Titus 1:10 (ESV)
For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers,
especially those of the circumcision party.
There is a reason that individuals of character
and sound doctrine are to be appointed as elders. The reason is the presence of
“many” who are described in three categories: Insubordinate, Empty Talkers, Deceivers.
There seems to be a progression in the categories. First are those who are not
submissive either to the Lord or to his appointed leaders. God never calls us
to blindly follow leaders. What they teach and where they lead must be tested
against the Word of God, but God does call us to show proper respect to them even
when we may not agree with their decisions. Eventually insubordination turns
into empty talk. An empty talker is one who wrangles with words and speaks
without a biblical or moral foundation. This is not talking about old farmers
chatting over a cup of coffee. This is talking about those who sow seeds of discontent,
those who promote unbiblical teaching or responses. I recently read about
someone who has supposedly studied the Scriptures. He has discerned that there is
not one God, but five God’s in the Bible. Additionally, he insists that there
is not one Christ but two. There is the Son of God who dwells in Heaven. That
is Jesus. Then there is the Son of Man who dwells on earth. He revealed that
the Son of Man is Donald Trump. He wrote a book about it. Don’t bother reading
it. This is empty talk that leads to the final category of deception. Insubordination
leads to empty talk that ends with deception. But it all starts with a heart
that is not subject to accountability or biblical leadership. Maybe at this
point we need to do our own heart check. Where am I resisting God’s leading in
my life? Where am I disrespecting those in authority over me? There is an old
chorus that says, “It only takes a spark to get a fire going.” It’s talking
about starting something good, but it only takes a spark of insubordination to start
a ravaging forest fire that destroys churches and individuals who are
attempting to follow Christ. How is your heart today?
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