Steps to Resolve Problems

Steps to Resolve Problems

“Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These things are useless and a waste of time.  If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them.  For people like that have turned away from the truth, and their own sins condemn them.” ~Titus 3:9-11 (NLT2) ~

 A man that is a heretic after the first and second admonition reject;

3:9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. ^NIV

If sound teaching and good works were "excellent and profitable to everyone" (3:8), obviously foolish arguments were unprofitable and useless. Paul warned Titus, as he warned Timothy, not to get involved in foolish and unprofitable arguments (1 Timothy 1:4; 6:4; 2 Timothy 2:14, 23). The false teaching in Crete apparently had Jewish roots and focused on two errors: "Jewish myths" (1:14) and quarrels about the law—probably some useless speculations on the Old Testament rules and rituals, especially Jewish laws regarding what was clean and unclean. These teachers were causing controversies, arguments, and quarrels about their own wholly imaginary ideas, using methods similar to those of the false teachers in Ephesus and Colosse.

Paul also referred to genealogies in his warning to Timothy. It might be that the false teachings in Crete, Ephesus, and Colosse had some of the same tangents (see 1 Timothy 1:4; Colossians 2:8, 18), including imaginary genealogies of angels. These were needed, so the false teachers said because believers had to worship angels as well as God. But these speculative arguments took valuable time away from teaching the truth of Scripture and spreading the gospel. Pointless controversy does not help advance the truth.

Paul warned Titus and Timothy to avoid the false teachers' debates and arguments, not even bothering to answer their pretentious positions. This did not mean that the church leaders should refuse to study, discuss, and examine different interpretations of difficult Bible passages. Paul was warning against petty quarrels, not an honest discussion that leads to wisdom. As foolish arguments develop, they should rebuke false teaching (1:13) and turn the discussion back to a helpful and profitable direction. Meanwhile, the faithful minister should continue to emphasize those truths that God wants to be taught.

3:10 After a first and second admonition, have nothing more to do with anyone who causes divisions. ^NRSV

Paul gave a similar warning at the end of Romans 16:17-20 and follows Jesus' pattern in Matthew 18:15-17. Besides avoiding the false teachers' debates, Titus needed to take specific action toward the false teachers themselves, as with anyone who causes divisions. These divisive people insisted on their own opinions without proper biblical undergirding. Even more than their doctrine, their church-wrecking behavior had to be stopped. While false teachers outside the church were to be avoided, a person inside the church must be warned not to cause division or threaten the unity of the church. 

This warning should not be a heavy-handed action because it is intended to correct the individual's divisive nature and restore him or her to fellowship. Paul allowed for two warnings before having nothing more to do with the person. This step of excommunication is like Jesus saying to treat them like a pagan or a tax collector.

Paul was giving Titus a guideline for "discipline on the run" as he pursued his duties on Crete. More than two warnings to someone creating distractions and false teaching would involve Titus with them too deeply and hurt his effectiveness elsewhere.

LIFE APPLICATION: CHURCH DISCIPLINE

In Matthew 18:15-17, Jesus gave a four-step process for church discipline that Paul uses here. Jesus said:

1. Go to the one who sins against you one-on-one.

2. If the person does not listen, take one or two others along as witnesses and try to solve the problem.

3. If the person still refuses to listen, take the matter to the church (most churches handle it by having the elders decide the issue).

4. Finally, put the person out of the church, treating him or her like a "pagan" or a "tax collector."

These guidelines are for Christians to use with Christians. They are for sins committed against us, not for us to use in order to ferret out sins others do against others. They are to be used to deal with problems within the church, not in the community at large.

Finally, believers must remember that Jesus' words are not permission to attack every person who wrongs or slights us. Nor do they permit us to find two or three others to form a gossip campaign. These guidelines must never be used to escalate conflict; they are to be used as steps to resolve problems.

3:11 Since you know that such a person is perverted and sinful, being self-condemned. ^NRSV

Those who refused to be corrected should be put outside the fellowship, or at least be avoided by Titus if they were not part of the church. A person's stubborn refusal to stop teaching false doctrine and to stop causing division in the church (even after being lovingly admonished) evidenced a perverted and sinful mind, one that is self-condemned; in other words, such actions condemn the doer. (See also Matthew 18:15-18 and 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 for help in handling such problems in the church.)

A local church cannot modify its doctrine for every new idea or accommodate every person's viewpoint. It may be better to risk having a member leave for another church that emphasizes his or her theological "hot button" than to try to be a church that caters to every conceivable theological taste. A church cannot get to the important work of evangelism and service to others if the theological base is shaky or if the church is embroiled in theological controversy.

<><

Bruce B. Barton, David R. Veerman, Neil Wilson, Life Application Bible Commentary – 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 1993), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "TITUS 3".

<><