The New "New" is Not So New

Our church just finished going through the Book of Titus in a rather exegetical manner. We spent quite a bit of time on qualifications of elders (that was rather painful but encouraging). There was one theme that stood out and was mentioned a few times; the theme of sound doctrine in the church. That is not popular in many churches today. People do not want to hear sound doctrine. That really should not be a surprise since the Apostle Paul said that is exactly what would happen in the church (2 Tim 3). People want to hear a devotional. Some want to have round table dialogue in place of a sermon. Sermons are out. Theology is out. Relevant is in. One problem is that there is no standard for what is relevant, except maybe anything new that does not reflect the old usually associated with traditional church. I have to agree that the church has not always done it right. We have not always shown the world that we are disciples of Christ by the way we are supposed to love each other. Still, Christ has committed Himself to the church. It is still His plan for the world today. Titus gives us some very relevant theology on relationships: our relationships in church, at home, with each other, with our nation, and with those who do not agree with us. This very old book is remarkably new in a way. It tells us how to do church and especially life and relationships in a very old way. It was pretty much of a verse by verse study without getting too bogged down. Things were seen that were uncomfortable and challenging. They were things contrary to the way we do some things in church today. But they were refreshing because God is so relevant and has given us what we need to know to have churches that please Him rather than please ourselves. So, I am thankful for a church that wants theology, a little church history, and church to be what Christ wants it to be and has explained how to do it. The new "new" is not so new because Titus faced the same problems we do, and the old "old" is very refreshing.