Flopping Like a Chicken with its Head Cut Off

 Titus 1-Part 6
This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.  Titus 1:13-14


LET IT GLOW

A round block of wood and a sharp ax-these were needed in order to chop its head off quickly. I'm talking about a chicken's head. When it was time for Mom to cook us fried chicken for supper, that's what Dad would do-go catch a chicken and chop it's head off. Then we waited while the chicken's body flopped around, the nerves making it seem alive. That's where we get the saying, "flopping around like a chicken with it's head cut off."  It was a sight for this little girl to see-the ending of life. After it stopped flopping, Dad would pluck out the feathers, which took a while. Oh, the yummy fried chicken, along with mashed potatoes and gravy. Nothing beats it for a meal.
So when I read that Paul told Titus to rebuke them sharply, and the Greek word for sharply is apotomos, that meant "to cut off abruptly," I thought of that illustration. (Liberty Bible Commentary)

NAS uses the phrase reprove them severely. The word reprove is the same term used for refute in verse 9. It was used to describe the role and responsibility of an elder. It isn't intended to insult or humiliate the person. It must be done promptly and forthrightly. The Christian message always has restoration at its motivation. The discipling work of a healthy church is to restore the fallen and to strengthen the weak. (Swindoll)

Why did Paul say to rebuke them sharply? Those false teachers were Cretian liars, evil beasts, and had slow bellies. (verse 12) Their motives were monitary gain, not teaching the truth of Jesus as Savior.
Paul wanted the Cretian believers in Jesus to be sound in the faith, or "healthy" in the faith. Not flopping here and there, from denomination to denomination, as some do today. Know what the Word of God says concerning doctrine. Stand firm in our faith.

"Ture and pure doctrine was to be required of all who spoke to the church. Any who fell short of that were to be rebuked, "said MacArthur Bible Commentary.

Paul told Titus to rebuke those false teachers, and he meant to silence them immediately. False doctrine is like a yeast: It enters secretly, it grows quickly, and permeates completely (Gal. 5:9). The best time to attack false doctrine is at the beginning, before it has a chance to spread. (Wiersbe)

It does make a difference what we believe-truth or lies. In John 8:32, Jesus said, And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Am I sound in the faith or do I flop around like that chicken with its head cut off, from one doctrine to another? Can I spot a false teachers? Can I be easily persuaded by false teachers? Has Jesus' teachings set me free from all of that?


LET IT GROW

In verse 14, Paul told us to not pay attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth. These false teachers told lies from house to house, upsetting the faith of the people. It affected whole families' docatrinal beliefs. They taught Jewish legalism, circumcision, which Paul rejected. They were teaching Jewish fables, describing fanciful interpretations of the genealogies in the O.T. (Wiersbe)
These insisted on the ceremonial washings and were still calling some meats unclean. (Falwell)
Today there are sects and cults looking for easy prey, so we must be careful.

In his book, Swindoll's Insights New Testaments Insights on ! & 2 Timothy, Titus, he says:

Two kinds of false teaching challenged the churches on Crete: Jewish mythology and rigorous abstinence (ascetism). Some teachers promoted a life of strict abstinence from anything pleasurable-a lifestyle called "ascetism." Greek philosophy taught that the universe consisted of two vastly different realms: the realm of pure idea or thought, which was the realm of God; and the material realm, which is where we live. For the Greeks, the realm of the idea-the spiritual realm-could be experienced by humans only as they distanced themselves from the distractions of the physical world. (Mark 7:15 tells us that its not the outside things that defile man, but the inside things.) In the beginning, God created all things, both material and immaterial, and called all of it good. Paul affirmed that everything should be received and enjoyed with gratitude as it comes by His grace (1 Cor. 8:8).
Material things can be used for good or evil, depending upon the intention of the person. Therefore, Paul said, "To the pure, all things are pure." (verse 15)

Your heart's condition will be expresses through your life. It will be evident by your attitudes, your works, and your abehavior. Jesus said that you can clearly see others only when your own eyes are unobstructed (Mark 6:42). If your vision is hindered by sin, you will not look at others properly.
If your heart is pure, you will approach life without malice. You will not question others' motives, doubt the truthfulness of others, look for fault in others. Instead, you will look for the good in others, finding what's praiseworthy. If your heart is pure, you will see others the way God sees them (Matt. 6:22).
[Experiencing God Day-By-Day Devotional ]

Am I critical and judgmental of the words and actions of others?

People today can go to extremes and see something wrong in everything and every person until they separate themselves into total isolation. Profession and performance should not contradict. Faith and works go together. True faith produces true works. (Liberty Bible Commentary)

Verse 16 states: They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed. (NAS)

What's my attitude toward material things? Do I use them for good? Do they seperate me from God or are they used for His glory?


LET IT GO

Know the Truth and speak it in love.

Pray before walking into a conflict.

Have a biblical foundation for my words and actions, then stand on it.