Chapter 5: Authority
“The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” -Edmund Burke.
In Chapter 5 of The Titus Ten, the author writes about the danger of passivity among men today. He uses the example of Adam standing by and watching Eve be tempted by Satan in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3:6) Yes, it is easier to stand by and watch evil happen. But we are called to be agents of change in the world, and we have the authority in Christ to speak up against evil.
Just like in the garden of Eden, Satan is still just as aggressive, subtle, and smart today. You must actively resist him. Peter compares him to a lion by saying, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:8-9).
It is our job to pray over our homes and families. It is our job to call out evil. The author puts it this way: “Learning to be a man who follows Jesus and embraces his God-given authority is hard. Passivity is so much easier. It’s always easier to stay unengaged. It’s always easier to remain quiet. It’s always easier to let someone else raise your kids. It’s always easier to ignore that the lion exists. It’s always easier to just not decide. It’s always easier to ignore the conflict. But the results are devastating. Satan wins when we are passive.”
This chapter challenged me quite a bit. It’s not that I avoid conflict because I am afraid of it, but I would rather just avoid it until there is peace. The problem with that, however, is that we live in a fallen world where disagreements and conflicts happen. Instead of just sweeping them under the rug, I can get better at learning the right way to handle conflict so that it strengthens the relationship. Whether that is in marriage, with coworkers, or friendships. Avoiding conflict is never the solution, and it often makes the situation worse over time.
Today, remember that passivity is never the answer. God has given us authority through Christ to stand for what is right, protect our families, and confront sin with grace and truth. Ignoring problems may feel easier in the moment, but over time it often allows them to grow and become bigger.
The Bigger Picture: Godly men don’t do what is easy; they do what is right.
The Bigger Picture 