Titus 2. But as for you [Titus], teach what accords with sound doctrine (2:1). Paul reminds Titus that his primary task in helping establish these new churches in Crete is to teach sound doctrine, and to choose local church leadership who will do the same.

It’s helpful for us to read this letter to Titus from a missional standpoint – these are new Christian churches in a culture that was not Christian; in a culture where a new religion would have been suspect. How do we react when someone arrives in our neighborhood and starts talking to everyone about some new belief they have that does not match up with worldviews we have heard of previously? We are typically a bit standoff-ish, keeping a skeptical eye on the new people and their ideas, at least until we find out what kind of people they really are!

Titus is dealing with a similar situation in Crete; the local population is looking at the young church with its strange beliefs and wondering what kind of people they are going to turn out to be! Thus, Paul reminds Titus that how the congregation lives among unbelievers is important, if they are to be successful in reaching others for Jesus Christ. For the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age (2:11-12). The concern here is salvation for all people, and therefore Christians must live godly lives in their communities.

In this missional context, Paul’s instructions for various people groups are meant to counteract common stereotypes of each group.

The stereotype for older men was that they might be lazy, selfish drunkards. Paul encourages them to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, and full of faith and love. Then the church must respect, honor and care for them; which was also counter-cultural for the treatment of elderly people.

The stereotype for older women was that they might be drunks, toothless, dirty, chatty, cantankerous, and generally rather useless. Paul encourages them to not be slanderers or enslaved to too much wine, but instead to embrace their role as teachers and trainers for the next generation of younger women and thereby make themselves useful to the church.

The stereotype for younger women was that they might be self-indulgent, seeking pleasure, and neglect the care of their households. In the culture of that era, a virtuous young woman cared for her home, her husband, and her children well and Paul encourages young women to embrace that cultural model and care for their people well. Note that young women must be trained to do this, as it is not part of anyone’s natural inclination to serve others selflessly in the way a family often demands.

The stereotype for younger men was that they were constantly seeking their own pleasure and lacking in self-control, especially regarding their sexual passions. Paul encourages them to be self-controlled in everything.

In all things, Christians were to show themselves in all respects to be a model of good works… so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us (2:7-8). In living lives above reproach, these new congregations would have ample opportunity to share the good news of the gospel with their unbelieving neighbors.

What stereotypes exist in our culture today? Where could the example of Christians not living in the stereotype be helpful for the cause of the gospel?