A Rude Awakening

“This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in their faith” (v13).

A little boy is playing in the front yard. He’s kicking the ball around when it suddenly bounces out into the busy street. The kid doesn't even blink and runs to get it. He doesn’t see the danger. But his dad does. Just before the little dude jumps off the curb to retrieve his ball, his father grabs him by the arm and jerks him to safety. Dad’s move freaks him out. He doesn’t understand and starts to cry. He doesn’t see this as loving. He doesn’t see this as caring. Instead he thinks his dad is mean. Here in his letter to Titus, Paul tells him that there are going to be times when folks are going to think he’s rude and uncaring. There are times when folks might think you’re rude and rough. There are situations when God’s people are in danger and something has to be done right here and right now. They don’t see the danger. But sometimes folks need a rude awakening.

Paul lets Titus know that this is how he’s going to have to deal with a posse of false teachers on his mission to Crete. The Gospel of Jesus has radically transformed this Mediterranean island. There are new believers everywhere. But there are also spiritual con artists sneaking into local churches and getting folks off track with their religious hocus-pocus (Titus 1:10-11). They’re going so far as tearing apart families. They’re scamming folks out of their savings. What makes matters even worse is that these troublemakers are members of the so-called “circumcision party” (Titus 1:11). They’re Jews and believe these new Gentile Christians need to convert to Judaism before they can ever think of following Messiah Jesus. In other words, this is an inside job. It’s a huge reminder that the greatest threat to grace actually comes from inside the church. That’s exactly what’s going down right before Titus’ eyes. Something has to be done and be done quickly. They are in danger. These folks need a rude awakening.

The apostle first tells the Big T, “This testimony is true” (v13). He’s talking about Epimenides description of his Cretan home boys in the previous verse. In his best-selling poem, Epimenides wrote, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons” (Titus 1:12). Paul uses this as the scouting report for the people Titus is dealing with on this very important assignment. But it also applies specifically to the false teachers who are stirring the pot. Epimenides calls them liars, bullies, and slobs. I mean, he ought to know. He grew up there! Paul tells Titus that this intel is the real deal. It’s spot on. “This testimony is true” (v13). True dat. You can take it to the bank. 

Something must be done and it must be done right now. “Therefore rebuke them sharply” (v13). Do not pass “go.” Do not collect $200. Shut them up and shut them down immediately. By using the word “rebuke” (Gr. elegcho), Paul tells Titus to convict them by bringing their sin to light and reprehend severely. He must show them what they have done wrong. This Greek term could be used as a legal term when an attorney cross-examines a witness or accuses a defendant of a crime. A rebuke isn’t just telling somebody to shut up. You’re also letting them know exactly why they need to put a sock in it. 

There are times when this correction must happen immediately. That’s the case on Crete. The man from Tarsus tells the Big T to act “sharply” (v13). A look at the original language reveals the word apotomos, which means severely, abruptly, or harshly. It literally conveys the idea of something being cut off. As Canadian rocker Bryan Adams sings, “Cuts like a knife and feels so right.” The action that must be taken seems severe. It seems abrupt. It seems harsh. But people don’t see the danger. These folks need a rude awakening. That includes me. If I’m teaching something that’s running others into the ditch, somebody needs to shut me up immediately. If I’m in the wrong, I desperately need a rude awakening.

A big reason for the urgency is that the impact these false teachers have on others. The false teachers are not sinning solo. They’re having a direct impact on these new believers. They leave families in shambles. They drain bank accounts. We’ll see in the next verse that they’re using the smoke and mirrors of Jewish myths to drive a wedge between their faith and Jesus. This is a reminder that no man is an island. Even my most secret sin has its effect on those around me. Because my sin impacts others, I need a wakeup call. I desperately need a rude awakening.

Don’t miss the fact that Paul doesn’t see these spiritual snake oil salesmen as a lost cause. He really hopes that once Titus gets their attention, “they may be sound in the faith” (13). You see, nobody is outside the reach of God’s love. Nobody is too bad a sinner for God to save. The apostle knows that firsthand. He was so opposed to Jesus and His new church that he dedicated his life to wiping them off the planet. But a funny thing happened when Paul was on his way to arrest, torture, and kill more Jesus’ followers in Damascus. The resurrected Rabbi/Carpenter blindsided and saved him. If Christ can save Paul, He can do the same for the Cretan false teachers. Take a look around. Who do you think is too sinful to save? We all need to remember that Jesus is a much better Savior than the worst of sinners. When God gets ahold of the so-called “bad guys,” we get a rude awakening.