Titus 1:10-11 - "Experts"

Titus 1:10-11 "For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach." (ESV)

I've always treated with some suspicion those who claim they are experts in a particular field of study or area of scholarship.

Credentials are, to me, more than a bunch of letters before or after a person's name. Credentials must convince me that the persons bearing them know their areas inside and out. I've come across a number of persons in my life who bear all the right pieces of paper saying they should be experts, but lack a fundamental understanding of how their area of study brings value in life. Many claim they are experts, but fail to demonstrate to me that they, indeed, are.

I find this particularly disturbing when it comes to some who claim they are disciples of the Lord, but most of what they say...........most of what they do demonstrates that they have little knowledge of what being a disciple means. They speak of doctrines that are *not* biblical.............and, as I've said in an earlier devotional, they take scriptures out of context and use it to prove points that seem to be quite beyond what the scripture *in context* was intended to say.

Some of these "experts" have made off handsomely by the world's standards by marketing their insights. And they will frequently imply that their success can be your success if you only try hard enough. I'm not saying this is true in all cases, but I believe it is true in a number of high-profile cases.

These thoughts are what hit me when I read Paul's scripture above tonight. He's sending out the alarm to the members of the Family of Jesus that rings as true today as it did back then.............Jesus warns us in a couple of scriptures about these people......"He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep." (John 10:12-13 (ESV))........."Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?" (Matthew 7:15-17 (ESV)).

Love in Jesus,

Jim

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"But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired." (1 Corinthians 12:18 NASB)

"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Copyright 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission."

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This devotional was originally posted on CCI-Devo - Daily Group Devotionals on April 18, 2004 in post #530. It was written by Jim Ross, a former United Pentecostal Church member, who attends Christian Challenge International, the sponsor of the devotional group. The devotional is the copyright of Jim Ross and is reprinted on this site by permission.

Page added April 14, 2006

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