As Paul concludes Chapter 1 of his letter to Titus, he gives his young partner in ministry a task that could wear out a seasoned ranch hand: keep the new believers from being herded onto every spiritual hobby horse that trots through town. Paul explains that Titus must help the church remain focused on the liberating truth of Jesus Christ, resisting the rituals, practices, and fanciful stories promoted by false teachers. These individuals did not merely tell long-winded tales; they distracted believers from the central message of the Gospel. Paul urges Titus to rebuke those who misplace their focus so that they might return to what is true. Yet he acknowledges that some listeners have already saddled up and galloped down the wrong path, rejecting apostolic authority and the Scriptures. Therefore, Titus is to concentrate on those who might still be rescued from error, warning them not to “devote themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth” (Titus 1:14). In modern terms, Paul might have said, “Do not let some guy with a microphone and a clever anecdote turn your attention from Christ to his hobby horse.” I have met many such riders. They are loud, fast, and occasionally need to dismount for their own safety.
Paul’s warning echoes Isaiah’s condemnation of Israel’s religious leaders who distorted truth for their own gain: “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote” (Isaiah 29:13). That same drift happened in Galatia and has taken root in countless churches throughout history. We face that danger in every generation. Error behaves like weeds in a garden—sprouting quickly, thriving aggressively, and showing a talent for growing precisely where you planted tomatoes. Freshly planted faith is especially inviting. That is why Paul wanted Titus to cultivate discernment among believers before the weeds took over the garden.
Jesus brings this entire subject into focus by declaring that truth is not merely a concept but a person. He says, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32), and He identifies this truth with His own Word, explaining that a true disciple “abides” in it. Many Christians still feel anything but free, weighed down by guilt, fear, and memories of teachings that bent them rather than blessed them. I know that struggle well. Yet Christ insists that freedom grows where His truth is learned, trusted, and kept central. When we drift from it, we drift back into slavery. Scripture teaches us what matters, what is right, and where we should commit our lives. Paul’s final word to Titus captures it succinctly: “Avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless” (Titus 3:9). Christ is the center. Everything else is yard clutter.