Paul writes to Titus: "Remind them to be subject 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 every courtesy to everyone. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is sure."
When we read Paul, or really any of the Bible, we need to remember the historical context. Paul wrote at a time when these buildings were new, and in use. When Christians were persecuted both by Jewish authorities, as Paul himself did before his conversion on the road to Damascus, and by Roman authorities who would not tolerate worship of anything except Caesar.
We spent Monday in Nîmes. The audio tour of the Roman arena goes into gory detail about the executions that took place there. The listener is invited to imagine a day at the arena, a day of spectacle and death to celebrate the power of the Emperor.
Paul tells Titus to remind people to be subject to rulers and authorities. Would Jesus have said the same? Jesus, who was executed by the Roman Empire?
The rest of this I think Jesus may have been on board with: to be ready to do good works, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, to show courtesy to everyone. Love your neighbor as yourself.
The grace of God that is poured out on us all does not protect us from harm and evil, but it strengthens us to endure, and by that endurance to bear witness to the power of love -- the love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
These buildings are vestiges of what was once the mightiest power on Earth. Empires come and go. Love never ends.
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