No, you can't teach that here.

“That they may be sound in the faith”

(Titus 1:10-16)

[10] For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. [11] They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.

I like to believe that every Christian is a living letter of Christ, and that he has at least one good sermon in him, not about himself, but about the Lord. But not everyone is set apart by Christ and His church to be a shepherd in the church. Not everyone who insists on being first and who demands to be heard should be listened to. Some need to be silenced.

This is a painful duty for those who are already elders in a church. The alternative that is often chosen is a non-confrontational avoidance, a tolerance that is not love for God, for the church, or even for the one who insists on his own way. Tolerance can destroy whole families when someone is allowed to teach what he should not be teaching. Add to that problem of bad spiritual content the ugly motive of greed for gain and you have a dangerous mix that can quickly destroy a church. The beginning of this plague was already happening in Crete, especially among those who had embraced the message of the necessity of circumcision for right standing in the church.

[12] One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” [13] This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, [14] not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.

Every culture is challenged by the culture of heaven. The heavenly way of life was perfectly demonstrated by Jesus of Nazareth, particularly in his willingness to suffer and serve as the expression of the love of God for the unworthy. The cross as a glorious shame, and not circumcision as an emblem of religious boasting, was and still is the only banner for those who would follow the Master Servant.

But the way of Christ was not easy, and Cretans tended to be lazy gluttons. Cretans who embraced a gospel of right standing with God through circumcision (which is no gospel at all) not only wanted to sit around on their couches while everyone else worked, they also wanted to spread lies that they had come to see as the new way for the church. Titus needed to confront them sharply. They would not have responded to subtle hints. They needed to be redirected to be healthy or “sound” in their faith in Christ, and not fall prey to a false message of salvation that was only spiritual bondage.

[15] To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. [16] They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

The Law is pure, but it can be used unlawfully. Being sound in faith, seeing the preeminence of Christ in all church life and in all Christian fruitfulness is fundamental to healthy living. Every other way that promotes itself as a better alternative will not be healthy for the church. How do elders stop arrogant people who could harm the church without just creating more enemies? The only way is to listen, learn, and love... but don't think that means affirming dangerous error. Confrontation will be essential.