The Cretans and Us
Titus 1:10-16
The letter of Paul to Titus is not very often quoted or remembered. But it contains valuable insights into how a leader should be, and how he/she should teach and how the members should behave.
Titus is not mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, but we know that he was a dedicated fellow worker of Paul, someone Paul trusted immensely. He was a Gentile Christian who followed Paul and Barnabas to Corinth. He probably represented Paul at Corinth (2 Cor. 8:16) and was also entrusted to finish some work there (2 Cor. 8:6).
From the letter of Paul to Titus, we know that he followed Paul to Crete; but when Paul was arrested, he was left behind to look after things there in Crete (Tit. 1:5).
The island of Crete is located in the Mediterranean Sea. We can also know that there was a tendency among the people to indulge themselves in useless talks about Jewish myths and they often reject the truth. Paul quoted one of their prophets who said, “Cretans are always liars, vicious brutes, lazy gluttons” (Tit. 1:12). Because of this, Paul advised Titus to rebuke them sharply.
Additionally, these people profess to know God but deny Him by their actions (Tit. 1:16). Such people are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
Christians today have become so inured to the many vices of the Cretans we see here. We have become accustomed to many sins that we no longer regard them as sin. We have grown to favour useless talks about myths and indulge ourselves with lies. We have grown to become lazy and gluttons too! We are not very different from the Cretans of Paul’s time.
Most importantly, we tend to pride ourselves in declaring we know God without ever showing it in our lives and actions. This must be the biggest reason why many people have turned away from Christianity today – us not showing God in our actions and behaviours.
Let us therefore examine ourselves carefully so as to attract others to Christianity through our behaviours and faith.
