Titus 1:5-16.  The Cretans were not known for their honesty and trustworthiness.  They were likely to fall for false teachings, and Paul warned Titus that the island had “many who are insubordinate,  empty talkers and deceivers” (10).  Titus was tasked with facilitating a system where the right kind of people had authority – the kind of people who could be trusted because they…

1. … were faithful to their families and had demonstrated the ability to keep them from getting out of control (6),
2. … were able to control their own passions and desires (7),
3. … were capable of forming and maintaining good relationships with others in the community (8),
4. … were capable of learning and holding to sound doctrine and rebuking those who contradict it (9).

Any mission seeking to spread the gospel in a particular area should wisely consider what the weaknesses are among the people in that target area.  Paul’s mission strategy was not to accommodate those weakness, but to facilitate order by strengthening the church where it might fall prey to the sinful inclinations of its local community context.  So, in Crete, where people’s word could not be trusted, Paul commanded Titus to appoint only the trustworthy into positions of authority. 

The church should breathe back into the community where Satan’s kingdom has killed it.  We should infest our context with godliness.

LORD, help us to overcome the disorder that we have repented of.  Help us to facilitate order in the chaos around us.