Lord. We are seeing some very tur bulent hours on the American scene. We may not always agree with our leaders, but that doesn’t give us the right to riot and break the law (cf. Acts 4:19, 20; 5:29, 40, 41). There are civic and municipal duties. We’re to be interested in our community, even from a civic point of view. We’re not called to live an insulated life. We’re to stand behind those things which need to be buttressed and enforced. We need a positive at titude, co-operating with and seek ing to further all that is beneficial to our fellow man. If, because of con science, we refuse to obey a certain law, then we must be prepared to pay the civic penalty for not keeping that law. It’s unfortunate in so many cases that the courts are entirely too leni ent. No wonder it irritates most of the citizenry. A man can murder somebody. Then, by engag ing a clever lawyer, he can get out of the penalty, and yet no one seems to worry about the poor fellow who got killed. Capital punishment is, of course, frowned upon. If young peo ple, on college and university cam puses, are going to break the law, then they must also be willing to pay the price. We’re living in dyna mite days. If you’re an interested citizen you need to get in there and express yourself. In verse 2 we have the obligation of the Christian in relation to citizens in general. We're told to “speak evil of no man.” We’re not to be conten tious, but gentle, showing meekness toward all men. On the negative side, the common snares are prohibited. We’re to speak evil of no man. This doesn’t mean that we can’t expose the evils of men. Jesus Himself did that very forcibly. Rather, we’re not to malign, slander or speak injuri ously of others. We are to abstain from being quarrelsome. Do you know any Christians who need to learn this lesson? People who’re al- 16
ways fighting are wretched citizens, neighbors and Christians. The believ er must be very careful in his own Christian life and experience. C hapter F ifteen I t has been our privilege to study Paul’s words to Titus, given under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. In the third chapter we find an ex cellent exhortation concerning the believer’s responsibility to the cir cumstances of government and soci ety. In the first two verses there are the obligations as a citizen of the country in which he lives. In 3-8, there are the motives often char acterizing every believer. Scripture points out that we were also foolish, at one time disobedient, deceived, serving lust and pleasure, living in malice and envy. Then that great truth that our gift of eternal life is not by works done in righteous ness which we did ourselves, “but according to His mercy He saved us.” This is a master outline of evan gelical teaching. We see emphasized the transforming effect of God’s kindness. These profound doctrinal realities demand a life consistent with Christ (v. 8). We must not forget, says Paul, from what we have been saved. He includes him self in this description of our past life. The word “foolish” in verse 3 means lacking in spiritual discern ment. Because of sin, the mind of fallen man has become wholly per verted (Rom. 1:28). With a sort of grim humor, Paul flashes a sud den light on what is called “the life of pleasure.” He shows what a slav ery it really is. These people spent their lives in malice and envy. Their detestable character and malignant disposition aroused mutual repul sion and antagonism. This promot ed the break up of the bands of hu man society. Not all unsaved people of the world reveal these same char acteristics. Yet, this is a picture of
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