This Is Becoming

Titus 2:1 KJV

But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

The words following Paul says, "become sound doctrine."

There are those teachings that are sound doctrine and then there are those that become or adorn it. We often distinguish them as faith (sound doctrine) and practice (those things that become sound doctrine).

We are witnessing what I think can only be described as an exodus from those practices, which have been taught in Baptist Churches, become sound doctrine. Those who are making their flight justify it with cute little quips like "We're not changing the message, just the methods." What they miss, however, is that these methods (I am speaking of standards of separation and lifestyle) are as biblically compelling as are the doctrines.

Baptists have always ourselves as "of like faith and practice" because we have always been aware that there were others whose faith was similar, but not their practice. Today we are witnessing many young (and some not so young) Baptist preachers who still claim the name of Baptist, even still would have us to believe they are independent fundamental Baptists, but whose practice is less separated and more in keeping with modern Protestant movements. They are deceived by what they perceive to be sound doctrine in those movements because they are attracted to their looser practices.

I want to remember that there are practices that "become sound doctrine". There are life choices that, though technically are not doctrines of faith, are still important biblically and spiritually.

• Choices in the home (Titus 2:2-8)
• Choices in the workplace (Titus 2:9-10) and
• Choices in separation (Titus 2:11-14)

That must be preached as stringently and faithfully as is sound doctrine.