Bible Questions Answered:
What did Paul mean by not speaking bad of anyone, some people are bad!
Heidi/ Decatur, Alabama
Bible Answer:
Bible Text:
Titus 3:1-3 KJV
1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
Titus 3:1-3 NLT
1 Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good.
2 They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone.
3 Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other.
And again the Apostle's words to the Romans.
Romans 13:1-7 NLT
1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.
2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.
3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.
4 The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.
5 So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.
6 Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do.
7 Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.
The Apostle Paul, was teaching Titus, that there must remain, a “difference,” between the unregenerate soul, and Christian, people who have been born again by the Spirit of God!
Oh how willing the unregenerate soul is to slander his brother.
Whether it be in government, or in the church , the Apostle told Titus “Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good.”
Whether we agree, with governments or leaders, it not the question, Christians are different than unregenerate, mankind! Christian people are to be “gentle, showing all meekness unto all men.”
Look at the bedfellows, the Apostle has placed those who love dissension (disagreement), and quarreling, with!
Galatians 5:19-26 NLT
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension (violent disagreements), division,
21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these.
Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there.
25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
James 4:10-12 KJV
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.
11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
James 4:10-12 NLT
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up in honor.
11 Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you.
12 God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?
I Peter 2:21-23 KJV
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps:
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth:
23 Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously:
In a world of no-self-restraint, and individuals who live to fight and quarrel, Christians are to shine forth as a beacon of righteousness.
Are there are times we as Christian may object, to laws and or government?
Yes.
Acts 4:16-20 NLT
16 “What should we do with these men?” they asked each other. “We can’t deny that they have performed a miraculous sign, and everybody in Jerusalem knows about it.
17 But to keep them from spreading their propaganda any further, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again.”
18 So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than Him?
20 We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”
Acts 5:26-29 NLT
26 The captain went with his Temple guards and arrested the apostles, but without violence, for they were afraid the people would stone them.
27 Then they brought the apostles before the high council, where the high priest confronted them.
28 “Didn’t we tell you never again to teach in this man’s name?” he demanded. “Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about Him, and you want to make us responsible for His death!”
29 But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.
If our differences are over other things, other than our Christian beliefs, then we are to voice our opinions at the ballot box, or in the press, etc. but certainly not in a slanderous way!
Loving Christian Correction:
Matthew 18:15-17 KJV
15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Titus 3:2 KJV
“... gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.”
Galatians 5:22-25 NLT
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there.
25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
