“For there are also many rebellious people, full of empty talk and deception, especially those from the circumcision [Law]. It is necessary to silence them; they overthrow whole households by teaching what they shouldn’t in order to get money dishonestly.” vs10-11

We must put to silence false prophets who destroy the souls of men. We are not nice guys, merely telling the positives of believing, but we go to war and confront false prophets directly and boldly. We care for sinners, so we don’t want them deceived, and an all positive ministry is unfaithful, because it doesn’t warn, rebuke, and exhort [2 Tim 4:2]. People think, “Leave them alone. Just focus on yourself.” No. Paul says, “Silence them.” Call them out and expose their error. Be faithful to Christ.

This is a bloody war that we’re in, and if you can’t take the heat then withdraw from the forefront! You cannot be a Christian leader without zealously confronting evil. Do not be afraid to call out false prophets and damnable heresy: This isn’t being argumentative and a know it all; it is faithfully adhering to the gospel and demanding others do so also. It is warning them of the dangers you know are there. We must blast the trumpet, and we must sound the alarm. Be faithful.

Secondly, there are cultural sins that we must be aware of [vs12-13]! He says, “One of their very own prophets said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.’ This testimony is true. So, rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.” In Nigeria, we must watch for fornication and idolatry. In the West, the First Love is gone. You must be careful to preach where you are, because as Luther intimated, “If we are not in the battle where it rages, then we are cowards.” If we’re preaching justification by faith to Creflo Dollar and Joseph Prince, then we must stop, because they already believe! We must preach the promises and the spiritual nature of the kingdom, lest their hearers “amen” us and go to hell.

We must deal with the errors that we see, and that is what Paul plainly did: He dealt with the errors in Corinth, and did not treat them as Thessalonica, so let us be careful to deal with people in front of us. In the US, preach to people about the dangers of riches, greed, and covetousness. In Europe, deal with the pride of the post-Christian era. In Africa, silence the health, wealth, and prosperity preachers! Do not tiptoe around this, talking about your “positive” message. Deal faithfully with the people at hand. You are not merely preaching truth, but you’re preaching TO people. Consider your audience and be wise. We have one message, but it applies to different people. Some need deliverance from the law. Others need to be under law to Christ.

Finally, sound teaching is important, and we cannot deny this. He says, “Not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work. But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine [Titus 1:14-2:1].” We are to teach true practical godliness, not religious myths of “touch not, taste not, handle not”... but the true righteousness of love and holiness by the gospel. Some are so concerned about the externals and man made rules that they miss out on grace and good works. They don’t know how to serve God because the gospel has no power in them, and it is not understood. Therefore, they corrupt the minds of their hearers, being motivated by money and vain religious zeal! They are NOT helpful, no matter how sincere they are: They must be stopped, spoken against, and we must teach sound doctrine.