In the last post, I talked about two aspects of Biblical Leadership that scripture focuses on. The function and the character of the leader. The previous post was primarily about the function of the leader. What it was that scripture called leaders to do. This post will focus on the character of the leader, what the leader is called to be.
There were different qualifications for leadership in the Old Testament, depending on the time. It is very interesting to pay attention to, and to study, but I am not going to dive into that here. I will be focusing on the New Testament, what scripture says about leadership in what was the beginning days of the "Church". If the church, the body of Christ, was to live for it's purpose, leadership was crucial. That was true in the beginning days, and it is true today.
So what does God require for a man to be able to fill the role of leader?
The New Testament uses the terms "elder" and "overseer", Paul writes to Timothy and Titus with a list of character qualities that someone who fills the position must have. In my previous post I listed some verses that revealed the function of the leader. In those verses, it is not "a good idea", or "a suggestion", or "if it is convenient", try to do these things. Those verses reveal what God wants the leaders of his Church to do!!! And in the same way, when Paul writes to Timothy and Titus with a list of character qualities for an "elder" or "overseer", this list is NOT, a suggestion, or a good idea. It is the God given, Holy Spirit inspired, standard. The function of elder/overseer is difficult. And so the character of the individual must be high.
I do want to point out a couple of things before I get to the list of qualifications.
No one is perfect, thus the need for a savior. The qualifications are not about perfection. They are about God's standard. We make conscious choices. And those come with consequences. Some of our choices determine whether or not we are qualified. Some of our choices actually, Biblically, disqualify us. I want to point out that we make those choices. Those choices are not made for us, we choose.
If at any point, we as the church, fail to uphold the standard for these qualifications, we are choosing to stray from what the Bible calls us to. And too often, we justify it. I believe fully in Grace, Grace for our salvation. I believe in forgiveness, forgiveness for our sins. At the same time, we can still disqualify ourselves from leadership. God put forth the qualifications, and if someone doesn't meet them, they should not be in leadership as an elder or overseer.
As I said at the end of my last post, most non-believers want nothing to do with "Christianity" because of their experiences with Christians. And most believers who struggle with going to church, struggle because of their experiences in church with Christians. And what is the main reason?? Character.
In the Old Testament and New, leadership was taken seriously, but it wasn't about gifting, it was about character. The reason?? Without biblical character that is Holy (set apart), it doesn't matter that the function is going in the right direction. Function without character will fail biblically. Character without function can be very, very frustrating. But that leader, with biblical character, will listen, pray, and grow. They will continue to be in the process of growing in their service to the body. People could get frustrated and leave a church because of a lack of function, purpose, or intentionality in ministry. If the character of leadership is proven to be biblical publically, and the leadership is actually above reproach, people will stay. But if the character of the leader fails to meet biblical standard, no amount of function, purpose, or intentionality in ministry will do.
Character is proven over time. Which is why many of the qualifications listed in 1 Timothy are not one time events or qualifications. It's not like getting your drivers liscense, pass the test once and your good forever. The Biblical leader can not say.....I passed that test once, so I am good forever! Just because you were above reproach once, that doesn't mean that you get a pass on every other situation or event that brings accountability to your doorstep. Every event, every occurrance, every trial, every choice, any choice, is important. It's important because it reveals our hearts. Does that scare the Biblical leader? It shouldn't, unless there are hidden sins, or thought life, that are knowingly lived in and lived out.
Next time.......1 Timothy.......the Biblical qualifications of an elder/overseer.
