Speak Jesus

Titus 2:7-8
7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, 8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.

We are all striving to live by the example that Jesus laid out for us. We give sacrificially, try to help the poor and needy, and make every effort to love one another. We teach at home and in church the principles of a good life that can be extrapolated from the writings in the Bible and we try our best to live into them. We set rules and regulations around our behavior and attitudes and place restrictions on our flesh in order to “lead by example”, but where we tend to go off track is in our doctrine.

This isn’t to say that the doctrine, the rules and regulations, that we teach is wrong in any way, but it’s subject to scrutiny by the world. The doctrine and interpretation of the Bible that is most often preached isn’t much different from the “Bill and Ted” slogan, “Be excellent to each other, and party on, dudes!” The message that we bring of ‘work hard, try your best, and God will bless’ is always open ended and leaves a gap that an opponent, or Enemy (the Devil), can attack.

What Paul wrote to Titus was a very simple instruction. In everything that you do, whether work, school, marriage, or parenting, show yourself to be a pattern of good works. Work hard for your boss. Do the best that you can in school. Love your husband or wife unconditionally. Love and train your children. These things are good and establish you to the world as a “good” person. But he changes the tone when he speaks of doctrine.

In doctrine he says, show integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, and sound speech that cannot be condemned. He is saying when you teach in the church (or at home for that matter) it must be a teaching of integrity; incorruptible and unable to be condemned. What is incorruptible? What (or who) is unable to be condemned? Jesus Christ. In doctrine, teach Jesus. In church, teach Jesus. Teaching Jesus is the only way that your opponent, your adversary, will have nothing evil to say about you. Teaching Jesus will bring shame to the Devil, not to the church or to you!

With religion, in church, it is too easy to get caught up in dogmatic law. Teaching a personal interpretation as law (or principle as we’ve come to call them in today’s church) opens the door for argument and debate. However, teaching Jesus Christ and Him alone leaves no room for debate or interpretation. You can have your own belief about homosexuals, mediums, marriage covenants, or anything else, but when it comes to Christ there is only one truth.

Let’s get back to teaching the sound doctrine that Paul was writing about. Let’s talk about the name of Jesus in church and at home. Let’s allow His power and speaking His name to change whatever is wrong in our lives and not rely on dogma, interpretation, or Biblical principles. Let the world see our works and interpret them as good, but when they hear our voices leave no room for interpretation; speak Jesus!