Qualifications of Elders - part 3

INTRODUCTION

Browse through any book on leadership, and you’re likely to read that good leaders are marked by giftedness, personality, and organizational skills.

But when Paul urged Titus to appoint elders in the church at Crete, he provided a very different list of qualifications.

Read Titus 1:5-9

The Apostle Paul identifies three areas where a man who is to serve as an Elder is to be above reproach:

Family life

Personal conduct

Teaching

Family Life

husband of one wife

The singularity of a man’s faithfulness to the woman who is his wife and implies inner and outward sexual purity.

children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination

A couple weeks ago, we established that this is not likely saying that children must be believers in Jesus.

Rather, that the children are under control in the household (i.e. they don’t bring shame on themselves or their parents).

Transition:

In the world we live in, it is becoming increasingly harder to find men who meet even just these two standards.

Pornography and infidelity rule the hearts and minds of many men, today.

Family life has taken a backseat to college, careers, and a life free from restrictions. [i.e. people don’t grow-up when they reach adulthood]

So a man’s family life, firstly, provides a window of observation to see if they appear to be above reproach. Once they pass “the eye test,” then it is time to see if they remain above reproach as it relates to their…

Personal Conduct

above reproach

Paul repeats the need for a man to be above reproach and switches from elders (in general, v. 5) to overseer (in particular, v. 7).

Elders have a long-standing history as the communal wisdom and leadership in a society.

Overseers have the particular responsibility of watching over, nurturing, and caring for the needs of the assembly.

Elders provide the collective wisdom and discernment; overseers provide the direct care

While this plays out in many churches with an Elder Board providing the wisdom and the Pastor providing the care, the reality is that the Elder is also to function as an overseer.

Here at FBS, each of our Elders has a direct responsibility of particular aspects of the church, which gives us the opportunity for direct oversight:

Pastor Ken - Trustees, Deacons, Adult Sunday School

Josh Randall - Music and Missions

Ian Robertson - Education Ministries (and SBYG Director)

While we each have direct oversight in these areas (overseer), we collectively discuss and pray for these areas (elder).

Member care typically falls to Pastor Ken, Josh and Ian also play a part

Returning now to the above reproach aspect, after an elder candidate passes “the eye test,” he should then be scrutinized concerning his character.

The overseer fulfills his leadership as God’s steward not only by teaching truth but also being godly examples of that truth being lived out.

In ancient Greek and Roman societies, a steward managed a household on behalf of the owner

Paul brings into clearer view this idea of stewarding a household when he writes…

1 Timothy 3:15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.

If a steward is to be taking care of the household of God (i.e. the Church) through teaching and living, then he must have a particular set of characteristics that should be evident.

The Apostle Paul handles this with 5 negatives and 6 positives

BUT, before we explore that, there is one characteristic that is not listed here, but deserves honorable mention:

1 Corinthians 4:1–2 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

Those who are stewards of the mysteries of God (i.e. His revelation) must live faithfully to them.

5-negatives

Must Not Be Arrogant

Also translated as self-willed. Denotes an arrogant self-interest that asserts its own will with utter disregard for how others might be affected.

The world usually looks to the aggressive, self-assertive person for leadership.

The strong independent woman

The brave homosexual or transgender identifying person

Anyone who pushes against biblical norms and mores

God is not looking for this kind of person, He is looking for an others-minded servant.

Must Not Be Quick-Tempered

This is not referring to the occasional outburst, but the consistently contentious individual

2 Timothy 2:24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil

James 1:20 the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

The qualified elder must guard against a spirit of hostility, resentment, and anger… even when everything seems to be going wrong and people are critical or indifferent.

Must Not Be A Drunk

Also translated as addicted to wine. The word literally means “to be continually in the presence of wine.”

For years, the argument was made about wine in Paul’s day not being the same alcoholic content as what we experience today… so don’t drink it at all.

More recently, the argument has been stuck on the word addicted, to justify the occasional drink at meals or social gatherings.

We must be careful not to find ourselves toeing the line (any line) to the point where we are no longer abstaining from every appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22).

Not only the appearance, but also the temptation, but be avoided

Example: teetotaler Ken

God has always called the leaders of His people to higher standards than other believers.

Leviticus 10:9 - Aaron and other high priests Drink no wine or strong drink, you or your sons with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations.

Proverbs 31:4–5 It is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.

Must Not Be Violent

Seems unnecessary to say that an overseer must not be a fist-fighter, but apparently it was not uncommon for grown men to settle disputes with their fists (or through some other violent means)

The word for violent can refer to verbal as well as physical fighting and quarreling.

It’s possible to hurt a person more deeply and permanently with cruel words than with a fist or club.

An elder should have no part in meanness, abusiveness, or retaliation, no matter how cruelly provoked.

Conflict should always be resolved peacefully, reasonably, and without animosity.

Romans 12:18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Must Not Be Greedy For Gain

Paul is referring to a person who, without honesty or integrity, seeks wealth and financial prosperity at any cost.

Even in the early church, there were people in leadership who entered the pastorate simply to make an easy living.

1 Timothy 6:5 people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.

Unfortunately, there are many people who view pastoral ministry as a ladder to climb

Find a good “starter church” (much like a starter home), typically a small church in a small town

Stick around there for a few years, maintain or grow the attendance number to pad the resume, then look for a bigger church that will provide more salary/benefits

Lather, rinse, repeat

Read 1 Timothy 6:6-11

CONCLUSION

One thing that is clear as we navigate through this passage: the elder and overseer in the church must be a man that exemplifies change brought about by the gospel.

Ephesians 4:20–24 But that [the way of worldly Gentiles] is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Leadership does not merely teach, it exemplifies what Christianity is.

It is not a set of rules to be followed, it is a life changed through the gospel of Christ.

It is a receiver of mercy and grace who is ready to extend mercy and grace to those who act out in their sin

It is a forgiven sinner who is ready to forgive those who sin against them

It is one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread

Mercy and grace is offered at the cross of Christ.

We all have offended a thrice holy God through our ignorance and selfish living

Yet, God’s mercy and grace is seen in that He withholds the judgment we deserve and instead pours out His wrath on His Son on the cross.

Forgiveness is achieved through the shed blood of Jesus.

By placing your trust in Him and the work He accomplished on the cross, your offenses will be forgiven and you will be established in Christ’s righteousness.

As you come into a right relationship with the One who is known as the Bread of Life, your soul can receive proper nourishment and you will grow up in righteousness.

The elder, as the overseer of the flock, provides the real time example of what this looks like in the church.