Qualifications for Elders

 

July 17, 2020

 

Titus 1: 5 – 16

 

Qualifications for Elders

This is why I left you in Crete so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.   For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

 

We the Church must not be misled, but study the Scriptures to understand that our God is a God of Order.  If you look at Creation, it is very orderly.  Paul, speaking to the elders of the Church, gives this insight,  ^“For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.”  (1 Corinthians 14:33)  Our Father is not into disorder, but order.  

 

Paul gives examples of what your pastor should look like in his role as pastor.  Not just on Sundays, but at home, and everywhere.  He must be above reproach, what does that mean?  Let us share some words that give meaning to the question: honest, decent, honorable, and not enticed by powerful men in the church or outside of it.  Not seduced by sex or money or anything that would bring shame on the name of Christ.  Have you noticed, one wife and his children are believers, and they have been taught to honor God and their parents.

 

But Paul goes on to define what the pastor must be; “He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.”  Your requirement and mine of our pastor will never be close to what God expects, of the leader in the church.  But we also must not forget, God forgives all, that includes your pastor when he humbles himself before God and confesses his messed-up life.  Remember, your always wrong when you allow your pious lives to have a higher standard than God.

 

“He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”  I believe the last is of utmost importance but does not supersede the other instruction.  I send my email My back porch writing to pastors not to help them, for sure not because they would desire to get the insights or my bad grammar, but hoping one of them will check me out to make sure I have not error, in what I’ve stated.

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice