PRÉCIS ON THE SEVERITY OF GOD: WHEN THE KING MUST SOMETIMES SHOUT!

SCRIPTURE. “This description is true. So rebuke them sharply so that they will be sound in the faith and free from doctrinal error, not paying attention to Jewish myths and the commandments and rules of men who turn their backs on the truth.” – TITUS 13-14, AMP

KEY TERM: “REBUKE THEM SHARPLY!” ‘Apotomos’ [ἀποτόμως]: “From a root word meaning: ‘To deflect, avoid or turn away; thus to cut abruptly, peremptorily, piercingly.’” NOTE: “The word translated ‘harshly’ or ‘sternly’ in English conveys decisive, uncompromising action taken to correct spiritual danger. It is not vindictive aggression but a firm, restorative measure that values truth and holiness above personal comfort.

‘The idea presumes Covenant Love: Discipline is administered for the good of the Body of Christ and the Honor of the Lord.’”

QUOTATION. “We can ignore even Pleasure. But Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our Pleasures, speaks in our Conscience, but shouts in our Pains: ‘It is His Megaphone to Rouse a deaf world.’” ― C.S. LEWIS, The Problem of Pain, 1940; edited

COMMENTARY. “‘This witness is true.’—St. Paul emphatically here endorses the very Severe Judgment which their own great Prophet-Poet had written on the national Cretan character. He (St. Paul) had lived long enough in their midst to be able to bear his grave testimony to the truth of Epimenides’ words. He had witnessed the sad havoc in Christian life which their evil national propensities had caused.

‘Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.’—Some render, ‘Wherefore confute,’ that is to say, ‘Set them right, sharply’ (‘apotomōs’). The substantive ‘apotomia,’ translated in the English version ‘severity,’ is used in the passage about the ‘wild olive tree’ (Romans 11:22). As a surgeon’s knife cuts away the diseased and mortifying flesh, so must the words and discipline of Titus, the Apostle’s representative in Crete, sharply rebuke, and, if need be, punish the sinning members of the congregation.

‘Not merely the False Teachers—the Deceivers—are referred to here, but also the Deceived, those whole households mentioned in Titus 1:11.’ And the object of this severity in words and acts was that the lapsed, the doctrinally and morally sick, among the Cretan Christians, should be restored to health again. And the sound State of Faith and Practice would, St. Paul proceeded to show, consist in: ‘The Rejection of Jewish [or any other] fables and the commandments of these men.’” – CHARLES ELLICOTT, An Old and New Testament Commentary for English Readers, 1878, 1897; edited

DK’S TAKE. I have said it before and will continue to say it so long as I witness the insidious American Shibboleth that “Being Christian means always being Polite.”

This while the Hypocrisy of the White Church continues to passively-aggressively inspire the kind of Hatred and even Violence constantly advocated by President Trump’s Maga Christian Nationalism Movement. It is all so hideous, and following the venal assassination of Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025, it has taken on the early urges of a Civil War.

THE FULLER COUNSEL OF GOD. I will close with a biting critique from a writer who goes by the social media pseudonym of OLYMPIA MACDONALD

titled, “Being Polite is Not One of the Ten Commandments, and It Never Will Be!” (Reddit, 2022; edited).

Warning: Not for the faint of heart.

“Many Christians, particularly in wealthy First-World countries, seem to think that Christianity is about saying please and thank you, being submissive toward authority figures, doing what you’re told, and never causing too much of a fuss.

It makes me wonder what Bible they’re reading. The one I have talks about a God-King who flips over tables and hurls insults at wealth-hoarding, self-righteous hypocrites. Jesus even uses tough love with his disciples, referring to Peter as “Satan” when his closest follower is in danger of going astray (Matthew 16:23).

Read the Old Testament (y’know, that thing Christians pretend doesn’t exist), and you’ll find heroines glorified for killing imperialists (Judith, Jael), God unleashing His Divine Wrath against the Empires of Egypt and Babylon, and gold-worshipping Idolaters being put to the sword.

Physical violence often spills out of control, and Christians should take every step to avoid it whenever possible. But suggesting that it is un-Christian to use harsh words against the wicked and oppressive? This is as laughable as it is pathetic.

Jesus warns not to throw your pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6) and Paul chastises those who suffer fools gladly (2 Corinthians 11:19). When dealing with those who are willing to learn, one should always use compassion, patience and understanding. But every Shepherd knows that Sheep and Goats can’t be treated the same way. Goats are headstrong and will cause nothing but destruction if left unchecked. The very least you can do is publicly scold them for their evil ways, so they are forced to confront their own actions and can serve as an example to others.

When dealing with Bigots, Reactionaries and Defenders of the [predatory] capitalist status quo, the question of politeness should be left up to personal discretion. The wealthy and their enablers are the enemies of God, and Liberal Politeness is a tool designed to disempower the meek and vulnerable. The lives of the poor are worth more than the social comfort of the rich. You don’t owe Politeness to your Oppressor, and you do them no kindness by tacitly endorsing their demonic lifestyle.

‘Righteous Anger always has been recognized as a Christian Virtue, provided that it guided by the pursuit of Justice and Love of the Oppressed.’ As the Abolitionist minister HENRY WARD BEECHER said, ‘A man who does not know how to be Angry does not know how to be good. And a man that does not know how to be shaken to his heart’s core with Indignation over things evil is either a fungus or a wicked man.’”

CODA. May God find us such men in the American Pulpits very soon, or I publicly promise you all that the Great American Experiment shall surely End in utter Disgrace and a most fiery Destruction.