Crossfit

“But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine” (v1).

I feel like a fat slob. It seems that everybody I know is a member of Globo Gym. Everybody is working out somehow, someway. Spinning. Zumba. P90X. Folks are busting their butts to get ripped and yoked. While the Apostle Paul had nothing against a healthy body, he tells Titus that healthy teaching about Jesus is the priority. Our doctrine needs to be in top shape so that Christ followers will be in top shape. Now that’s what I call Crossfit! 

Let’s reset the stage for what we’re reading. Paul has moved on to another divine assignment in Greek seaport of Nicopolis (Titus 3:12). He’s watched firsthand as the Gospel has turned the island of Crete upside down. The apostle has left Titus behind with three specific assignments. One, find spiritual leaders for every church (Titus 1:5). Two, shut up and shut down a crew of spiritual con artists (Titus 1:10-11). Three, establish a sustainable system of telling new believers about Jesus (Titus 2:1-10). Here Paul transitions from the false teachers’ smoke and mirrors to teaching that really makes a difference. “But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine” (v1). Those snake oil salesmen are like those so-called fitness experts on a late night cable infomercial. They’re peddling a product that sure sounds good but won’t help you lose an ounce. What we need instead is Titus the personal trainer and the healthy teaching about Jesus.

So just where to I get this idea of working out when it comes to learning about the Lord? It’s right there in the original text. Paul tells the Big T that the core message must be on target with “sound doctrine” (v1). He uses the Greek word hugiaino, which can mean to be correct, accurate, and well-grounded. But it is actually used throughout the New Testament to describing health, wellness, and fitness. It’s no surprise that we find it in Dr. Luke’s Gospel. When the religious police blow the whistle on Jesus partying with questionable characters, He lets them know that this is a spiritual house call. “Those who are well (Gr. hugiaino) have no need of a physician, but those who are sick” (Lk 5:31). Later, Jesus heals the Roman centurion’s employee remotely, “And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well (Gr. hugiaino)” (Lk 7:10).

It’s the Apostle Paul who regularly uses this word when talking about teaching that is in top shape. He tells Timothy that domestic violence, murder, sexual sin, the slave trade, lying, perjury “is contrary to sound (Gr. hugiaino) doctrine” (1Tim 1:10). Later the apostle tells Tim that somebody must be an arrogant knucklehead if their teaching “does not agree with the sound (Gr. hugiaino) words of our Lord Jesus” (1Tim 6:3). Two other times in this little letter to Titus, Paul describes a rock-hard and ripped teaching about Christ (Titus 1:9, 13; 2:2). Doctrine that’s strong and with little body fat comes from PED.  I’m not talking about steroids. This is performance enhancing doctrine. That comes from being Crossfit.

We need strong, healthy doctrine because we’re going to come under attack. The best way to step into the octagon of our culture is to be in tip top spiritual condition. The most effective way to build your faith muscles is through lots of reps in God’s Word. We’re not out to look good. We’re out for true strength. And that strength only comes when we have a more dynamic relationship with Jesus. We repeatedly dig into Scripture for a closer look at “the Founder and Perfecter of our faith” (Heb 12:2). I need to realize that I can never get myself in perfect spiritual condition. But I can place my trust in the One who is. He takes my sin and gives me His perfection (2Cor 5:21). That’s what it means to be Crossfit.