A Sharp Rebuke

I have a short post today with only a passage of scripture, and just a few comments of truth following: “One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, the Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate” (Titus 1:12-16). Wow! Talk about a hard slap in the face. If this description given by the apostle Paul of the congregation in Crete does not describe the condition of the body of Christ today, then we just need to throw out all the Bibles and let every man decide what is true in his own eyes. Oh I forgot, that has already happened. Riiiight, that is WHY this passage addresses so many of God’s people today. It’s all there for the seeing my friend, if you’re eyes are by any means anointed with any eyesalve at all (Rev. 3:18). Spiritual slothfulness, overeating replacing the more evident vices of alcohol and smoking, deceit and pride rather than honesty and humility. Check, check, and check. Jewish fables? Are you kidding? They are absolutely rampant, fueled by the stark ignorance of the Israel worship that the body of Christ is absorbed in.

As for the commandments of men, Check. As they always have, the abundance of the commandments and doctrines of men have “made the commandment of God of none effect by [your] tradition” (Mat. 15:6). And that last part, “touch not; taste not; handle not:” God’s people today have been made to believe, by means of the doctrines of men, that just about EVERYTHING is unclean! (Col. 2:21). Everything has become about externals, whether FOR ‘holiness’ or against ‘holiness.’ That’s right, I’ve had several fine folks describe ‘holiness’ to me as dress codes, hair codes, and being for or against certain physical symbols, and the like. Even observance of Zodiac signs. No kidding. This passage in Titus just really jumped out at me today, because I have sadly seen this condition of God’s people in so many quarters deprive one another, myself, Jesus, his Father, and all the body of Christ of true, genuine fellowship and communion in God’s holy love and power that would show this world what God is REALLY about. If only his dear souls would do as the apostle plainly instructed God’s elect to do in this circumstance of this late hour of the Gentile dispensation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such TURN AWAY” (II Tim. 3:5). All I can say is, Amen. Oh yeah, there is one more thing I can say: If the shoe fits, THROW IT AWAY AND GET A NEW PAIR!!