Titus was a young pastor who served his people on the island of Crete. Young Titus and his congregation found themselves in the midst of a pagan culture. “One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons” (Titus 1:12).
How could Titus and the men and women of his congregation not only remain faithful to God in the midst of evil, but affect the culture? Shine light? Share hope? Titus was in need of a model, something that his people could use in the midst of selfishness, unhealthy lifestyles, and false teachers.
St. Paul warned Titus away from the worldly influence, but also was inspired to give him a model for mentoring generations of hope. That model is found in Titus 2:1-8. That model — indeed, the wholeness of the Gospel — brings salvation and leads to self-controlled living.
Titus 2, however, is one of the least popular chapters of Scripture. It is not particularly favored by Christian women. There are at least three reasons. Most obvious is the fact that Titus 2 speaks to men and women separately… because we were created equal, but not the same. Painfully obvious is the part about women “submitting” to their husbands. (Ouch.) But, a third reason that Titus 2 may be dismissed or ignored is that older women are instructed by God to mentor younger women. Oh my! How is an older woman — who has not made right choices; who has had an abortion or lived with a man not her husband; who has been abused, or become addicted, or suffers depression — going to mentor a younger woman?
This weekend, at a Titus 2 Retreat, we’ll be talking about why an older woman (in age, experience, or spiritual maturity) might feel too intimidated to mentor.
I’ve heard older women say, “I can’t mentor!” But, every one of us mentors… at any given moment… whether we realize it or not. We are mentoring some kind of faith, lifestyle, or way of thinking. We are being an example… of something.
There is a reason God calls an older woman to mentor the younger.
Let’s push aside all of her past circumstances, sins, fears, and failures. If she is a new person in Christ, she is forgiven and set free to live in a way that glorifies God. In 1 Timothy 5:9-14, we read that the Church was to distinguish older widows from younger widows. The older woman is distinguished by her “faithfulness” and “reputation for good works.” She is distinguished if she has “been the wife of one husband, brought up her children, shown hospitality, washed the feet (served) the saints, cared for the afflicted, and devoted herself to every good work.”
The younger widow, however, is different. She is more easily drawn away from Christ by her romantic passions (v. 11). She may be more easily tempted away from the “faith” (Greek: “oath” or “solemn promise”) if she had promised not to remarry, or to abide by the Christian faith and teaching. The young widow (v. 13) without a father, husband, children, or a job might be prone to social problems such as being idle, falling to gossip and the behavior of a busybody, or losing control of her tongue. The Church was to encourage young widows to “marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary (Satan) no occasion for slander” (v. 14).
In what way would the young widow, perhaps more easily influenced by the world, be helped? By the mentoring of an older, experienced, spiritually mature woman. A woman who had also been wrongly influenced, but was brought out of darkness into light. Who was rescued from the mess of life and covered by Jesus’ robe of righteousness. The older woman is not distinguished because she is sinless, but because she has learned to trust God. Not be deceived by silly myths. Have faith in God’s created order. And keep her eyes on the Cross of Jesus Christ.
An older woman does not need to fear being a mentor. Her very experience — from floundering and failing to recognition of her identity as a treasure of Christ — makes her an instrument in God’s hand. Using God’s Word, she becomes an example of humility. Service. Patience. Self-control. Hope.
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