Titus 3: A Biblical Response to the Current Political Climate

I don’t know about you, but Titus seems to be one of those less referred to books of the Bible. And yet, like all of Scripture, it’s full of rich truth that, when applied, significantly serves believers in this earthly walk. Titus 3, in particular, is a chapter I’ve found to be quite helpful in terms of navigating this chaotic culture with its politically vigorous climate.

First, it gives us a glorious picture of the gospel and it’s transformative, lifesaving, life-giving power. Consider Titus 3:3-7:

“For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Titus isn’t the only book of the Bible to bless us with such a clear passage of what it means to be saved. Ephesians (chapters 1 and 2, specifically) also conveys this idea that we — all of us — were once “dead in … trespasses and sins.” But for those who have put their faith in Christ, the conclusion is the same: You’re no longer dead. You’re forgiven and free. Your slavery to sin has been abolished forever, and your citizenship in heaven is secure. Hallelujah!

Now, this is all quite significant as we take the focus off ourselves and onto the culture around us. I, for one, have found that working in politics can be unpleasant, frequently frustrating, and, in many cases, rather depressing. Rampant crime, untrustworthy politicians, harmful and corrupt ideologies, fighting to keep babies alive in the womb and children at school safe, and many, many other factors can sure take a toll on us. Add to this the infuriating hypocrisy we see in both government officials and average American citizens. Who would want to engage in this realm of calamity?

To be frank, I don’t think anyone does, really. At least, not without a reason. There must be some motivating factor that drives us into the public square where hardship, stress, and opposition are inevitable. While many different people have their many different reasons, for believers, I contend that we partake because we know not a single soul is beyond saving. We know not a single soul is without a deep, desperate, and urgent need for the gospel. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:11, “And such were some of you.”

But unlike the mass of unbelievers in the land of political craziness, we have been “washed,” “sanctified,” and “justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” And so, with this in mind, let’s look at the biblical response, provided by Titus 3, we ought to have to the current political climate.

1. Be Submissive, Be Obedient

Titus 3:1 reads, “Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work.” As Christians, we are called to be different. As a general principle, we are to be submissive and obedient to rulers and authorities with two exceptions: 1) we’re commanded to do something God forbids, or 2) we’re forbidden to do something God commands. Outside of those two circumstances, we are called to submit and to obey.

And really, this is to the benefit of the believer. When we submit, as Romans 13 also instructs us to do, we are walking “properly” and serving as good witnesses to the truth of God (Romans 13:13). Ultimately, “there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” (v. 1b). And so, we can submit, even to corrupt leaders, with confidence and peace. Nothing is outside the control of an Almighty God, and that includes the government we often feel is beyond repair.

Another note before we move to the next piece of advice Titus has to offer is that our obedience, by and large, will help us with our call to evangelism. By God’s grace, we have rights and protections in our Constitution that allow us to worship and preach the gospel freely. By abiding under governmental authority, we help keep those protections in place as they are applied to our everyday lives. If Christians were the ones most guilty of causing chaos through malicious rebellion, who do you think would want to fight to protect our right to live out our faith freely?

So, in response to this political climate, let us put our trust in our sovereign Lord as we submit and obey that which He has put in place. This, Titus wrote, will allow us “to be ready for every good work.”

2. Speak No Evil, Show Courtesy

It’s possible this second verse will be more difficult to put into practice. As Titus 3:2 reads, we are “to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.” Wow. That’s quite the list! Not to mention the fact that this is a list full of callings we fail to accomplish daily.

We speak evil of presidents, congressmen, and all kinds of government officials who don’t work in the way we feel they should. Look online and you’ll see plenty of examples of what it looks like not to avoid quarreling. To be gentle is not consistently our first tactic amid controversial dialogue, and who is actually capable of showing “perfect courtesy” toward not some but “all people”? These are all crucial for the believer to consider. And Lord willing, the more we consider these things, the more we will see that it is possible to strive in the way of speaking no evil, avoiding quarrels, and being gentle and courteous. However, it requires help.

None of this will be accomplished by our own power. Yes, it does take a desire. And such desire should lead to the disciplines that will help us, such as reading Scripture, engaging in prayer, and being active in godly communities. But we need mercy, grace, patience, and compassion. Thanks be to God, because despite all our shortcomings, “His mercies never come to an end” (Lamentations 3:22b). “He gives more grace” (James 4:6). He “is patient toward you” (2 Peter 3:9). “The Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him” (Psalm 103:13).

And if this is true of us, dear reader, isn’t it then just as true of how we are to treat others? Scripture calls us to be imitators of Christ (Ephesians 5:1) and lights in this world (Matthew 5:14). We’re called to be different, and this is just as true in every circumstance as it is when we face political turmoil. But we won’t be different at all if we continue to be okay speaking evil, fighting with each other, and avoiding the Bible’s call for us to have noble character.

There’s a beautiful statement given in the book, “War of Words,” by Paul David Tripp. The author recalls some frustrations he experienced during his preaching ministry where a couple in the congregation spoke harshly of his sermons. Tripp did not react well, but in wise council, his friend Tedd told him, “Whatever evil they meant is not nearly as important as the good that God is trying to do in all of this.” Tripp went on to write of this instance, “How often do we forget this truth when we speak to (and about) the people in our lives? How often do we treat people as irritants and obstacles? … How much do we bemoan the fact that our lives are affected by others’ choices?” And I wonder, how much of these woes are only exacerbated when put in a political context?

None of this is to say that political evils are to be dismissed, or that we can stop fighting against them. Rather, Titus 3 is a roadmap to how we can respond and behave as we fight, “not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

So, as Tedd put it, regardless of the evil we see people engage in and promote, we can’t afford to forget that whatever evil is meant is not nearly as important as the good that God is trying to do in all of this. “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God,” wrote Paul in Romans 11:33. “How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways!” We serve a God who operates in ways we will often not understand. But we also serve a God who is trustworthy and good. He is faithful and just.

We can rest in God’s strong hold over all creation. And in doing so, we heed the advice found in Titus (and all of Scripture) to respond differently to what’s happening around us. Our hope transcends politics, let’s not forget to live like it.