Dealing with the Difficult and Dangerous

In this uncompromising message based on Titus 1:10–16, Chuck Swindoll tackles the uncomfortable but necessary task of confronting false teachers within the church. He begins by acknowledging that standing for truth is not a playground but a “battleground,” requiring spiritual leaders to possess courage rather than a desire to be liked. Swindoll argues that a pastor must do more than love Jesus; he must be educated in theology and capable of detecting error, just as a parent must not only nourish a child but also protect them from predators [4–5, 7].

Swindoll breaks down Paul’s description of the “difficult and dangerous” individuals threatening the Cretan church. He categorizes their errors into three areas: they say wrong things (being rebellious, empty talkers, and deceivers), they have wrong motives (specifically “sordid gain” or greed), and they do wrong deeds (focusing on myths and external rituals rather than inner purity). He emphasizes Paul’s command that such people “must be silenced” to protect whole families from being upset by false doctrine [13, 16, 20–21].

The sermon concludes with a passionate plea for discernment in a culture increasingly focused on entertainment. Reading an article by Chuck Colson, Swindoll warns against the church becoming an “entertainment center” that prioritizes image over substance. He challenges seminaries to keep standards high, churches to seek pastors who are true expositors of the Word, and parents to remain strong-hearted against the cultural drift, ensuring that the standard of truth is never lowered for the sake of popularity [26–27, 33].

Message Key Facts:

• Two Voices of a Pastor: Swindoll quotes John Calvin, stating that a pastor needs two voices: “one for gathering the sheep and the other for driving away wolves.” He advises young ministers to cultivate a “tender heart but a tough hide”.
• The “Epimenides” Paradox: Paul quotes a Cretan prophet in Titus 1:12 who said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” Swindoll identifies this prophet as Epimenides (600 BC) and notes that while these cultural traits were difficult, the Gospel had the power to deliver people from them [18–19].
• “Silencing” the Wolves: Swindoll explains that the command in verse 11 to “silence” these men literally means to “muzzle” them. He asserts that when the tongue runs loose with false teaching, the safety of the church is lost.
• Three Tests for Truth: Citing John Stott, Swindoll offers three questions to determine if teaching is true:
  1. Origin: Is it from Scripture (Divine) or man-made theory (human)?
  2. Essence/Emphasis: Does it emphasize the inner spiritual life or the outer image?
  3. Result: Does it lead to a transformed, Christ-like life or merely adherence to a ritual? [22–23].
• The Goal of Discipline: Swindoll clarifies that the command to “reprove them severely” is not to make people miserable, but so “they may be sound in the faith.” The ultimate goal of confrontation is restoration.
• Entertainment vs. Truth: Swindoll reads an article by Chuck Colson regarding a book tour where the media preferred “God’s little goofballs” and bizarre religious figures over serious discussion. Swindoll uses this to reinforce that Insight for Living and his church will not succumb to being an entertainment center, as the Gospel demands “active sacrifice,” not passive amusement [29–33].
• Malpractice in Ministry: Swindoll compares a pastor who fails to warn against false doctrine to a doctor who finds a malignant tumor but tells the patient it is benign. He argues that failing to identify spiritual “cancer” is malpractice.

Message References:

• Titus 1:10: “For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers…”.
• Titus 1:11: “Who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families… for the sake of sordid gain”.
• Titus 1:12: “Cretans are always Liars, evil beasts, lazy Gluttons”.
• Titus 1:13: “Reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith”.
• Titus 1:16: “They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him”.
• 1 Timothy 6:3–5: Referenced regarding false teachers who suppose godliness is a means of financial gain.
• Acts 20:29–30: Paul’s warning to Ephesian elders about wolves arising “from your own midst”.
• 2 Timothy 4:3: Reference to people accumulating teachers to tickle their ears.

Message Speaker:

Pastor Chuck Swindoll