Live What You Teach, Teach What You Live

“and in your teaching show integrity, dignity” (Titus 2:7)

Mr. Parker was the greatest. There’s no teacher that impacted my life like he did. And I’m not the only one. As the vocal music instructor at my high school, he poured into the lives hundreds of students, many of whom never sang in a choir, chorus, or quartet. That’s because Mr. Parker lived his life with integrity. He was great in the classroom but he was even better in life. He lived and we learned. That’s Paul’s point to Titus. Understand that your influence extends well beyond what you teach. People learn by how you live. 

In this second chapter of his letter, the Apostle Paul tells his man Titus all about establishing a system of instruction that will last long after he’s left the island of Crete. The Gospel of Jesus has clearly transformed the people here. Now they need a sustainable structure of telling others what it means to follow Christ. Paul begins by telling him what to teach. “Teach what accords to sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1). He then tells him whom to teach (Titus 2:2-6,9-10). He then tells him how to teach (v7-8). Titus must teach with integrity. He must teach with dignity. Both in the classroom and out. Two things will occur. Believers will learn how to live. Opponents will have no room to criticize you or the Gospel. What a powerful lesson for everyone who teaches, especially those who teach about Jesus. Yikes, that means me!

First of all, we’re to teach with “integrity” (v7). This is the Greek word aphthoria, which means not subject to corruption, purity, and honesty. It’s the idea of having good character, being moral and virtuous. But the basic meaning of the term is wholeness and being undivided. We should be the same all the time. We should be the same everywhere we go. We should be the same with everyone we’re with. You’ll hear engineers talk about the structural integrity of a building, bridge, or machine. When it has integrity, it’s sturdy and stable. It’s not rickety and held together by duct tape and paper clips. It’s able to withstand harsh conditions. That’s the kind of integrity teachers of God’s Word need to have. And that only comes when we build our house on the Rock (Mt 7:24-27). It’s not about the structure, but the foundation. The foundation of our trust must be in the person and work of Jesus. He’s the ultimate in integrity.

Teachers must also possess “dignity” (Gr. semnotes). Paul’s talking to Titus about proper conduct, respectability, seriousness, and acting the right way. In other words, our teaching in the classroom hangs on our conduct outside of it. We can be up for “teacher of the year” for our fabulous lessons and methods but send it all down the crapper when our life doesn’t back it up. Our dignity backs up our message. It gives us credibility. It’s gives us moral and ethical capital for what we teach. Let’s be clear about one thing. This does NOT mean that you live a perfect life. There’s only one Teacher who pulled that off. Trust in His perfection. And when you do jack things up (and you WILL jack things up!), confess and repent. Be transparent. Teachers need Jesus just as much as their students. 

Live what you teach. Teach what you live. That’s exactly what Mr. Parker did.