Noble Calling, Noble Character

Introduction

Character matters

Is that still true?

More directly, is it important that the character of a leader in the church be high?

We live in a time when trust in church leadership is at an all time low.

Twenty one years ago, 2001, my first year in full-time ministry, the a study done by Gallup indicated that 67% of Americans believed that pastors had high or very high ethical standards. Trust in the ethics of American clergy was high.

That same study done at the end of last year found that now only 34% of the American population believed that pastors have a high or very high ethical standard.

Over a 30% drop in credibility in just two decades.

And it’s no wonder, given the scandals that come out it seems, almost weekly about pastors.

From spiritual abuse, to sexual immorality, to financial impropriety, it seems that leaders in the church aren’t as noble as they should be.

The reality of such scandals has left many questioning and wondering “Church: Why Bother?”

Honestly, it’s a fair question…

Yet, Biblically, God has ordained and appointed leaders to care for and oversee the church.

Paul is no stranger to that reality and lays down for Timothy, and for us today, the high and deep standards for leadership in the church.

The point is that character matters, and therefore…

Big Idea: The Church is cared for by qualified, faithful leaders.

So we should ask, who are those leaders, and what is the standard that these leaders should be held to?

Scripture talks about two offices or roles of church leaders in the NT.

One office is the office of the “elder” or “overseer” or “pastor” - those three terms are used synonymously in the Bible.

Paul tells Timothy here in 3:1

1 Timothy 3:1 ESV

1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.

This office of elder is the highest office of leadership in the church.

This role, as Scripture teaches and as we saw last week in chapter 2 is to be held by biblically qualified men.

Paul speaks to the moral qualifications of an elder in 3:1-7.

The role of the elder is to provide leadership, care, and spiritual direction to the church.

He then speaks about a second office in 3:8-13, that is the office deacon or deaconess.

This office is not gender-specific, but can be held by anyone in the local church who meets the character and qualifications to be a deacon/deaconess

The role of the deacon/deaconess is to support the ministry of the church as leaders of servants so that elders can give specific focus to the spiritual direction and needs of the church.

Acts 6 shows a prototype of this dynamic.

A practical need of the care of widows has arisen in the church, a dispute is raging, and the apostles are asked to fix it.

They understand however, that while they could do that, it would distract them from the ministry of the gospel.

They could give time and energy to providing these meals for these widows, but there’s a whole church of people who could do that as well, and they are called to focus on the ministry of the Word and prayer.

So they tell the church:

Acts 6:2–4 (ESV)

“It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

It’s not right for us to neglect the ministry and preaching of the Word to do this… so lets get seven men who are full of the Spirit who can do it, and we can devote ourselves to our calling.

So the first “deacons” were appointed.

Elders focus on giving oversight through the preaching of the Word, prayer, shepherding and they are freed up to focus on that by men and women who serve in the deacon office who take care of the serving and structures of the church.

So at our campus, both Casey Beauford and myself serve as elders - spiritual overseers and shepherds devoting ourselves to the ministry of the gospel and the care of the church.

As for deacons/deaconesses we have 10 men and women who serve alongside our ministry staff, that labor to serve the church so we can focus.

Chris Heimburger, Greg Blanchette, David Grewe, Chris Kuhner, Jeremy Atkins, Adam Young are deacons.

Sarah Kuhner, Janet Sangala, Leslie Gates, and Jen Martinez are deaconesses.

Let’s go back what Paul says in 3:1

1 Timothy 3:1 ESV

1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.

So here’s an encouragement and affirmation - the office of overseer/elder/pastor is open.

It’s a noble thing for a man to pursue and desire this role and office.

My hope is that there would be young men that would look upon the office of the pastorate, and its responsibility and think, “that’s a responsibility and stewardship I would like to carry one day.”

To lead God’s people and care for the church as an elder is a noble thing.

But its not seen as a noble thing these days. If anything the pastorate, being an elder is something to be avoided.

And this applies to be a deacon/deaconess as well. It is an office that is noble and should be desired.

Why is that the case?

The character of the leaders of the church either adorns and supports the gospel, or it denies and tarnishes the reputation of Christ.

Which is why we should ask, what is the moral standard for those who are put in positions of leadership?

It’s interesting that these verses talk almost exclusively about character, and very little about skill.

In fact, there is only one skill qualification that is in this group - that’s for an elder, he should be “able to teach.”

Apart from that, the emphasis is on character.

And that’s where the rest of this passage goes…

We will look at it in 4 areas, for both elders and deacons/deaconesses that speak to the high character they most possess to be rightfully qualified to lead the church.

Church leaders have control over their appetites (1 Tim 3:1-3, 8)

So we’ve got the office of elders and men and women as deacons

The Holy Spirit says 1 Timothy 3:2

1 Timothy 3:2 (ESV)

2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach,

The term above reproach is an umbrella term that is fleshed out in the rest of the passage.

It doesn’t mean the elder or pastor has to be perfect but that his life is lived with such integrity and moral dignity and character that there is not a fatal flaw in his character.

Beyond accusation or blameless. This leader is pure in his lifestyle.

What does “being above reproach” look like in more detail?

The first qualification that Paul speaks of church leaders, elders/deacons/deaconesses are to have is that of control.

Specifically control over their appetites and desires.

So he says in verse 2

1 Timothy 3:2 ESV

2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

Notice this idea of control or command.

Not so much control of circumstances or external things, but command over one’s life and conduct.

Command over their passions and desires.

So this control is exhibited in regard to physical passions.

An elder should be the husband of one wife. Literally in the original language, “a one-woman man” or, he should be faithful to his wife.

Unlike the cultural expectation of Paul’s day where men were liberated to fulfill their sexual passions and desires with temple prostitutes and these worship banquets that were more like orgies, Christian men and specifically the Christian leaders were to be sexually faithful and exclusive to their wife.

An elder is to have eyes only for his wife… not to be flirting around with other women, viewing pornography, and in emotional or physically adulterous relationships.

He has a grasp of control and focus on his marriage.

Furthermore he is to be sober-minded and self-controlled.

“Sober-minded” is the idea of not being given to excess or flippant living.

Furthermore, self-controlled is the virtue of moral command of one’s life. Temperance, discipline, command.

He is to respectable - to have a life worthy of imitating and one that sets and example. A man of dignity.

1 Timothy 3:3 ESV

3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

In the area of what he consumes, specifically alcoholic drink, the elder is not to be a drunkard. That is he should not be given to the excess of alcohol.

That doesn’t mean that he cannot drink alcohol (Paul tells Timothy in chapter 5:23 to drink some wine), but when he does he should do so with temperance and moderation. Don’t get drunk!

In relationships to others he is a man of controlled passions - not a violent fighter but gentle.

Not a troublemaker or one who stirs up dissension and controversy.

In his finances he’s not to be a lover of money - always living to possess wealth and manipulating a life that centers around acquiring, possessing, and retaining great wealth.

Instead an elder is have a life of control over their appetites.

The same is true for deacons and deaconesses.

It’s the high calling and standard of control over their appetites… they are to be…

Faithful in their marriages (Husband of one wife (3:12) // faithful in all things (3:11))

“Dignified… not addicted to much wine” (3:8)

“sober-minded” in v. 11

Not greedy for dishonest gain (3:8)

This kind of “above reproach” self-control is necessary for the leadership of the church and is not an optional add-on.

Gifting should not, and can not ever go above or before character. A leader should be controlled in their appetites.

Church leaders have grace in their relationships (1 Tim 3:2-3, 7, 11)

Furthermore, they should have grace in their relationships.

There are some qualifications and characteristics that are exposed in verse 2-3 that speak to how a pastor/elder relate to people.

1 Timothy 3:2–3 (ESV)

2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach… hospitable… 3 not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

Hospitable - They are to be a “lover of strangers” — that is the life of a pastor/elder should be open to all people, not just their own demographic subgroup or expression.

Just as the gospel is open to all people, regardless of race, gender, education or economic barrier, so the life of a elder/pastor is to be open to all people.

Furthermore, in verse 3 we see this disposition that is distinct from the prevailing notions of leadership and power. Not a fighting, grasping, violent and quarrelsome man.

An elder in the church is called to be gentle.

A humble, Christ-like, gentleness and meekness should be evidenced in the life of a pastor/elder.

That relationship of grace is also exhibited in his relationship to non-Christians.

1 Timothy 3:7 ESV

7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

Being “well thought of” is the sense that 1) unbelievers know him 2) his reputation is upstanding so that the message of the gospel is in correspondence with his conduct.

If he lives one way in the world, and another way in the church and therefore is a hypocrite, the reputation of the gospel is hindered.

Here’s where the world is having such a hard time with Christianity and the church as of late.

When leaders act out of step with the gospel, when they tarnish the reputation of Christ for the sake of their own gain they disqualify themselves.

Deacons and deaconesses are called to the standard of not being slanderers (v. 11)

That is their speech is to be gracious, not slanderous, speaking lies and deceit about others in or outside the church.

These leaders are to exhibit a care for and stewardship of God’s grace and mercy, so their lives must match that stewardship.

If the gospel goes to everyone, so the leaders life is open to everyone.

If the gospel is good news of the mercy and compassion of God, so the leaders life must embody mercy, compassion, and gentleness.

If the gospel is good news of the truth, then the leaders speech must always be speaking the truth and lives of grace and mercy.

Do you want to want to know truly what a church believes about the gospel? Look at the lives and character of their leaders.

So church leaders have control on their appetites, gracious in their relationships, thirdly…

Church leaders have leadership in their home (1 Tim 3:4-5, 12-13)

Paul here in verse 4-5 focuses in on the home-life of the leader because it is an important relationship with regard to the church as a whole.

Here’s the idea behind this… if a man can’t lead/serve/manage his house well (which is smaller than the church body), there’s no way he can lead/serve/manage the larger body as well.

It’s the idea of correspondence and competency.

1 Timothy 3:4–5 ESV

4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?

The word manage here is the idea of lead, steward, or oversee his household.

When Paul says “with all dignity keeping his children submissive” he is not picturing the perfect home where the kids are the von Trapp family and are always happy, singing, and there is never a thing out of order.

Perfection is not the point here - but reputation is.

Paul is saying that the home of an elder should be a safe, godly, home where there is faith and respect and order.

He must manage speaks to competency, leadership, skill in organizing and discipling his family.

A household with children out of control, never disciplined and discipled, and furthermore disrespectful and disparaging publicly of the gospel is not consistent with the character and skill required to be a faithful elder.

Paul even makes the argument, if a man cannot manage or lead his own household well, how can he lead the church?

The family is the first church of the elder… so it should be led well.

The same is true for the household of deacons - v. 12

1 Timothy 3:12 ESV

12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well.

So again, fidelity in marriage is required, and order and good management of the house is expected.

The household and the leadership within the household either displays or denies the gospel.

Church leaders have maturity in the faith (1 Tim 3:6, 9-10)

The final area that a leader stands “above reproach” and is able to lead and be an example for the congregation is the in their maturity in the faith.

1 Timothy 3:6 ESV

6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.

A elder isn’t to be a new believer, someone who has recently come to faith.

Scripture’s logic for this is to be a means of preserving and protecting the new believer.

What can happen when you get into a leadership position as a new person or a younger person?

You can start believing you’re a big deal, you’ve advanced farther and faster than anyone else.

You can listen to the words that say you’re a spiritual prodigy, a wunderkind of faith that has exceptional gifting and spiritual skill and begin to believe those things.

The word for conceit here is a strong, strong word.

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 88.218 τυφόομαι

to be so arrogant as to be practically demented—‘to be insanely arrogant

That’s the devil’s playbook, and the judgement that stood on him.

Young believers that could be hoisted into high positions of leadership quickly can fall into this trap, just like Satan did, and be under the same judgement.

But the character of an elder is a character of humility.

He recognizes that he’s a sinner saved by grace alone. He lives out of a humble heart not seeking to make a name for himself, but for Jesus.

He embodies John the Baptist’s motto: “He [Jesus] must increase, I must decrease.”

Furthermore being a leader means there has been testing; they are proven leaders.

Paul speaks about the office of deacon/deaconesses this way in vv. 9-10

1 Timothy 3:9–10 ESV

9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless.

So they believe, and they have clarity and confidence in the substance and reality of their faith. It’s not a new faith that could be shaken, or in which they are not instructed and confident in.

Maturity in the faith, in applying wisdom in the faith takes time. Discipleship is a process formed over time, and so is spiritual leadership in the church.

Furthermore, deacon and deaconesses should be “tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless.” (v. 10)

That is they should be proven, reliable, mature.

Conclusion

So what does this mean for us? When hearing about the high character that is required and expected by leaders how does that speak to our life today? Let me suggest three applications of this passage for us.

Hold the standards - the church should hold these standards up high as we assess men and women to be leaders of the church. You should expect these characteristics in us as leaders.

Pursue the standards - notice here that everything, with the exception of “able to teach” is about character. Gifts and skills don’t make the leader, character does. Every one of us as Christians are called to pursue and be these kinds of people. So pursue these characteristics in your own life. GROW!

Pray for and follow the leaders of the church - pray for us, follow our lead as we follow Christ, submit to our leadership, support us as we labor for your joy.

If a church has godly, qualified leaders, then it will adorn and display the gospel well in the world.

If a church gives up on the character standards of leaders in the church, then it will tarnish and deny the gospel by its leaders.

Leadership matters! Character matters! Let’s make it count.