(REFLECTIONS ON Titus 2:11-15)

“Just Say No” was an anti-drug campaign in the United States during the 80’s and 90’s. Through advertisements, children were taught to just say no to drugs. In today’s Scripture, Paul writes that the grace of God also teaches us to just say “No.”

11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

So, what is it that we are saying no to? Perhaps we can think of this as a call for social justice, advocacy, and change, however, is that simply what it means? The grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. Paul’s message is about salvation, and not just change in the world. His letter to Titus teaches us to just say no to the world, to ungodliness, to worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives as we wait for our hope in Christ. Paul says we are to be eager to do what is good.

What Paul is teaching is how we face this cruel and unforgiving world. Yes, there are many things wrong with this world, and many things that need to be changed. That is because the world is on fire, and this symbolic fire and burning we see all over the news everyday.

However, what we should not try to do is fight fire with fire. If we fight fire with fire we are compromising on our own faith, and becoming like the world in order to try to change it.

There is a need for social justice, advocacy, and change,
but that can’t be at the cost or compromise of our faith and integrity.

If while we are fighting for just causes, we become like the ungodly, part of the chaos, lose our integrity, then where is the grace of God that offers salvation to all people? Instead of salvation, is it possible that we end up adding more fuel to the fire, adding to the chaos, and becoming more like what is wrong with the world than Christ?

This is what Paul is warning Titus of, and why Paul left Titus in Crete to establish spiritual leadership there. For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. Let us save lives, not ruin lives, let us pour grace on the fire, and not add more fuel to the fire.

If we live by the old adage of fight fire with fire, perhaps rather than positive change and salvation in the world, what we will see is that it is our very souls, and the soul of the church that is consumed by the fire. In addition to burning down the injustice in the world, we perhaps will find ourselves in the ashes as well.

Let us prayerfully consider how we advocate for justice, promote change in a broken world, deal with unhealthy and toxic relationships, but at the same time not reducing our faith and our actions to ungodliness. For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people, not ungodliness, not destruction, not fire, but good, even in the face of evil.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Titus 2