Articles
The Floating Island of Garbage
Perhaps you’ve heard about the recent con-troversy surrounding stand-up comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who recently joked about Puerto Rico, calling it a “floating island of garbage.” As you can imagine, it wasn’t well received by all. Now that the controversy is beginning to die out, I’ll share what thought came to my mind concerning the phrase “island of gar-bage.” It seems somewhat akin to how a cer-tain Bible character described a certain island in the Mediterranean Sea. That certain some-one was Paul, and in not so many words, Paul spoke of a floating island of garbage, namely Crete. Actually, it was Cretan prophets whom he quoted: “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons.” And, just when you might have expected the apostle to have toned down the harsh stereotype, instead he abruptly confirmed it. To make matters worse, Cretan culture had invaded the church which is evident from the response that Paul had hoped would come from Titus’ preaching, namely that they would be “sound in the faith (1:13). This is also seen from the fact that el-ders were sought to silence idle talkers and deceivers (1:10-11). These men would have had no authority, except in the church over which God had made them overseers (1 Pet. 5:1-3).
Their reputation may have been “garbage,” but Paul wasn’t talking about their degeneracy to get a laugh, to belittle them, or to puff himself up. He wrote be-cause of the hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, in hopes that Titus may find faith in God’s elect through the preaching of His word (Titus 1:1-3).
By reading Paul’s letter to Titus we can determine what was the apostle’s desire for these people through the commission he gave to Titus. It is surely instructive for us today to observe the high hopes Paul had for the effectiveness of the gospel, even in such a seemingly infer-tile soil. Of first importance, and evidently not outside the realm of possibility to Paul’s mind was the hope that...
1) They might be saved (2:11-13).
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Sav-ior Jesus Christ…” ESV
2) Their churches would be protected (1:5-9).
“This is why I left you in Crete, that you may put what remained in or-der, and appoint elders in every town as directed— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, with believing children and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be: arrogant, quick-tempered, a drunkard, violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospita-ble, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, disciplined. 9 He must hold fast to the trustworthy word as taught, that he may give instruc-tion in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” ESV
3) Their homes would be strong and families healthy (2:1-8).
“...teach what accords with sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober
-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in stead-fastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled....” ESV
4) Authority would be respected (2:9-10; 3:1-2).
“Bondservants, be submissive to your masters in all things, and be well-pleasing, not argumentative, nor pilfering, but showing all good faith, that in all things they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.” ESV
“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedi-ent..., 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.” ESV
5) They would be busy doing good (2:14; 3:1, 8, 14).
“He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.”
”...be ready for every good work.”
“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 them-selves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable...” ESV
“...let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.” ESV
Given the nature of things in Crete these were certainly some lofty goals. Others might have written them off as a floating island of gar-bage, but God loved these people and Paul was a living testament to the transforming power of the gospel.
