Titus 3:9-11 (Avoid Foolish Controversies and Warn Divisive People)

 

Titus 3:9-11

But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.

Times in the U.S. right now are contentious, and this is likely due to our upcoming presidential elections. When it comes to these elections, people who want to talk about them should feel encouraged to do so keeping in mind what Paul wrote, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" (Ephesians 4:29). If two people want to talk about the upcoming election in the U.S. and can do so carefully in a way that builds up others and benefits all those who listen, then those two people should feel assured in doing so.

Conversations on modern politics more often than not, though, do not stay within the realm of just opinion. Rather, these conversations can stretch to matters of Christian beliefs and Biblical values. For example, two current election conversation topics that can arise could be the issue of abortion, and the matter of speaking foul language. The Bible is clear that the act of abortion and the act of speaking disrespectfully are sins. Psalm 119 verses 13 says God forms everyone in their mother's womb and Proverbs 6 verse 17 says God hates "hands that shed innocent blood". It is also written, "Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place" (Ephesians 5:4). If a believer says either that abortion is okay or that speaking foully is not that bad, what they are saying is Biblically controversial.

So, what does the Bible say believers should do when they encouter someone bringing up controversy about God's law? For an answer to that, believers can look at the book of Titus in chapter 3 verses 9 to 11.

Firstly, according to these verses, believers should avoid foolish controversy on what is and isn't sinful. Paul writes to his fellow believers, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone," and one way to do that is to not talk about controversial things (Romans 12:18). This verse in Titus also says Christians should not quarrel. As it is written, "It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling," which means that a wise believer does their best to avoid quarreling with others (Proverbs 20:3). In addition to this, this verse in Titus also says believers should not argue in anger with others. This is "because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires" (James 1:20).

Sometimes a believer is put in a position where they believe they must speak on such controversy and can do so in a way that is not quarrelsome or argumentative. That believer would do well to remember that Paul says Christians should "warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time" (Titus 9:10a). Scripture is clear that believers who know what is right should not be impartial, when talking about Biblical truths. It is written, "To show partiality in judging is not good: Whoever says to the guilty, 'You are innocent,' will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations. But it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come on them" (Proverbs 24:23-25). This is why believers should warn other believers about the sin they may see other believers committing or endorsing. The second warning is in case the first warning does not bring a sinful believer to repentance.

Believers who do warn a divisive person should know, though, that after they warn that person twice they should "have nothing to do with them" (Titus 9:10b). It might seem unloving for a believer to talk with someone and then cease their conversation with them, based on how that person responded to their warnings. Believers, though, should take heart in leaving divisive people, knowing that God has done the same in the past. In the book of Ezekiel it is written that God warned the people of Israel to flee from worshipping other gods, but they would not listen to God's warnings. Because of this, God said to them, "Although they [the Israelites] shout in my ears, I will not listen to them" (Ezekiel 8:18b). Biblically speaking, sometimes the best thing to do is not have anything to do with foolish people.

Lastly, a believer who does all of these things should feel assured that what they have done was good, even if it may not seem like it. A believer's assurance on this comes from where Paul writes, "You may be sure that such people [who hear warnings and do not repent] are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned" (Titus 9:11). Not everyone who hears Biblical truth will accept it, and believers should remember this. In fact it is written that God allows some people to believe falsely about God's law "so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness" (2 Thessalonians 2:12). 

Knowing that people who don't believe Biblical truth will be condemned is sobering, and it encourages me all the more to speak up for what the Bible says. It is good and beautiful, when sinners call upon the name of the Lord and are saved. Of course, to quote Paul, "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?" (Romans 10:14). My fellow believers, it's not easy speaking about what's written in the Bible, as the world considers the Bible to be controversial. We should not be ashamed of speaking Biblical truth, "because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16). My fellow believers, don't be afraid to speak the truth, because it is the truth that sets people free (John 8:32b).

Let my words be life

Let my words be truth

I don't wanna say a word

Unless it points the world back to You

- Hawk Nelson

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• Open Bible Info: Abortion
• Open Bible Info: Foull Language
• Hawk Nelson: Words