“Sound Doctrine” (Part 1)

Consider the things that Paul tells Titus he is to speak and teach to other believers. Here he describes them as “things which are fitting for sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1). In today’s religious world, when we hear the word “doctrine”, particularly “sound doctrine”, our minds go to, well, “doctrinal issues,” for example: Is baptism essential for salvation or is one saved by faith alone? Are churches to be locally autonomous or is there a formal ecclesiastical hierarchy to which each must submit? Can we use instrumental music in our worship or must we sing a cappella only?

One who holds to “sound doctrine” will emphatically, and almost without taking a breath, exclaim: “Of course baptism is essential for salvation! Each local church is autonomous answering only to Christ as their head! No, there is no authority in the New Testament to worship God with instrumental music! And If you think differently then you are not sound in your doctrine!”

Now, not to diminish the importance of being in agreement with the word of God on these issues, but it is interesting to me that when Paul goes on to elaborate on these “things which are fitting for sound doctrine”, he does not bring up any of these “doctrinal issues.” Instead, what Paul tells Titus he is to focus on are things that involve the character and moral qualities of men and women, both young and old, who are profession to be children of God. This tells me that we need to at least be just as focused and concerned about our character as individuals as we are about the beliefs, teachings and practices of our churches. Paul states emphatically that the character traits and moral qualities that follow are to be ones that Christian men and women possess. Not that we are simply to aim for them, but what we are to be.

Because these are fitting for sound doctrine, and we are to be these things, let us examine each characteristic a little more closely.

Older Men

As Paul begins to expound upon the things that are fitting for sound doctrine, he begins by addressing the older men. By the time a man has been in Christ for some years he should have developed in his character certain attributes. “Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance” (Titus 2:2).

The word here for temperate literally means to be “sober” or “free from any intoxicants”. It describes the opposite of one who is affected by any of a variety of intoxicants. When I think of “intoxicants,” my mind immediately goes to drugs and alcohol; things that alter one’s ability to think straight. And though drugs and alcohol are included in this category, it is by no means limited to these alone. One could very easily be intoxicated with pleasure, emotions, or feelings. Really anything that would cloud one’s judgment would be considered an intoxicant. Older men, who are temperate, will at all times be free from anything that causes their judgment to be distorted. They will be able to think clearly at all times.

Furthermore, older men are to be dignified. That is to say they are to possess a seriousness that invites the respect of others. Paul is not saying that older men are to be stiff and rigid at all times and in all circumstances. He is not describing someone who is a stoic in their approach to life. Rather he is describing a man who knows how to appropriately conduct himself in whatever situation he is in. As we all know there is a time and a place for everything. An older man who is dignified knows when and what to joke around about, but he also knows when and what he needs to be serious about, and he conducts himself accordingly. Not only will he demonstrate the appropriate behavior in all circumstances, but his behavior will invite others to follow his lead.

Older men are also told that they are to be sensible. Literally this means they are to be “healthy or right thinking” men. They are to exercise sound judgment in the way they think. Older men, who have been in Christ for some years, need to be mature enough to think in a spiritually healthy manner. In other words, to be sensible is to think about things the way God would think about them, not the way that carnal men think about them. A sensible man will have the correct attitude towards sin and avoid it, while on the other hand he will recognize the value of righteous living and pursue those things.

Older men are also instructed to be sound in three specific areas of their lives. Sound in faith, love, and perseverance. To be sound in faith is to have a firm grasp of the truths laid out in the word of God. A man who is sound in the faith will understand God’s word, teach it to others, and practice it in his own life. As a result of this he will also be sound, firmly grounded, in his own personal faith. His faith will not waver, even during adversity. To be sound in love indicates that he is to have a genuine and active love for God and all men. It will not just be something that he says (e.g. “I love you”), but rather something that he demonstrates in action. To be sound in perseverance means that he will possess the ability to stand fast. This characteristic is very much related to being sound in faith. Notice what James says regarding faith and perseverance. “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance (or perseverance). And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4). One who is sound in faith and sound in perseverance will be ready for any challenge, trial or tribulation that may come his way.

This is a picture of what an older Christian man ought to look like. Do you fall into this category? Are you living up to the standard to which you have been called in Christ? If not, why not?