JUST BE JUST
PART 2
TITUS 1:8
One Sunday a cowboy went to church. When he entered, he looked around and noticed that he and the preacher were the only ones present. The preacher kind of felt a little awkward so he asked the cowboy if he wanted him to go ahead and preach.
The cowboy said, "I’m not too smart, but if I went to feed my cattle and only one showed up, I’d feed him."
So the minister began his sermon. One hour passed, then two hours, then two-and-a-half hours. The preacher finally finished and came down to ask the cowboy how he liked the sermon. The cowboy answered slowly, "Well, I’m not very smart, but if I went to feed my cattle and only one showed up, I sure wouldn’t feed him all the hay..."
I will try not to feed you all the hey this morning.
We are continuing our study into the book of Titus. We are in Titus chapter 1 verse 8. If you would please turn with me there, that is page 1032 in your pew Bibles. In this verse we are given the positive qualifications of and elder.
Titus 1:8, "but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled,"
Last week we began to discuss what it is to be just. There were four areas of being just which I wanted to give to you. We discussed the first two last week. The first way was that there must be a full recognition of the freedom of others that we have in Christ. We spend a bit of time on this subject because I felt it to be an important one.
Remember that motto from the church in Massachusetts "In essentials unity; in non-essentials liberty; in all things charity."
The second way in which we are to be just was that we must not cast stumbling blocks in the way of others. We saw how our freedom can cause others to stumble, something Paul states needs to be avoided. We also read the stern warning which our Lord gives us in the gospel of Mark against making a believer stumble in their spiritual walk with the Lord.
Today I want us to examine the last two areas of how we are to be just. I also will remind you that while the context of the verse deal specifically with Elder and the leaders of the church. These are principals of qualities that can be applied to all of us.
The third area in how we are to be just is that we are not to show partiality for any reason. When it comes to this church, which is the Lord’s church, we are to open our arms to all who would enter.
I want you to please turn with me to another passage this morning and that is James 2:1-4, That is page 1045 in your pew Bibles;
"My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, "You sit here in a good place," and say to the poor man, "You stand there," or, "Sit here at my footstool, have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?"
In that particular passage James is speaking of showing partiality to those who are wealthy. Now while we may not realize we at times show partiality. The thing about it is, is that it is easy to do.
I think we all to some degree will show favoritism based on outside appearances. We gladly welcome some people above others. Yet that is not what being just is all about.
There is a certain story I want to tell; It was a beautiful Sunday morning. People were filling the church to its fullest capacity! As they entered, each were given a bulletin filled with announcements, topic of today’s sermon, what songs they would sing and who to pray for. At the end of the line stood an older man. His clothes were filthy and you could tell that he had not bathed in days. His face was covered in whiskers where he had not shaved
for a very long time. When he reached the usher, he removed his tattered old brown hat in respect. His hair was a long, dirty, tangled mess. He had no shoes on his feet, and wore only soiled, black socks.
The usher put his fingers to his nose and glared at the old man and said, "Uh, I’m sorry sir, but I’m afraid we can’t let you in. You will distract the congregation and we don’t allow anyone to disrupt our service. I’m afraid you’ll have to leave."
The old man looked down at himself and with a puzzled look on his face, he placed his old brown hat back upon his head and turned to leave. He was sad as he loved to hear the choir sing praises to the Lord. He loved to watch the little children get up in front of the church to sing their little songs. He carried in his pocket a small worn out Bible and loved to see if the minister preached a passage from the Bible that the old man had underlined. He was respectful enough and didn’t want to cause any commotion, so he hung down his head and walked back down the steps of the big brick church.
He sat down on the brick wall near the edge of the church yard and strained to listen through closed doors and windows to the singing going on in the church. Oh how he wished he could be inside with all the others. A few minutes had passed by when all of a sudden a younger man came up behind him and sat down near him. He asked the old man what he was doing. He answered, "I was going to go to church today, but they thought I was filthy and my clothes are old and worn, and they were afraid I would disrupt their service. Sorry, I didn’t introduce myself. My name is George." The two gentlemen shook hands and George couldn’t help but notice that this man had long hair like his. He wore a piece of cloth draped over his body tied with a royal purple sash. He had sandals upon his feet, now covered with dust and dirt. The stranger reached out to touch George’s shoulder and said, "Hello, George, don’t feel bad because they won’t let you in. My name is Jesus, and I’ve been trying to get into this same church for years, and they won’t let me in either."
That sounds like a sad story but sadly it is true in many cases. Many churches, and I pray that we are not one of them, only want a certain type of people. And at times we do just what James is warning against in the 2nd chapter.
I want to point some things out from James. First in verse one James states, "My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality". The Greek tense of this phrase reveals that what James is saying is to stop something that is already going on. What is being forbidden, in this case favoritism was already being practiced by the church James was writing to.
To apply that to us, if you or I or any of us are practicing favoritism for any reason what so ever, it must stop!
James proceeds to tell them why it is they need to cease this practice of favoritism.
He points out to them that this attitude is inconsistent with their faith in Christ. Who are we to look down upon the chosen of the God. What right have we to think that one of those for whom Christ died is more important the another.
After all there is not one of us who had anything to offer Christ. All who enjoy the salvation of God enjoy it by and through His grace and His grace alone.
When we show partiality because of wealth or any other physical or material thing what we are saying is that those things are worth more then Christ, worth more then the very faith by which are saved. Thus James states "stop holding the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ with partiality."
When we shoe partiality we sin against God because we expose our flesh nature rather then our spiritual nature. Or flesh nature is that which desires to fulfill the lusts of this world. Our spiritual nature desire to be like God, to walk with God. And God does not play favorites.
I will give two passages on that point; Acts 10:34; "Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality."
Also Gal. 3:28; "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
God will save whomever he will. He can save Jews, gentiles, blacks, white, men and women of all races, He can and does save those who are rich, and those who are poor. God does not show partiality He saves on the basis of grace and grace alone. There is nothing in us the influenced God to save us.
And so we should be as God, showing no partiality. Treating brothers and sisters who are in Christ equally regardless of race, color, and social status.
When we show partiality to those who are wealthy or other reasons we also show lack of spiritual care for the other. As if some how those who have wealth are more worthy hear the gospel, are more worthy to be trained in the teaching of the church of Christ.
By showing partiality we put a price tag on the work and teachings of Jesus Christ something we have no right to do.
James also points out another reason why showing favoritism is unjust. He states in verse 4; "have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?" In other words who are we to judge. Because we are all sinners our judgement are tainted by sin.
It is God and God alone who is to judge who we are to welcome into our churches. In fact God as already judged – we are to welcome all whom he sends to hear the good news of Jesus Christ.
May I say that the most susceptible person to fall into the sin of favoritism is the pastor. Sometimes I am trilled at some of the people I have seen walk through that door on Sunday morning. Sometimes I am not so trilled, (like whenever Becky walks in). Sometimes I base that on what that person looks like, sometime whether they are young or old, sometimes whether they are from this area or not. Whatever the reason I do it, it is sin.
Whenever we have a visitor I should be thrilled at the opportunity to be able to present the gospel to someone, regardless of what they look like, or where they are from. Whether they are just passing through or planning on staying.
And if you ever notice me showing favoritism you owe it to me to bring to my attention that I may be found to be just as Paul writes to Titus.
The forth and final area to be just can again especially be applied to elder or pastors and that is there must be faithfulness to the Word of God, and uprightness in admonishments and advice.
Church discipline must be based on the word of God, and that Word alone. It cannot be based on what I want or what Harley wants. It must be dealt with justly and fairly and equally. What is good for one must be good for all.
The elder must hold all to the same standard. There is not one standard for me and my family, and another for someone else. We must all be held accountable to the standard God has put forth in His word. And it is the responsibility of the Elders to make sure that happens if he is to be found just.
Now with the Bible discipline is just to taking care of the who have strayed. It refers to many things, some then being. Admonish (warn), Charge, chasten, refute, correct, exhort, instruct, rebuke, reprove, and teach. If you look up all these words in the Scripture you will see that they all fall under the category of discipline.
And if and elder is just he will see that these things are done without prejudice. A just elder needs to look to God’s Word, to God’s truth in performing these things. A just elder is to impart the truth of God in whatever circumstance.
Now there are times when Christian will stray from the Lord. There are times when an elder will find himself having to rebuke or seek to restore a brother or sister in Christ. The process for such discipline must be in accord with the Word of God.
One emotions cannot effect how one goes about this task. We cannot let vengeance be the determining factor. The just elder must do it in love, love for Christ and love for the one who is astray. And may I say that is not always easy. One of the most difficult of God’s commands is tough love. Dealing with sin in the church. But if we strive to be just, we will bring glory to God.
And as I stated earlier we all must be held to the same standard. It must be applied equally to all.
So that is what it is to be just. Now of course there are other aspects but those are what I believe to be the main points. Respecting others freedom in Christ, striving not to make your brother stumble, do not show favoritism, and being faithful to the Word of God, and showing uprightness in discipline.
We all need to "just be just" as the sermon title states. Being just brings honor and glory to God, and it certainly will benefit the church.
Now some may say, all that stuff, all those commands they are impossible to follow. And do you what? You are right. You cannot do it on your own. Without God they are impossible. We must rely on the strength of God to accomplish the things that He calls on us to do.
Another thing that is impossible without God is salvation. Listen to Luke 18:26-27; "And those who heard it said, "Who then can be saved?" But He said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."
You try your way of salvation whatever it may be. Maybe being good, going to church, doing good works, being a Buddhist, I don’t know. But I do know they will fail. You will not make it to heaven your way. No one ever has and no one ever will.
Because it is one of the those things that is impossible with men, but possible with God. You need to do it God’s way. And God’s way is to place you faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Believe that He died to pay the price for you sin, believe that he rose from the dead and sit on the right hand of the Father.
Place your faith in Him today, and you will see the impossible become possible as the power of God works in you.
LET US PRAY
