Sunday, June 13, 2010 am
Qualifications of Elders (2)
1)
Required
(none are optional and present BEFORE being appointed)
2)
Relevant
(each quality serves a purpose in fulfilling his work)
3)
Attainable
(not impossible to achieve within a congregation)
4)
Observable
(brethren ought to be able to VERIFY these qualities in the men chosen)
Today we will notice some foundational qualifications and how
they apply to the work of elders.
a.
1
Tim. 3:1 – “This
is a faithful saying: If anyone desires the position of a bishop, he
desires a good work.”
Friends, if desire is not there, you will have difficulty doing the work
faithfully and fully.
1 Peter 5:2 says, “Shepherd the
flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers,
not by compulsion, but willingly.”
b.
The word
for “desire” is a strong word that indicates not merely a desire but a
seeking after. The Word
Study Dictionary of the New Testament says of this word, “The word
implies not only desiring, but seeking after.”
“To strive to attain, to aspire to, to eagerly long for.”
L&N
The word is used 3 times in N.T. – Here, Hebrews 11:16, “Now they desire
a better, that is, a heavenly country.”
The point: This isn’t something you wake up one morning and decide that
you want to be an elder.
c.
BUT,
desires must be brought into check.
i.
In
considering desires let it first be noted that
not ALL can or will qualify.
It is my hope that we have established that this is an exclusive
office for only the highest of character.
So while desire has to be there first, it is not enough!
If you are NOT qualified to serve as an elder, it does not make
you any less of a Christian NOR does it mean you cannot be the best at
whatever you do in service to Him.
ii.
Some desire the office for selfish reasons.
There are some who crave the office so much, they are willing to
do just about anything to get it (compromise the standards, politic,
etc.) IF so, they have no
business serving. In time,
their goals will do more harm than good for the congregation.
iii.
Some do NOT desire the office for selfish reasons. If you are qualified (and you know it) and you refuse to serve are you
really using all your talents for God?
Some know that at times it is a thankless job and thus they don’t
want it. But is any work for
God too burdensome considering all that He has done for us? (cf. 1 John
5:3, Luke 17:10 – ware are unprofitable.
We have done what was our duty to do.)
James 4:17 warns that if we know to do good and do not do it, it
is sin.
d.
What
about reluctance?
A little reluctance can be a good
thing. Moses was reluctant
to delver Israel from Egypt at first.
So was Jeremiah – (Jer. 1:6).
Sometimes, a little reluctance demonstrates an understanding of
the gravity of the office, a necessary quality in properly serving.
Just do NOT let that reluctance be permanent.
IF you have things you feel that you need to develop a little
more, WORK ON THEM! After an
appropriate amount of time there are bigger problems than the
reluctance.
If you truly love your brethren, you will overcome your reluctance and
be willing to serve.
e.
ALSO,
don’t set your own standard so high that you cannot achieve it.
This is of course, with an understanding of the qualifications (i.e
some must realize they can never serve and accept it).
f.
A final
thought: There is a shortage of godly elders in the Lord’s Church
throughout the world.
One reason for this has to do with desire (or the lack thereof).
I speak not only about the now, but early in life when such ought
to be one of our young men’s spiritual goals and the young ladies ought
to be looking down the path of being godly wives of elders.
II.
Blameless
a.
At the
beginning of both passages (1 Tim. 3:1, Titus 1:6,7).
b.
Defined:
Two different words
1 Tim. 3:1 - “Pertaining to what cannot be criticized” (L&N)
“Who gives no ground for accusation.”(WSDNT)
The idea is not that one cannot complain against, but charges that are
made cannot be substantiated.
Titus 1:6, 7 – “pertaining to one who cannot be accused of anything
wrong.”
In these terms we find one whose character is impeccable and with
integrity. It doesn’t mean
none ever complain, but their complaints cannot be sustained and their
character cannot be indicted.
c.
Some
with a liberal mindset say this is the only real quality needed.
They contend that whatever other characteristics one possesses
demonstrate a man of integrity, but no specific qualities are required.
This is nonsense, as Paul goes to great length to define WHO can
serve.
d.
HOWEVER,
this term is a good indicator as we examine ALL the qualities.
If someone were to say that one being considered (or someone
presently serving) was… (and then they accused him of failure in a
particular character, such as “not hospitable” or “he is a greedy
person”) would that charge be able to be substantiated?
e.
Consider 1
Timothy 5:19-20 which calls for him to not even receive an accusation
against the elders unless there are witnesses.
f.
Being
blameless does NOT mean: sinless perfection or even that one has never
sinned publicly. We all
have. Peter sinned by
denying Christ and in Gal. 2:11-13 being hypocritical, but he was still
an Apostle AND an elder (1 Peter 5:1).
g.
NOTE:
IT is a present condition.
One could have matured so that he no longer possesses a
disqualifying character (i.e. don’t bring up what happened 20 years ago
unless it is part of a consistent and present pattern).
Furthermore, consider that when one truly
repents is he not
“blameless”? He has made
himself right and has cleared himself (cf. 2 Cor. 7:10-11).
My point is for us to allow our elders to be as human as we are.
It is possible for one who is serving to somehow stumble in his
qualities and such not disqualify him.
For example: For some reason, he loses his temper when dealing with some
trying and ongoing problem.
But he realizes he should not have and he repents of that.
Such would not necessarily mean that he is one who is not
temperate in his life. He had a bad day!
Such was not typical of his disposition.
On the other hand, if we see a consistent pattern of failure
(i.e. he frequently loses his temper) then we see a character flaw that
would disqualify him from serving.
a.
1 Timothy
3:6. Also consider the term
“elder.”
b.
The word
actually is one “newly-planted” (Vine’s).
The idea is clear meaning one who is a recent convert and “who by
inexperience is unfitted to act as a bishop or overseer in a church.”
(Vine’s)
c.
It is
obviously not a sin to be a new convert.
But such a person is clearly not prepared to lead the
congregation. An elder has
to have a great degree of maturity and development to be able to help
the congregation AND to teach others.
d.
The
reasons for this are obvious:
i.
How can he
teach others if he does not know the truth sufficiently himself? (cf.
Heb. 5:12-14, Matt. 13:5-6 (no root), 2 Peter 1:5-7, etc.)
ii.
How can he
convict the gainsayers as a novice? Titus 1:9, Eph. 4:13-15 describes
maturity developed BY godly leaders
iii.
How can
one prove himself without adequate time?
iv.
How can
one master various traits unless he is tested in them over and over?
e.
Beyond
these reasons, the text gives another reason: “lest
being puffed up with pride, he fall into the same condemnation as the
devil.”
A “novice” has not taken time to humbly consider the work and the power
that comes with it. Being
inexperienced, there are MANY ways he might succumb to a prideful
attitude.
Barclay describes this statement noting that he might become “inflated
with a sense of his own importance.”
In 1 Tim. 4:12 Timothy was warned as a youth to live so that he would
not be despised. This was
done by a proper example. It
was said with an understanding of the dangers of inexperience and youth!
King Saul was relatively
young when he became king.
He started out humble, but it quickly went to his head.
Rehoboam, heeded the
horrible advice of his young friends which resulted in a divided
kingdom.
Experience and the maturity that comes with it makes one aware of the
dangers of pride and takes steps (which he has LEARNED through
experience) to avoid such.
Remember what Solomon said about pride, “Pride goes before
destruction; and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Prov. 16:18); “When
pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom” (Prov.
11:2); “By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is
wisdom.” (Prov. 13:10).
f.
The term
has relative quality to it.
Novice compared to who?
Having said these things, we are NOT given exact guidelines for what
determines one to be “not a novice”. I
find it interesting that the term “expert” or “experienced” is not used.
Is there a time frame between one being a novice and being an
expert? We know there is.
How long does one need to be a
Christian to “qualify”? How
much Bible knowledge does he have to have?
We know there has to be enough time for him to raise a godly
family. He has to be able to
teach is the prescribed manners mentioned.
He has to prove himself.
But how much? The
truth is it differs from person to person.
Some may mature and prove themselves at a faster rate than
others. However, this
quality is generally something that we know when we see it.
We ask the questions and his character puts him at a HIGH
standard of achievement in these things.
How does he compare to his fellow Christians in this?
g.
Are you a
novice? Hebrews 5:12-14
reminds us of our need to become mature.
Being a novice is something each of us needs to grow out of (2
Pet. 3:18). Whether it is so
that we can become elders (and elder’s wives) OR so that we can be able
to work with the elders to the fullest (and thereby producing a mature
congregation) we HAVE to mature in the faith.
It simply is NOT an option.
And thus we see the first three qualities needed for our elders.
In our next lesson we will consider the character of these men.
This will be followed by qualities of behavior, then his
leadership qualities (including his family and reputation) and then his
abilities (able to teach, hospitable).
Let us prayerfully consider these things in the men who shepherd
us.