(remember, these are unedited/draft show notes, not a transcript — listening is always better)
Focus:
What are your “two voices"?”
Intro:
I’m just going to put this out there…I think you should have two “voices” with which you speak about God stuff. And I’m not talking about your ‘inside voice’ and ‘outside voice’ like we used to tell our kids.
Hey, welcome to a new day and a new New Testament book which is the third of Paul’s pastoral epistles…his letter to Titus.
Afterward you’re going to hear me make the case that you should have two “voices” — two different contexts in which you use the conversations God gives you. So let me read this short little chapter, and then I’ll share why and what.
New covenant:
Passage: Titus 1
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 15
Words: ~302
Sound familiar? Paul’s writing to this pastor Titus like he wrote to Timothy. Consequently, we shouldn’t be surprised that some of the same themes come up…here’s what the character of godly leaders looks like. But Paul also addresses a skill — a skill that has two sides to it, perhaps like two sides of a coin.
On one side they are supposed to present a positive case for the gospel — teaching to build up and encourage. But at the same time, their faithfulness to sound doctrine (which just means teaching) is also used to refute those who contradict it. In other words, false teachers.
Now here’s why I think this applies to all of us. Here’s my argument.
Not all are called to be pastors or elders, but we are all charged with being witnesses.
Think about Christianity’s relationship to knowledge. As professor Garrett DeWeese puts it, “knowledge is at the center of proclamation and discipleship.” Further, “knowledge is the basis of responsible action in society.”(1)
Remember that when Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he said, “earnestly desire the higher gifts” meaning even if you’re not an elder or pastor or teacher, there’s something about the character of those that we should all pursue.
So what are your two voices?
Paul’s writing to Titus isn’t prescriptive for us, but I think it’s descriptive for us. If my argument holds any water, one of our voices is being a witness, sharing what we do know about our encounter with Jesus. It might not even be a lot, but just lifting up the name of Jesus positively is a start.
Our second voice is that of speaking truth in the face of falsehood. You may think of yourself as a debater or a theologian or a scholar, but you know something, and you can be intentional about growing.
So here’s one suggestion: learn one new thing about Jesus this week. And when you do, you’ll have something you can use with either voice — the voice of sharing and encouragement, or the voice of truth in the face to falsehood.
Old covenant:
Passage: 2 Kings 6-7
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 53
Words: ~1678
Wisdom:
Passage: Proverbs 10:9-14
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 6
Words: ~95
The bottom line:
You have a voice of instructing and encouraging, and you have a voice of confronting falsehood. And let me leave you with one bit of knowledge. Do you know why Christianity isn’t just about silence and solitude and stuff like that? Because it’s not all about you. We are made for relationship, both with our Creator and with others equally.
Christians, we have a great opportunity to bring hope to a world that needs it. If the Gospel has lost its appeal, luster and sufficiency and does not shine more clearly against the backdrop of chaos, mayhem and destruction, then we don't know the Gospel. ~ Harry Edwards
Love you!
Roger
ForTheHope is a daily audio Bible + apologetics podcast and blog. We’ve got a passion for just keepin’ it real, having conversations like normal people, and living out the love of Jesus better every single day.
Roger Courville, CSP is a globally-recognized expert in digitally-extended communication and connection, an award-winning speaker, award-winning author, and a passionately bad guitarist. Follow him on Twitter -- @RogerCourville and @JoinForTheHope – or his blog: www.forthehope.org.
Sources and resources:
(1) Garrett J. DeWeese. Doing Philosophy as a Christian (Christian Worldview Integration Series) (Kindle Locations 180-181). Kindle Edition.