A Defective Church

(Titus 1:5-9 – A Defective Church)

There are many issues with the modern church. Some of those issues go back to the very early church. We see many instances where the early apostles spoke of false doctrines in the early church and had to take actions to rectify those things.

In this scripture today we see another problem that if not rectified can be catastrophic for the church. Without this problem overcome, you are left with a defective church.

As we examine scripture, there are a great many problems in a defective church that has the issue spoken of in this verse. And that is why Paul instructed Titus to fix the defect.

A Defective Church in Crete

Paul wrote to Titus after he had left Titus in Crete. He was left there for a very specific reason: to fix a defective church.

The defect was actually quite easy to fix, which we see as we read on. Paul defined the defect in the first part of this verse today.

This is why I left you in Crete, that you might amend what was defective, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you (Titus 1:5)

A defective church is one where there are no Elders appointed to manage the affairs of the church.

Elders have a very important function in the church. Without Elders appointed in the church, all kinds of error can enter the church to lead the church astray and destroy the church. That is why it was so important to the church in Crete at that time to have Elders appointed.

The Role of Elders

Elders in the church have a critical role. They are charged with the care of the church in many ways. The rest of this scripture today looks at the requirements to become and Elder in the church.

6 if any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of being profligate or insubordinate. 7 For a bishop, as God’s steward, must be blameless; he must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of goodness, master of himself, upright, holy, and self-controlled; 9 he must hold firm to the sure word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to confute those who contradict it. (Titus 1:6-9)

Elders are necessary if we are to fix a defective church. But there are conditions that need to be met before someone can become an Elder in the church, as this scripture shows us.

An Elder must first be blameless. They should be of a good reputation and held in regard by the people in the church. They should be in control of themselves and not be arrogant, quick tempered, or a slave to the passions of the flesh.

In his instructions to Timothy on Eldership, Paul says that an Elder must not be a recent convert (see 1 Timothy 3:6) as they may become puffed up with pride, conceit, and arrogance. A proud and arrogant person cannot manage the affairs of a church where the aim of the church is love, compassion, mercy, and so on. A proud and arrogant person will make poor decisions and lead the church astray. They will likely become a tool of the devil to destroy the church and it will be a defective church.

An Elder must not be a drunkard or greedy for gain. They need to have their eye on the needs of the church and following Christ, not be led by passions to seek gratification of the flesh. A greedy person seeks money and wealth, and a drunkard has their mind addled and cannot think clearly. Such people should not be leaders in the church and where they exist it will be a defective church.

By contrast, an Elder should be hospitable, a lover of what is good, not overcome by human passions, stable, upright, and be holy in all they do and say.

To prevent a defective church from emerging, it is critical that the Elders have a solid understanding of the word of God and the truth of the gospel.

This is one of the critical roles for an Elder to prevent the church becoming a defective church.

Elders are the gatekeepers of the church. They look at the doctrines and teachings that come into the church to be sure there is no false doctrine or false teachings. They listen to the words of the prophets in the church to ensure what is said in prophecy aligns with the scripture and the will of God. Elders deal with false teachers and false prophets so that they do not influence and overcome the church.

Elders are responsible for ensuring the truth is held fast and all errors are identified and rejected. They need to be able to instruct the church on what is right, and be able to use scripture to confute those who are trying to bring error into the church.

Eldership in a church is no easy task. It is not to be taken lightly by either those in Eldership, or the rest of the church. Their role is critical to prevent a church becoming a defective church.

A Defective Church Today

Just as we saw that Titus was left in Crete to amend a defective church by appointing Elders, so too today if a church does not have a body of Elders managing the church affairs, it will become a defective church.

The broad church today is filled with many errors and false doctrines. And it is getting worse.

Churches are being led by charismatic individuals or structured layers of clergy with a man at the top, and they do not realise that such structures are not correct.

Many of these structures are Antichrist structures because they put a man at the head of the church rather than having Christ at the head.

Whenever someone takes the rightful place of Jesus Christ as the head of a church, then they have deposed Christ and have become an Antichrist. They have replaced the truth of Christ with a lie, and the spirit of Antichrist will most likely take them over and wreak havoc in the church.

The structure of the church is critical if it is to run correctly and in alignment with the will of God and of Jesus Christ. The correct structure of the church has Christ at the head, then a body of Elders to manage the affairs of the church.

But even the Elders are not greater than the members of the church. The church is a brotherhood of co-equals. Eldership is a role, but not so they can lord it over the church. Elders are servants of the Lord and they serve Him by serving the church in the matters discussed above.

Just as Jesus came to serve and was here as a servant, so too Elders are called to serve the church. They may well have authority in matters of doctrine, teaching, and the affairs of the church, but they take those roles to build the church and serve the flock of God. They do not become Elders to be served by the church or to lord it over the church.

Too many churches today do not have a body of Elders in the church. Or often those that do have an Eldership, the Elders are under the authority of a church leader or senior Elder. In essence such churches have created an Antichrist structure. They are being led by a man and not by Christ. And as a consequence they are a defective church.

False doctrines in a defective church

We only need to look at the types of doctrines being spread among the churches today to see the effect. Prosperity gospel, divine health, word of faith ministry, once saved always saved, laughing in the Spirit, being slain in the Spirit, and more. These are not doctrines of Jesus Christ but have been brought into the church by men seeking some advantage over the church. They are false doctrines and should be rejected.

And one of the worst of the modern false doctrines is the teachings of what has been called “Progressive Christianity.” These teachings are moving people away from the truth of the doctrines of Jesus Christ to create their own religion. Progressive Christianity does not promote biblical truth and when reading the eight points that define what it is, they do not accept the Bible as the whole truth of God. They claim Christianity is only one way to God, but there are many others.

But Jesus said:

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

That is pretty clear. If you want to come to the Father and live with Him, then there is no other way than through Jesus Christ. Without Christ, there is no other path to the Father.

Progressive Christianity, if it spreads further, will create a defective church because like all other false doctrines, it is not based upon the truth of Jesus Christ, but on lies perpetrated by man.

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