Biblical Leadership, vigilance, self-control, and respectable

It has been very thought provoking and humbling to go through the pastor/elder qualifications in 1 Timothy 3.

Throughout the Old Testament God calls his people to Holiness.
Leviticus 11:45 "you shall therefore be holy, for I am holy"
Leviticus 20:7 "consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy.."
And in the New Testament Peter refers back to the Old Testament, 1 Peter 1:16 "since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy."
We are to be "set apart", set apart from the society around us that does not serve the living God.
But,.......are we?

In a survey I heard in a sermon, the pastor said that, 84% of people say that they know someone who is a Christian, but only 15% of those people say the the Christian is different than anyone else they know. YIKES!!! So where is the "be holy, for I am holy"????? God calls us to be set apart, yet, as a whole, Christian's are not.

As I move along into the remaining qualifications and characteristics of a pastor/elder, I hope and pray that you read them and evaluate them intently. Evaluate your own heart and inner thought life. Evaluate your actions. Don't be deceived by your own judgement of yourself, you will most likely justify your own sin. Ask those around you. Not just those who are your "friends", how likely are they to tell you the "truth"?? If you want to really challenge yourself, ask those who are not your friends!!

I believe that all Christian men should have this list as a goal, as a standard for their lives. Regardless of whether or not the actual position of pastor/elder is desired. This passage of Scripture should not be avoided by Pastors. Why would a Pastor avoid scripture that clearly calls men to God's standard? Does He not want men in his church to be elder quality? What is the point then? How sad is it that any Pastor would keep men from the challenge of specific Holiness! It is that man's job as Pastor to bring his flock from milk to meat. We are all called to be Ambassador's for Jesus Christ. (2Cor: 5:20) We should desire for our lives to bring glory and honor to His name. If we are to actually represent Christ, we need to submit ourselves more and more to God and His standard.

The task is great, but when God calls you, He also equips you. Will you answer the call, and train yourself for Holiness??

ESV "sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable"
KJV "vigilant, sober, of good behaviour"
NASB "temperate, prudent, respectable"
NIV "temperate, self-controlled, respectable"
NLT "he must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation"

The Greek word "nephalios". This word can have a double meaning, it can mean sober, but it also means watchful and vigilant. The call to the pastor/elder is to keep a clear mind, to be watchful and vigilant about their lives. That their conduct, choices, and lives must be continually under scrutiny, because  their conduct will be under scrutiny from all around them, Christian's and non-Christian's alike. The pastor/elder is in a highly visible position, and he must be vigilant about his own life.

The Greek word "sophron". This word is considered to be almost untranslatable. One word never hits the nail on the head. Many different English words are used for it. Sound mind, discreet, prudent, self-controlled, chaste, or having complete control over sensual desires. And now I am going to become a geek, yes geek, not Greek, and put some quotes in from historical author's regarding this word "sophron", just so we can get a better idea of the meaning.

1.  Plato defined it as "the mastery of pleasure and desire"
2. Aristotle defined it as "that power by which the pleasures of the body are used as law command"
3. Philo defined it as "a certain limiting and ordering of the desires, which eliminates those which are external and excessive, and which adorns those which are necessary with timeliness and moderation."
4. R.C. Trench describes it as "the condition of entire command over the passions and desires, so that they receive no further allowance that that which law and right reason admit and approve."

So, as you can see, one word doesn't really grasp the whole of the original intent. To sum it up, the pastor/elder must be in total control of his emotions and desires. We all have them, but do they master us, or do we master them?

The greek word "kosmios". Can mean well behaved, orderly, honest, and respectful. It was often used of a person who was a good citizen, but it was much more than just good behavior. There was an understanding and sense of someone whose life was seen as balanced and purposeful.

There is also a special connection between the words sophron and kosmios. Together they point to the inward man and the outward man.  Sophron addresses the inward character of the pastor/elder, that which we will not necessarily be able to see. Kosmios addresses the outward visible character of the pastor/elder, that which we see very clearly. Together they make up the whole of what the Christian leader should be. Inwardly in control and mastering their emotions and desires, and outwardly showing the beauty of what he has inwardly mastered. As one commentator states, "The leader must be one in whose heart Christ's power reigns and on whose life Christ's beauty shines."

Our actions reveal our hearts and minds. Our choices reveal what we really believe. There is no point in denying that. These characteristics don't just happen, we don't fall into them, we can't just "try" to be them, we must train to be them. We must in our hearts and minds train to be vigilant, self-controlled, and respectable.

Next time.......hospitable and able to teach.

Biblical leadership. the blameless one woman man part 2

I am trying very hard to not write a book about this topic, but a few questions from others have led me to do a part two.

The biblical qualifications are very well known for any man who desires to be a pastor or elder. That is why it continues to baffle me that so many pastors fail in these two areas. I know, I know, we are all sinners, we battle with the "flesh", I get it, and understand that. But over and over again any precautionary measures, or any real accountability with other Godly men are avoided. John 3:20-21 gives us a very clear warning, "For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out by God." This verse provides an in your face opportunity to evaluate which one you are, not only which one you are, but what to do about it! For a Pastor/elder it is very simple, bring your life "into the light....that it may be clearly seen." That is what accountability is all about. That verse is NOT saying, bring your issues to the local congregation and share it with everyone you know. But to make it "clearly seen". Does the Pastor/elder have a man or a group of men to whom they are accountable? If the answer is yes, then amen!! If the answer is no.....be warned by scripture, anyone avoiding the light is focused on something other than God. It comes down to some very simple and basic things.

Boil it all down, and, the foundation of this list is about your commitment to God. The real level of commitment to God is truly revealed in these qualifications. Men can be very skilled at hiding their true level of pride, arrogance, and sinful thought life, usually they are very condemning and judgemental of others to hide and mask their own wickedness.  But when it comes to this list of qualifications, only the truly committed, humble, passionate, dedicated, and selfless will pass the test. That is why every aspect of ones life is touched by this list.

Above reproach, and a one woman man.

Pride and arrogance lead a pastor to lie about himself. Lie about his past to make himself look better, lie about recent events to protect himself, and distort the truth to minimize damage done by his own pride and arrogance. Too often. As a society we too often value gifts/skill over character. It is seen in our culture with sports figures and "celebrities". And it happens in Churches too. Too often pastors/elders are idolized as if they are God. Too often the pride and arrogance of those men grows to the point where they think they are above reproach. And their life is a reflection of that.

"Never follow a pastor who is not painfully aware that one day, after he quits breathing, he will stand in front of Jesus and give an account for how he led, treated and spent his life on the bride (the church/body), if that piece is not there, that man is leading your towards a house called his ego and he will build the church based on how he looks rather than what is best for the body."
 --Pastor Matt Chandler

Not only painfully aware of giving account in front of Jesus, can that man give an account here and now?? Can he legitimately stand up to any accusation made against him. Does he seek the light in that way, so that God is glorified?

Back on track with 1 Timothy next time.....