"Do not let anyone despise you." (Titus 1:15b, NIV)
The word here carries the idea of setting to the side, or dismissal. In other words, Paul is saying to Titus don't let anyone brush you off and ignore you.
Those of you who like conflict perhaps cannot understand this command. You are thinking, "of course I won't let anyone ignore me." But as I read Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus, there are various places where Paul encourages them to engage the battle. I take from this that Timothy and Titus are naturally inclined to avoid conflict.
The really important question is what issues are worth having conflict about. Christendom provides many stories of silly debates and church splits over trivialities. Yet, there are issues that are important enough that to give ground on them requires a compromise on the message of the Gospel.
From this verse I gather that once an issue is deemed important, it is vital that the leader stand his ground. I think of Martin Luther's words, "here I stand, I can do no other . . . "
Those of you who like conflict perhaps cannot understand this command. You are thinking, "of course I won't let anyone ignore me." But as I read Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus, there are various places where Paul encourages them to engage the battle. I take from this that Timothy and Titus are naturally inclined to avoid conflict.
The really important question is what issues are worth having conflict about. Christendom provides many stories of silly debates and church splits over trivialities. Yet, there are issues that are important enough that to give ground on them requires a compromise on the message of the Gospel.
From this verse I gather that once an issue is deemed important, it is vital that the leader stand his ground. I think of Martin Luther's words, "here I stand, I can do no other . . . "
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