Sermon Tone Analysis

“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.”1

Harry Ironsides is quoted as saying, “The brightest light draws the most moths.”

He was referring to cranks, those seemingly ubiquitous individuals who feel themselves compelled to be divisive within a congregation.

These individuals are what some, speaking colloquially, have called “gainers”—they are “again” every advance by a congregation, treating every change within the assembly as a threat.

Whenever these individuals are presented with a new opportunity or a new idea, without thinking, they reject the idea.

They are thoroughly versed in the negative mode; and at every suggestion of change, they squawk out one raspy refrain: “We‟ve never done it that way before.”

If we are even remotely familiar with the writings of the Apostle to the Gentiles, we know that cranks have been a problem among the churches since the earliest days.

It is one thing to hold biblical convictions; it is quite another to cling to personal preferences as though such preferences enjoyed divine sanction.

Tragically, it often appears that evangelical church leaders are ignorant of the Faith—they are incapable of stating what they believe.

Whether bearing the name “deacon” or “elder,” they are “elected” to the positions they occupy because of popularity, notoriety or personal wealth.

Consequently, they resist any return to biblical practise.

For the most, political considerations—currying favour with the “electorate,” is of greater importance than is striving to please the Master who calls to service.

I note that in far too many instances, those elevated to leadership positions among the churches are selected by pastors primarily because they are safe—they will not oppose the shepherd.

The tragedy of this situation is that in time, these individuals assume a patina of venerability ensuring that the congregation is reluctant to remove them.

Though the church recognises that something is wrong, they hesitate to disturb the status quo.

As I have often stated, “status quo” is Latin for “the rut we are in.”

In other instances, aberrant church polity ensures poor leadership that will inevitably prove to be divisive.

Modern evangelicals are convinced that the church is a democracy, and so congregations elect individuals, ignoring the clear instruction of the Word to seek out for appointment those whom God has prepared and equipped.

We want to be equitable, so we strive for diversity to prove how tolerant we are.

Tolerance, you will recall, is that wonderful virtue commanded in the Book of Accommodations.

We don‟t want to hurt anyone‟s feelings, so we censure sound doctrine in favour of niceness.

Stirring up division among God‟s people is not a new phenomenon—it is as old as sin itself.

Paul was forced to address the matter in a letter to a missionary he had personally selected who was serving at the time on Crete.

Titus faced a difficult situation in his service to the Cretans.

The difficulties of ministry were sufficiently severe that he weighed resigning his commission.

Paul, however, would have none of that.

“I left you in Crete … so that you might put what remained in order, and appoint elders in every town” [TITUS 1:5].

Some were advancing their own agenda, and Titus was weary of the fight.

He faced “insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers” [TITUS 1:10] in the churches.

He would need to “teach what accords with sound doctrine” [TITUS 2:1], reminding those coming into the Faith “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” [TITUS 3:1, 2].

Planting churches, extending the Kingdom of God, equipping the saints coming into the Faith from pagan backgrounds was a daunting task; and Titus had obviously grown weary.

The task was made no easier by people that were determined to push their own agendas, proving divisive in the process.

Paul‟s instruction was pointed: warn such people no more than twice; then, have no more to do with them.

It is tempting to relegate these instructions to church leaders.

However, we do a disservice to the Word of God if we make such an attempt.

Clearly, the apostolic instruction is applicable to all professed believers coming into the congregation.

Join me in exploring this neglected portion of the Word in order to learn to deal with cranks.

IDENTIFYING CRANKS — “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.”

I use the term “crank” to describe someone who stirs up division.

The word “division” in our text is a strong word.

In the original language, it is hairetikós—we obtain our English word “heretic” and “heresy” from this word.

However, Paul‟s focus is not on those introducing doctrinal deviation into the congregation—he is focused on people that are agents of division within the assembly.

This particular word, as used by Paul, certainly carried a negative connotation.

However, his use is restricted to dissension that disrupts fellowship.

There seems to be no hint in his use of the introduction of false doctrine.

Writing the Corinthians, Paul says, “When you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you.

And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognised” [1 CORINTHIANS 11:19].

The word translated “factions” is this Greek word haíresis.

In the dark list of the works of the flesh listed in GALATIANS 5:19-21, the word translated “division” is this same word, haíresis.

It is apparent that Paul has no intent of indicating anything other than a divisive spirit.

To be certain, shortly after Paul wrote this letter to Titus, the Apostle Peter used this same word to speak of something even more detrimental to the Faith than a divisive spirit.

He warned the believers of the Diaspora, “False prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.

And in their greed they will exploit you with false words.

Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep” [2 PETER 2:1-3].

Establish in your mind that Paul is describing a divisive person.

He is not referring to someone who is occasionally argumentative, or incidentally combative; he is pointing to an individual who is intentionally abusive in order to gain an advantage.

In view is a verbally abusive person—one identified in 1 CORINTHIANS 5:9-11 as a “reviler,” someone who is “verbally abusive,”i or a “slanderer.”ii

In his letter to Roman Christians, Paul warned believers against permitting this same divisive attitude to persist among the saints.

He wrote, “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.

For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naïve” [ROMANS 16:17, 18].

He issues a similar warning when he writes the Thessalonian Christians, “If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed” [2 THESSALONIANS 3:14].

The principle that must always be held before the church is that every member of the assembly is responsible to labour within the congregation to build up others.

The building up that is sought will prove profitable and useful, not only for the one doing the building up, but also for each member of the assembly.

Those that stir up controversies are promoting what is unprofitable and worthless [see verse nine].

Unquestionably, pastors have great responsibility to provide sound instruction.

Paul has established that a pastor must be “able to teach” [1 TIMOTHY 3:2; 2 TIMOTHY 2:24].

According to the Apostle, the pastor must devote himself to teaching [see 2 TIMOTHY 2:2].

Clearly, teaching is the primary mark of an elder.

This becomes especially clear when Paul says, The elder “must hold firm to the trustworthy Word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it” [TITUS 1:9].

He also enjoins Titus, as is equally true for every faithful elder, that he is responsible to “teach what accords with sound doctrine” [TITUS 2:1].

Here is the difficult part of this instruction: the pastor must teach sound doctrine despite knowing the difficulties that are certain to come!

Writing Timothy, Paul charged, “Before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom, I solemnly charge you: proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.

For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will accumulate teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new.

They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.

But as for you, keep a clear head about everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” [2 TIMOTHY 4:1-5].iii

As the age progresses toward a climax, church members—professed believers in the Risen Son of God—will deliberately seek out teachers that promote unhealthy doctrine.

These superficial Christians will seek out leaders who will speak in such a way to ensure their comfort rather than stating truths that may be seen as unpleasant.

As the age progresses, the majority of professed Christians will be so utterly focused on their own contentment that they will resist the preaching of the Word complaining that it is too hard.

Paul also warned, “The Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron…” The man of God is responsible to speak of these truths, specifically pointing out in detail the deviation.

Then, Paul writes concerning the conscientious, godly pastor, “In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following” [1 TIMOTHY 4:1, 2, 6].iv

Cranks within the assembly promote division; godly believers promote spiritual health.

Cranks among the saints seek personal ease; godly believers seek God‟s glory.

Cranks are focused on their own interests; godly believers are focused on pleasing God.

The greater tragedy surrounding the issue of cranks in the church is that these problem children of the Faith act as they do convinced that they are acting in the will of God!

They are so focused on the facilities, on the denominational affiliation or on some other insignificant and inconsequential aspect of the Faith that they are prepared to sacrifice unity and jettison harmony in order to achieve their personal desires.

ADMONISHING CRANKS — “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.”

In short, our responsibility as followers of the Son of God is to warn cranks twice, after which we are to have nothing to do with them.

There is a tendency among the people of God to adhere to that well-known verse that teaches, “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.”

You remember the verse, don‟t you?

It is found in the Book of Hesitations.

In light of this generally accepted philosophy, pastors are trained to pamper dyspeptic saints, pandering to their infantile tantrums.

We are to warn cranks.

The word “warn” translates the Greek word nouthesía.

The word conveyed the thought of shaping the thinking through instruction or warning.

The goal of such admonition is correction, not condemnation.

To be certain, in a broad sense, pastors are to warn and admonish the congregation, and undoubtedly, they are to confront cranks boldly, warning them and instructing them to exhibit godly behaviour.

Our text is not the only time the Apostle instructed believers to “warn” divisive people.

In his second letter to Thessalonian Christians, the Apostle wrote, “If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed.

Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother” [2 THESSALONIANS 3:14, 15].