Over the last three days I have blogged consistently from one book — Titus — and as a result (together with doing it fast, which means a half hour, not an hour) seen the traffic drop.

This world is broken and the hypocrisy we are seeing is nauseating. But there is nothing new here. Nothing new. The Romans were corrupt: the reason they preached virtue and increased the number of ceremonies they had is the same as we have now: we are afraid that people are without virtue so we make our oaths more elaborate, and micromanage their lives more, treating those who should be grown as infants.

But we are not supposed to be infants. We are grown men and women. We do not expect anything of infants but that they grow. We expect men and women to act and to influence other’s lives for good, to do good works, to build not break down.

And to not waste time on disputation, when a dike has to be built against the coming flood.

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarrelling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 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 Saviour 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 Saviour, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.

All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith.

Grace be with you all.

(Titus 3 ESV)

I blog. On the link list there are some very staunch Roman Catholics (Mundabor and Alte, who needs to blog more) some orthodox (Scott and Mychael) evangelicals (Hearthie and Elspeth) and a couple of really ultra reformed people (Will S, take a bow: you are far more productive than I am). We have large theological differences. But I will back them, even as Mundabor tells me I’m a heretic and need to convert. Because our models of God are not God, our theological understanding is partial.

I like a good theological argument as much as anyone, but I don’t want to break unity. In my church, I accept practices that are in error, for no church is perfect, I am not perfect, and we need to work together.

And Paul told Titus to remove the litigious and disputatious: in modern language, not to let the trolls remain, and to not feed them. We have enough difficulty living a godly life in this fallen age.

Paul wrote a handbook for that to Titus. With the aim that we be fruitful: let the elite seethe, but we will follow our LORD. If I can learn about this from my catholic and orthodox brethren, I will. For wisdom has no odour.

And I can find no command telling me to waste my time and life on meaningless trifles, and priggishly insisting of compliance to finer and finer rules. We need to hold the best interests of others ahead of us, and love our God. That is terrifying enough, and task enough for this life.

For we are not measured by what we say, but how we influence the lives around us. So do not be decadent, as the elite are. Be instead fruitful.