sites for child pornography, including a guitarist from the rock band The Who. (I always felt bad the molesting relative in the musical Tommy was named "Uncle Ernie"!) Another former rock star served four months in jail in 1999 for downloading child pornography, and was kicked out of Cambodia earlier this month, which has become a haven for pedophiles. But it's not just media stars who are involved. A police spokesperson said, "This is a problem which goes right across society...You name the occupation and there will be someone there connected to this." The arrests include 50 police officers, as well as teachers, social workers, and judges. Pornography is poisonous to the mind. So many are drawn in. The British operation has been using records obtained by an American swoop on a Texan child porn ring that gave access to 6,000 child abuse websites and had details of 75,000 subscribers around the world. The Lord must weep to see so much hurt caused to those so young!

        Perhaps drinking or pornography aren't problems for you. Be watchful - the Accuser has a sackful of other addictions to draw you in. If you escape a few, there's always pride and conceit. Or as in Titus 2:3, some are "slanderers", gossips - the addiction that tears down those with other addictions. V.9, we may be tempted to "talk back" to those in authority over us. Or (v.10) to steal what doesn't belong to us, to set to one side something for ourselves. In the eyes of a holy God it's all wrong, it's all sin; it all devastates us spiritually if we won't repent and accept God's help to break free. We're all tempted to get "hooked" by some addiction or other, while in our conscience we know such things are abhorrent to God. Paul writes (v.12) that God's grace "teaches us to say 'no' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age." That rebellion and those passions drag us down; God would help us "get a grip", become good, right, and pure.

        A couple of weeks ago we were introduced to the brilliant summary of Christian faith in Titus 3:3-7. Let's read it again, noting how it starts off speaking of the enslavement we were trapped in due to our fallen desires; yet the gospel introduces a but, a turning point, God's saving love and grace expressed in Jesus:

ALL - At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures.

MEN - We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

WOMEN - But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,

MEN - he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.

WOMEN - He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

MEN - whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,

WOMEN - so that, having been justified by his grace,

ALL - we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

An Attractive Alternative

Addictions can be powerful, strong, hard to break; yet there is hope. In the good news or "gospel" of Jesus Christ, God presents an attractive alternative to Satan's seduction. Receiving Jesus and His gift of the Holy Spirit, true self-control and a "sound mind" become possible. Chapter 2 in Titus is Paul's summary of the "teaching" early churches were to emphasize. It's his program, his curriculum that he's reminding Titus about. Notice that the word "teaching" or some variant thereof occurs in verses 1,2,3(2X), 7,9,10, and 12. Verse 4 also has "train", 6 "encourage", 7 "set an example". Paul wraps up the entire chapter in v.15 with the words, "These...are the things you should teach.Encourage and rebuke with all authority." He meant business! This is his program - what's his goal? V.10, the behaviour of the believers ought "in every way" to "make the teaching about God our Saviour attractive". Paul wants the church to be such a visible, unwavering illustration of God's blessing and goodness that sin-scorched seekers will desire to experience the new life Christ offers. Our task is to bring lustre by the way we live to the setting in which the jewel of the Good News lies, as a diamond is set in a solid gold or platinum ring. V.7, "show integrity (etc.) that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us." The apostles' aim was that Christians' behaviour should be so obedient and godly that it would back up the gospel message and entice those wearied and jaded by this world's pleasures to commit their lives to Jesus.

        What specifically ought to characterize us? Go through the chapter and pull out the positives. V.2, faith and love; 3 reverent in the way we live; 4 women who love their husbands and children, are busy at home, kind, and subject to their husbands. (As we noted last month in our study of Biblical headship, husbands are to be servant leaders in the home, laying down their lives as Christ did in loving and defending their wives and youngsters; this headship role extends to the church, where primary leadership and responsibility is laid upon the shoulders of men. Not because women are incapable of teaching; au contraire, as we see in this passage, older women are to train younger women, and through them the children, just not a mixed group including grown men.)

        Other characteristics are mentioned in v.7: doing what is good, seriousness and (8) soundness of speech; given the economic order of the day, v.9 slaves are to be subject to their masters, trying to please them. There's a radical attitude when dealing with your employer - not just getting away with doing the bare minimum required, but actually trying to figure out what the boss wants and then giving it to them. V.10, workers who can be "fully trusted" - not have to be micro-managed or watched like a hawk.

        These characteristics sound wonderful; but what if we don't find them in our natural, selfishly-sin-stained personalities? That's where death to the "old self", giving things over to Jesus, and praying for the filling of the Holy Spirit comes in. For what did Paul say was the fruit of the Spirit? Love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness gentleness and self-control (Gal.5:22f). Sounds a lot like this list here in Titus 2 - especially that last one, self-control, so essential in battling addictions. People whose lives look like this are very easy to be around.

        When it comes to teaching, the Holy Spirit or Paraclete is the best teacher/counselor of all. He's our power source - else we'll fall far short of this kind of list. We can't manufacture this goodness in our own strength, we soon run out of umph. But God's grace keeps on giving through His Spirit. Note v.11, it's "the grace of God that brings salvation", and that "teaches us to...live self-controlled, upright & godly lives". Our motivation? V.13, waiting for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing (lit. "epiphany") of Jesus. We're awaiting a second "epiphany", Jesus showing up at His return. That will be better than any epiphany, any thrill, any pleasure this present age can offer our aging bodies.

        This year the Girl Guides changed their contractor for manufacturing their famous cookies. A Kitchener company is now making them, apparently now using real chocolate instead of just flavouring. Wednesday the new Girl Guide cookies were unveiled amongst much media fanfare. On CBC radio they were described as so good that the person said he received an "epiphany" while eating them! Yet all these earthly thrills will pale compared to the surpassing miracle of Jesus' return and our eternal transformation.

Doing the Basics Right

        God's grace is the power source in our change to become loving and lovable people, free from sin's stickiness and guilt's grapple. The "grace of God" in v.11 is defined more clearly in v.14: grace originates in Jesus Christ "who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." Jesus gave Himself, shouldering our sin, so we could become godly. He has redeemed us, bought us back for Himself, so we can be His very own, belonging to Him (as we talked about with baptism). He purifies us so we will be "eager to do what is good" - real GRiP.

        The church has lost a lot of credibility through the centuries because of abuses by its leaders and laity. Residential schools - sexual abuse by catholic priests - denominational divisions and persecution - any skeptic can come up with a long list of ways in which Christ's people have erred and dropped the baton. Paul's letter to Titus is a pep talk exhorting us to get back to basics and behave like Christians, so outsiders will no longer find ways to run Christ's body down. Michael Capellas is the new CEO of WorldCom, which is trying to make a comeback after filing for bankruptcy protection in the wake of its accounting scandal. This week in an hour-long broadcast to the company's 60,000 employees, Capellas mapped out a 100-day turnaround plan. He said, "It's about making things and selling things and talking to customers and doing the basics right." We as church, with some similar turnaround work to do and credibility to rebuild, can learn from those last 4 words: "doing the basics right." Act more like Christ; be "eager to do what is good."

        One person who sets an example for me in that department is Erma, a 70ish widower who lives with her developmentally challenged brother in Stratford. In her Christmas newsletter this sincere believer of Mennonite background mentions several quilting projects she completed over the course of the year. She adds, "I'm still involved in two Bible studies - I host one and lead the other. Am still volunteering at Greenwood Court [a senior's facility] a half day per week. W__ (her brother) also volunteers there on the outside 0 weeding the shrub beds, raking leaves, and in winter he shovels snow - and loves it! I also continue to help with "NeighbourLink" when needed; giving rides for doctors' appointments, shopping, etc." In addition, Erma has donated space in her basement for Neighbourlink to use for its office. Whew! What energy, what eagerness to be doing good! Erma is evidently showing her faith and love in positive ways that make her witness attractive to those she helps.

        The "NeighbourLink" program she mentions is an inter-church ministry begun by World Vision 11 years ago. It too is a way of "doing the basics right". Its webpage says, "There are more than thirty NeighbourLinks of churches across the country, representing approximately 400 churches and thousands of volunteers from a wide variety of denominations and traditions...Whether it is giving an elderly person a ride to a doctor's appointment, tutoring a child, volunteering in a community kitchen, or helping someone to find employment, church volunteers can express their love for God and their neighbours in real and practical ways." One project in BC involved a couple dozen young people from area churches getting 6 truckloads of wood from sawmills and chopping it into firewood to have on hand for people who run short during the winter. Another project in Fergus Ontario offers a cooking session each month for young moms and dads with limited resources. Participants cook together, learn economical recipes, and take the meals home to their families. NeighbourLink volunteers from various churches assist with babysitting, transportation, teaching and cooking.

        The Stratford site in particular says, "Blind people hear people read to them, single parents get a night out, budgets that didn't exist or were out of control get created and managed, the hungry get fed, students receive tutoring, people wanting to improve their ready skills are helped to get library cards and individuals with special needs get taken to doctor's appointments. In an age when words alone have lost their power, the theory of the faith is made credible." Now doesn't that sound like Christ's church is meant to be?

        Addictions attack people subtly and let them down. God's grace though saves us through Christ's giving of Himself. In His Spirit we find freedom from destructive desires, strength for self-control, and new energy to be kind and loving and do good to others. Premier or rock star, preacher or widow, we can all learn from that. And it'll make the good news truly attractive to others, too! Let's pray.