Remind them 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 quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.
For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,
he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
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 themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.
But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.

Titus 3:1-9 (ESV)

It’s an election year, so it would be prudent to keep in mind the directives given by God which are cited in the above passage, Christians.

“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient…”  When Paul wrote this, the rulers and authorities were folks like Nero, the guy who eventually killed Paul, the despot who would set Christians on fire to provide light for his gardens at night.  Yet God still inspired him to write it.  It’s also worth mentioning that even though the type of government in existence at the time this was written was the Roman Empire, careful perusal of Scripture shows no exceptional clause that would indicate in any way that this divine directive would be rendered moot by the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.  Yes, it is true that governing authorities were told by other apostles that “We must obey God rather than man” (Acts 5:29).  Just keep in mind that Acts 5:29 was said in response to an edict demanding that they not preach the gospel, and that the apostles obeyed God rather than man by…going out and preaching the gospel, not calling for revolution when an election or a decision made by those in power did not meet their personal preferences.  See also Romans 13:1-7 and 1 Peter 2:13-17.

“…to be ready for every good work…”  In order to know what God considers to be a good work, consult the Scriptures because they exist to equip us for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17).  You’ll read of things like sharing the gospel with the lost, Bible study, prayer, worship with your brethren, benevolent charitable acts for those who are in need, treating others the way you would want to be treated, etc.  Spend 2024 first making yourself ready for what God in the Bible calls good works, and then actually involving yourself personally in those good works.  

“…to speak evil of no one…”  That would include the guy in the other political party running for office whom you really want to lose.  It is possible, you know, to express disagreement with a politician’s decisions and positions without insulting them and their families.  It’s actually what God expects of us, Christians.  See 1 Peter 3:17.

“…to avoid quarreling…”  If you’re reading this online (which you are), then it’s a safe bet that you are on social media too.  It’s an election year.  Contentious people will abound online.  Contentious people will abound in the real world also.  They will probably come out in droves after every primary, during each convention, after each debate, and especially on Election Day and the following days and weeks.  Don’t be one of them, online or in person.  Instead…

“…be gentle…”  Which requires maturity and self-control, traits which God wants all Christians to have.  Want to give your opinion?  Do it with tact, respect, and gentleness.  If you find that you cannot do that, or if you see that you would be the only one in the discussion who would do that, then realize that you don’t actually have to give your opinion in the first place and move on to more productive things.  Like sharing Jesus with the lost.

“…and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.”  Again, this would include the guy in the other political party running for office whom you really want to lose.  As well as the people who like him and don’t like your guy.  So if you like to call him and them dumb morons or anything equivalent (or worse), then you are in sin and need to repent or else your soul is in serious jeopardy.  The fact that you had at some point in the past been baptized for the remission of your sins, or the fact that you go to church regularly, is beside the point.  See Hebrews 10:26-31.

“For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.”  The thing about election years is that they tend to show if we are still like this, or if we have actually been “transformed by the renewing of our minds” as God expects of us (Rom. 12:2).

“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”  In other words, this is what actually matters.  Not Washington.  Not red or blue states.  Not “owning” the opposition party.  This, when we leave this life and thus leave behind everything that we think is most important during election years, is the only thing that will matter for all eternity.  It’s actually why God directs us to act in the ways he commanded in the previous verses…because he wants not only us to be saved, but also every person we know who is outside of Christ.  What will draw them to salvation are two things: the gospel of Jesus Christ…and us actually showing Jesus to them in how we live.  So during this election year, reflect Jesus to people instead of reflecting the views and obnoxiousness of your favorite pundit.

“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 themselves to good works.  These things are excellent and profitable for people.”  What are we to insist on?  What is TRULY excellent and profitable for people?  What is ACTUALLY trustworthy?  Answer:  “…that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works…”  Not everything that you are going to hear is “essential” for the “wellbeing” of our country and society by the politicians and pundits during this election year.  No, it’s what God says in his Word that we should give our primary attention and efforts towards, the good works of evangelism, edification, benevolence, Bible study, prayer, worship, treating others in Christ-like ways, etc.  Are we “careful to devote ourselves” to these matters, Christians?

“But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.”  Of course, it’s easy to think that what we want to quarrel and get involved in dissensions about are in fact very profitable and worth quite a lot…but God, who is much wiser than us and sees the true big picture, knows that ultimately all these controversies we get caught up in and argue and fight about are ultimately foolish, worthless, and very unprofitable towards the health of our eternal soul and the efforts his Son has made to bring our soul to heaven.  And nothing in our society these days tends to bring up these kinds of unprofitable and worthless arguments more than elections.  Are we going to do what God told us to do here and avoid all this junk, Christians?  

I encourage us all to take time every day this year to read this passage from Titus to remind ourselves of how we ought to be, and work thoughtfully and prayerfully to live out in our daily lives exactly what God has directed us here.