Titus Connection Volume 16, Number 9 – September, 2022

WISE INTENTIONAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

TITUS CONNECTION

Volume 16, Number 9 – September, 2022

Greetings. John the Baptist is an interesting Bible character who we can learn lessons from for our own lives. His life challenges mine, especially his humble spirit. Enjoy. Mike

JOHN THE BAPTIST MESSAGE

When the time came for John the Baptist to begin his ministry, he was out in the desert, the wilderness calling people to repent because the Kingdom of heaven was coming soon (Matt 3:7-10, Mark 1:1-4, Luke 3:7-14). Repentance means a change of mind or attitude that is more than an emotional response but involves doing things and thinking differently than before. You can tell a person has changed his or her ways.

All three gospels quote Isaiah 40:3. And he preached loud and clear. He was fearless. He did not hold back with anyone as he spoke the truth He was given and was obedient. He had guts to do and say the right thing.

When the Pharisees and Sadducees showed up, he did not cower, calling them a brood of vipers, a family of snakes.” Because vipers are venomous, John was essentially calling the religious leaders “deadly sons of serpents”. How much courage do I have to do and say the right thing, even when it is not popular and controversial?

The Pharisees and Sadducees could not hide behind being “children of Abraham”. My guess is they pulled that card often. It is like saying, “I am the Pastor or the Man (or Woman) of God”. Or saying, “I am the Founder & Director of WILD, and no one can question me because of that.” That is dangerous as I or another person is putting ourselves on a pedestal, saying we are accountable to no one!

God does not need anyone of us. He will accomplish His Will whether we are obedient to Him or not, whether we work to be humble and submit to one another. The Pharisees and Sadducees thought that by being children of Abraham, they could do anything they wanted and treat others will contempt and disrespect. John said that if God wanted to, He could take stones, the ones the religious leaders were walking on and have those stones respond to being obedient to God. That should humble anyone in their thinking.

John made it clear that the ax was ready to do some chopping at the root of trees that did not bear or produce good fruit. That tree would then be cut down and thrown into the fire. Titles mean nothing. What is of meaning is whether we are bearing fruit for the Lord. Does what we do positively impact for God’s glory or our own glory? Does the work I do honor God or myself? Am I looking to have a legacy that people remember me or the Lord?

Keeping or pursuing a repentant heart means to be focused and seeking the Lord with every aspect of who you are (Luke 3:8). It is who you are, not what you do, that counts in God’s economy. What would you and I rather have? Would we want to have our name recognized and lavished over or we would we want to be a “nobody” in the eyes of others and highly esteemed by the Lord?

These are tough questions but essentially why John was calling out the religious leaders of his day. People bowed to them but they had an awfully difficult time bowing to the Savior. John made things pretty clear for people when he was asked questions on how they should live (Luke 3:11-14).

If you have two articles of clothing or a good amount of food and see someone who has nothing, share what you have. Tax collectors, take only what is required of the persons to pay. People in authority, do not use your power to treat those under you with disrespect and dishonesty. People, treat everyone with love and respect.

 

YOUTH MINISTRY – DEMEANING COMMUNICATION

Have you noticed the number of put downs or tear downs people communicate to others? Some are not too offensive, while others are very demeaning (“You, Stupid…”, “What a jerk!”, “How dumb can you be?!”). We hear them from basically everyone, no matter if the person is a Christian or not. There are some who will even tear down themselves on a regular basis. It has certainly become a real part of our cultures. Often the tear downs focus on teachers, parents and people we do not get along with.

Even how we address or acknowledge people who are our elders has drastically changed in the past decade. The lack of respect is evident. This disrespect is subtle and opens the door for a greater level of disregard for all people. We treat people with distain.

I wonder what someone who is not a Christian think when they hear (or see through a text or post) a Christian tear or puts down someone. If they heard anything about Christianity, Christians are to love others and that type of speech is totally the opposite of love. Jesus talked about what was in the heart of a person would come out (Matthew 15:17-20). Communication is a great indication of what is in a person’s heart.

Did your mom ever say to you that if you do not have anything good to say about someone, do not say it? Ephesians 4:29 has the principle to say only things that will build up another person. “Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me!” Whoever coined that phrase lived in a bubble and never had someone use words to hurt them.

I had a friend growing up who had a nickname of one of Mickey Mouse’s friends. For some reason a bunch of older guys gave this nickname to my friend. And it stuck! Every time he heard that nickname it bothered him. Over time his hearing of it dulled him, in that, it did not phase him as much as it first did. Yet one time I used that nickname, calling to him and you could see his countenance drop right before my eyes. It still hurt after several years of being called that demeaning nickname.

Perhaps you have been the recipient of a demeaning nickname or the brunt of put downs by friends, parents or classmates. It certainly can hurt every time a put down is fired your way. It tears at your deepest, inner self, destroying your image of yourself. Words hurt and they can do terrible damage.

If you have a personal faith in Jesus, knowing that He has forgiven you of your sins, a portion of the difference between Christians and people who are not Christians has to be our speech. It needs to be uplifting, truthful and loving (Colossians 4:6).

It is way too easy to be part of the crowd and be demeaning of others. It takes guts and courage to use language that encourages and shows love the way Jesus would talk to others. Find another Christian or two and make an agreement to be accountable to each other to keep each other being positive in your speech. It can be done and needs to be done by Christians.

As a Christian we have the Holy Spirit in us who greatly desires to guide us in everything if we let Him. Ask Him to help you give Him control of your communication so that you are positively different than your friends and peers!