Credentials for Christ

It seems I am unqualified by all measures for employment in the service of Christ.

I have no Doctor of Divinity. I’ve never been on a church staff or even served time as a youth pastor. My vocations have been beyond the walls of the church in the everyday lives of common men. My family life has been less than exemplary and my pedigree is more related to the place where I came from than my zeal for the Lord.

(And after all, why would your church hire a tent maker to answer phones or schedule your meetings?)

Suppose your church needs some help with its important ministry. You draw up a job description (which we will get to later) and a man applies with credentials not suited to what you had in mind. In fact, his resume reads like he was either paid to work by some rather ungodly organizations or volunteer to learn pastoring from some rather hypocritical religious types.

Saul of Tarsus

Resume:

Occupation: Tent maker

• I’m from a foreign city, a Roman city; not Israel or Judah – certainly not Jerusalem (though I studied with officials as a religious apprentice for a while).
• formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. 
• “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.
• I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
• References:

1. a lesser known Christian you may not have heard of
2. a former corrupt tax collector
3. a former boat owner and hot-headed sailor

Okay, our search committee doesn’t particularly agree that this guy from Tarsus of Cilicia is a good fit.

How about a local candidate who fascinates our religious and political rulers? He has a religious following of his own and good teaching credentials. Let’s go hear a sermon of his. (Maybe he will join our staff.)

⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them,

“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.

Alright, maybe this Baptizer is not the best guy for our seeker-friendly church. (Too bad we can’t find a faithful minister like those proven Prophets of the Old Testament.)

When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” – 1 Kings 18:17

On the other hand, Elijah was opposed to the leaders of Israel. The King sought to kill him. Besides, Stephen, who Saul had heard testify, had asked:

Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute?

NO. I don’t think our Pastor wants a Prophet in the pews. Forget a guy like John the Baptist greeting our newcomers. Matthew and all government officials are definitely out of contention. An unemployed fisherman who is ready to draw the sword at the first sign of opposition won’t work. (And who ever heard of this reference, Ananias, other than this Saul of Tarsus candidate?)

Choosing ministers for the work of the church is not as easy as we might think.

So what are the qualifications?

A first qualification is from the Lord:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” – John 3

A Christ follower and leader of the church must be changed. (Have we even asked or witnessed evidence of the Holy Spirit?)

Returning to the record of scripture, we know, of course that Paul was appointed by Christ Jesus and approved by Peter.

After many years of preaching, teaching and persecution, the Apostle Paul instructs the church by pastoral letters to other church leaders.

1 Timothy

5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

Pray for All People

2 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, ² for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. ³ This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,⁴ who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.⁵ For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. ⁷ For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Qualifications for Overseers

3 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. ² Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable,able to teach, ³ not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. ⁴ He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, ⁵ for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? ⁶ He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. ⁷ Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

Qualifications for Deacons

⁸ Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. ⁹ They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. ¹⁰ And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. ¹¹ Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things.¹² Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. ¹³ For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

NOT qualified

Who then may be qualified?

Not that we are sufficient  of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

Second letter of Paul to the Corinthians 2:3:5-6 KJV

Grace: such a loving kindness of the Lord.

It is only by the grace of Christ Jesus that any man should serve the church in obedience to the will of the Lord. It is by grace that we are saved. It is by grace we should be called to lead. It is by grace that through our own acts of mercy and grace that another soul might come to know the surpassing grace of Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

By grace and discernment of Christ’s love we humbly draw near as a church of forgiven souls seeking to share the Gospel of the grace of the Cross of Christ Jesus. May the Lord lead us with an open heart and willing walk to follow those who walk alongside our church in the roles of leadership.

Peace, grace and mercy be with you, beloved brother, dear sister in the Lord.