Are there dangerous people in the church? There were in Paul’s day, and of course there are in our day. Paul frequently warned his readers about people who were a danger to the life of the church,to its growth,prosperity,purity and testimony. Look up Rom.16-17-19;2 Cor.2:10,11 and 3:1;Gal.1:6,7;Eph.4:1-17;2Tim.4:14. Then read Matthew 16:18, where our Lord foretold that the Enemy would make great onslaughts on the life and witness of the church. This reminds us that there are two reasons why people who are a danger to the life and witness of the church are found within it. First,because of the Devil,for Satan’s chief purpose is to upset the church – look up Eph.6:12,he failed to destroy the Seed (Gen.3:15);he failed to destroy and deflect Christ from the purpose of His advent (Mt.16:23);so now he attacks the church. The second reason why there are dangerous people in the church is because the church is composed of men and women. True,they are those who have been redeemed (1Pet.1:18,19),born again (Jn.3:5),and have received new life in Christ (1Jn.5:12,13);but they are still human and possess the old adamic nature. Also,of course, there are those in the church who are only professors (Titus 1:16) and not possessors of eternal life (Jn.17:3). We should recognize that there are two chief ways in which people can be in danger in any church:the first is by holding and propagating false doctrine, and the second is by undisciplined living. If doctrine is wrong then duty is also wrong. Now turn to Titus 1:10-16 and see the conditions that prevailed in the church in Crete.There certainly were dangerous people in the church.
I. They Were Numerous.
Verse 10 tells us that there were many such people – which means they were there in alarming numbers. This was serious,whereas one person can do great damage to the work of the Lord by careless living and undisciplined gossiping,what a potential danger many such people are.
II. They Were Disobedient To God’s Word.
Verse 10 tells us that they were unruly;they refused to submit to the authority of the Scriptures and were insubordinate and ungoverned. Here is the heart of the matter. If there is trouble in Christian work it is not necessarily a clash of personalities , though it may include this; it is do to refusal on the part of someone to submit to the authority of the Word of God. In Crete these dangerous people were like disloyal soldiers refusing to obey the word of command.
III. They Were Disobedient,and This Affected The Way They Lived and What They Taught.
They caused harm but life and lip. The word ” unruly ” in verse 10 refers to their manner of life,and the words ” vain talkers ” refers to what they said. their much talking achieved no useful purpose,so what they were and what they said they were deceivers – serious indeed! Notice it was the Jewish church members who were particularly guilty in this respect. We need to remember the people who prior to their conversion were judaistic , or were caught up in some sect or group contrary to the scriptures,are especially susceptible to be used by Satan in creating difficulties and problems in the church.
more to come