“And we are instructed turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God.”
- Titus 2:12
I find it interesting when someone says Scripture is not about ethics and how we should live. But then these very people turn to Scripture to inform their beliefs, and what is right teaching for the church. While I believe we should be teaching rightly, should not we also be living rightly? While theology can help explain how Christians are to be in the world and not of the world, it cannot explain the how to’s and what to do’s of Christian life. We must be able to understand theology but also ethics.
Paul taught both, and God’s judgments to Israel in the Old Testament were not only for the wrongful beliefs that led to Idolatry but also for how Israel treated its surrounding nations and tribes. Ethics matters, we must be in the world.
Worldly Living:
As sinful fallen humans, we are predisposed to a worldly way of living. We do it daily. From big things to small things, we can live in a way that God does not desire for us. It is fairly easy to point out too.
Even thinking of recent media stories about sex trafficking and pedophilia. A worldly way of living and thinking leads to such corrupt and sinful practices. Whether it is the corrupt, perverted, and dark sex trafficking industry or even with in a household, of domestic sexual abuse. Such a way of living bring severe harm to another, degrades the precious image of God within that person, and is entirely selfish in nature. Worldly living leads to a corruption of power and a perversion of sex.
Rioting too. By all means we are called to seek the welfare of the nation we live in (see Daniel). Which does not mean passively agreeing and accepting everything that leaders decide, because leaders are just as susceptible to worldly ways of decision making. But it does mean without destruction to people or property (which emotionally harms people) we voice for the oppressed and seek to bring the appropriate change with wisdom.
Of course, someone who has been a Christian for their entire life is still susceptible to worldly ways of thinking, behaving, and loyalty. That is why Christ is so important, because of His blood, we can renew our minds, be counted righteous by God, and pursue His ways above our own ways. It takes a regular pattern and discipline to repent. When we realize a way that we reflect the world, we turn from it to God. We must always seek to correct our hearts and seek the will of God.
In the world:
Because of what Christ has done for us, things can change. Addictions can be extinguished, faulty attractions and desires can be overcome, and the godless life we lived can now be God filled.
That does not mean we get to judge the world or depart of it and leave it to be without light. Instead, we remain, we stay, we be lights of Christ to the world. We live with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion. I do not see a command to judge the world there. But we are to live differently.
Wisdom is a gift that comes from God, it is not the knowledge that the world promotes but is on a completely different level. It looks outside the worlds boxes and seeks answers based in God’s truth and love. Wisdom can be both convicting and gracious, providing life-giving advice that aids in love for God and neighbor.
Righteousness is also a gift from God, imputed to us by the act of Christ on the cross. Sometimes I picture it like wearing a branded t-shirt. We live within God’s love and can fellowship with others who do the same. But with that, it can make us seem weird in the eyes of the world. Why don’t you curse? Why don’t you get angry? Why don’t you drink more? It must be noted, righteousness is not mere behaviors, but living out of God’s love.
Devotion to God is something no one can just mimic and fake. This goes down to a person’s core motivations and reasons for doing what they do, and it can be very evident if someone is motivated for selfish reasons or for God reasons. Those two people may do the exact same behavior or task, but the manor in which they do it will be telling if they are selfish or selfless.
Final Blessing:
But at the core, God has called us to repent and believe. To repent and turn away from older and sinful ways of life that led us to death and turn toward Him who provides living water and encouragement for New Life. We are no longer of the world, but we get to be a blessing within the world by joining God in His reconciling work. Paul’s instructions to Titus here, are not only theologically enlightening, but also spur us into ethical change for the sake of sharing the Gospel and partaking in God’s reconciling mission to the world.
Now may the Lord of Life and Redemption be with you in every step, every breathe, and every heartbeat of your journey.
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