A Severe Reproval

From Titus - Life in the Church

Titus 1:10-13

¹⁰For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, ¹¹who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.  ¹²One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons."  ¹³This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith, 

reprove them severely

Is Titus told to have a nice happy meeting with them?  Is he told to kindly ask them to stop?  Are they to leave them alone and hope that they go away?  NO!  Absolutely NOT!

They are to “reprove them severely”!  Reprove means “to rebuke or to censure.”  It means confront them and tell them that they are off the mark.  Not simply hope it goes away in time, or hope that they “get better.” but to rebuke them.  Severely here is a compound word using the words for “from” and for “cut sharply.”  This is decisive action, harsh action and serious action.  Not passive action, or “nice guy” action.  He is to act harshly in response to the culture.  He is not supposed to say, “that’s their culture, so I should just accept it.” He is supposed to tell them to leave their culture, change their culture, for it is not of God!  Culture is not a sacred thing!  It is the destroyer of Churches and theology throughout the generations.  Culture does not need to be considered, but disregarded.