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Tag: elder

  • Credentials for Christ

    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

    Paul and Aquilla tent makersResume:

    Occupation: Tent maker

    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

    Roman-Provincia_SyriaOkay, 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,

    viper“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 18:17Elijah reward

    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.

  • PK’s, EK’s, DK’s: Our kids; God’s kids – 3

    PK’s, EK’s, DK’s: Our kids; God’s kids – 3

    The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.  – 1 Timothy 1:5 NLT

    Continuing in the series of (our Saturday posts) our focus is on ‘Preacher’s Kid’s, Elder’s Kids and Deacon’s kids and the focus of scripture from Paul’s letter to Timothy.

     Why is the integrity of leadership in the pulpit and authority behind the pulpit important?

    Think about your preacher (minister, priest, rector, brother, pastor… whatever you and your church would like to call the man in the pulpit). Why would ANYONE in the church listen? Why would anyone from outside of your church family want to listen to this man, a mere mortal? (And I accept and include some pretty good preaching I have heard from godly women.)

    WE, the people of Christ’s church, recognize the Authority of God and Christ Jesus  inherent in the office of the Pastor of our church.

    Our LORD stands behind the authority of the pulpit.

    Yet IF NOT… IF a church leader of any office: Pastor, Elder, Deacon, even a mere member representing your church and claiming Christ; IF ANY Christian does not preach the gospel with the integrity of our life, Christ Jesus is maligned in our soiled image of claiming His Name in vain.

    The world has retorted our faith with stories enough of the evil of priests and pastors and hateful ‘christians’ with a cause more self-righteous than our own lives.

    PK fishWe would ALL do well to think of ourselves as being in the spotlight of a ‘Preacher’s Kid’ and modify our witness (behavior) in front of others accordingly. Please allow me one personal example.

    A number of years ago a young man in high school met two new students who turned out to be the son and daughter of the new Pastor of his church. These two ‘Preacher’s Kids’ were both well-dressed, well-behaved, more intelligent than most. It did not take long for everyone to learn that they were the new “PK’s.”  This label always preceded everything they accomplished and anything they wanted to do.

    Although he hardly spoke to the new boy and the new girl at school, the young man was more than pleased to participate with them on Youth Sunday along with his ‘church friends’ of the youth class at church. Unfortunately (as often happens in real families who do not live next door to the church), his family was a little late. After the service the new pastor, “Reverend ___,” asked by young man’s mom into a room to talk, closed the door, and talked to his mom at some length (no doubt a continuation of his angry exhortation about lateness in front of everyone as they all hurried into the ‘Youth Sunday’ service.)

    After that, this Christian young man no longer wanted to go to church.

    Pastors have to practice EVERYTHING they preach, don’t they? We expect this.

    And as for the Preacher’s Kids: imagine how well they had witnessed such things before, knowing many of the incidents like these in their biological father’s life (by their dad, who happened to be the preacher). Imagine their embarrassment when later it was found out that Reverend ___, their dad, was having an affair with the church secretary!

    Such stories are all-too-common for leaders of the church. The gossip ruins lives, in addition to the sins of the flesh of a mortal ‘preacher’ of the word. In a greater sense, we are all preacher’s kids. Jesus Christ made no such mistakes as are so often brought to light by the enemies of the Gospel. “See? Christians are no different,” they say.

    That’s right. We are ALL sinners – even the preacher – and even the preacher’s kid’s, like you and me. Jesus Christ is our preacher, God is our Father and in that familial sense, we are ALL preacher’s kids saved by grace.

    Never-the-less, scripture holds the leaders of Christ’s flock to a higher standard. You can see why.

    Paul points his ‘Preachers Kid’ in the faith, Timothy, to these higher standards for choosing his own children who will help him with the leadership of the church. You can see why.

    Once again (and without designation of ‘pastor, elder, deacon, preacher’s kid, elder’s kid, deacon’s kid, our kids, your kids, their kids…) let’s consider the higher standards of God for leaders of Christ’s flock:

    1 Timothy 1:

    8 Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

    Paul is not yet speaking of those called to lead the church, but of those who we hope to draw to Christ by our righteousness in the Law. Yet sadly, in these last days, we need to point to a scripture directed toward the world which has not been heeded even by those who train our preachers, fill our pulpits, appoint our church leaders and then are ‘shocked’ to discover scandals by those who do these things even before and while they claim Christ.

    Paul goes on to point out what a sinner he was BEFORE he was saved and came to Christ Jesus in obedience to the Gospel.

     1 Timothy 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…

    8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; 9 likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control…

    11 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.

    [This is NOT to say that a woman should not preach or teach – a topic we will not approach here.]

     1 Timothy 3

    English Standard Version (ESV)

    Qualifications

    • must be above reproach,
    • the husband of one wife,
    • sober-minded,
    • self-controlled,
    • respectable,
    • hospitable,
    • able to teach,
    • not a drunkard,
    • not violent but gentle,
    • not quarrelsome,
    • not a lover of money. (Though) He must manage his own household well,
    • with all dignity keeping his children submissive
    • He must not be a recent convert (Young perhaps; but not new to Christ)
    • 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. (We will not elaborate here.)
    • 10 And let them also be tested first…prove themselves blameless.
    • 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified,
    • not slanderers,
    • sober-minded,
    • faithful in all things.
    • gain a good standing for themselves
    • great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

    It’s a long list of higher standards to which we should hold the leaders of our church. I do not even qualify.

    Do you? Do your church leaders? Does your pastor?

    train up a childIn deed and in witness we are like: Preacher’s Kids, Elder’s Kids, Deacon’s Kids.

    It’s just like when our kids are somewhere else people look at them and say: “We know you are ‘Roger’s kid’ {or Lissette’s kid…or Roger and Lissette’s kid}. They may as well have said, “We know your parents. Why are you acting like THAT?”

    So I ask us:

    If we are children adopted into the Royal and Holy Household of GOD our Heavenly Father,

    WHY are we calling CHRIST JESUS our LORD, while our worldly witness does NOT stand up to these HIGHER STANDARDS of a “Preacher’s Kid?”

    Do we call a man to the pulpit or to church leadership without holding him, his wife and his family to the higher standards of the loving family of God?

    Dear Preacher’s Kid, of the family of God and Christ Jesus:

    Repent! and return to the loving Father, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who seeks and finds even the lost sheep within the church — the loving Father who runs to meet the prodigal son… (or prodigal daughter…) and would welcome you home.

    He has trained you up in the way you should go.

    Now come home, beloved child of God.

    Pray also for me.

    Roger

  • PK’s, EK’s, DK’s: Our kids; God’s kids – 2

    PK’s, EK’s, DK’s: Our kids; God’s kids – 2

    What does the Lord require of the leaders of His church?

    My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. – from the First Letter of John 2:1

    Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. – from the First Letter of Simon Peter 2:11

    Train up a child in the way he should go,
    Even when he is old he will not depart from it. – Proverbs 22:6

    Suppose for a moment, that Jesus had been married (or living in sin as some heretics would claim). Who would we look to for example for a woman? Jesus’ wife! A woman of the flesh, imperfect though joined to our Lord. Again, NOT God’s plan.

    And suppose, further, that Jesus and a wife of the flesh had children in the way all of us have children. To whom would the world and the church look to for establishing and building Jesus’ MEGA-church to go into all the world? Again, in the traditions of ancestry: the PREACHER’S KID. Some responsibility, right? Yet in His omniscient wisdom, God the Father had no such plan.

    Jesus was not married. Jesus had no children of the flesh (as we are born as sons of a sinful man and of a sinful woman born of a sinful mother and father in adam).

    Peter, however, was married. As was the custom, there may have been sons and daughters of Mister and Missus Simon Peter: Preacher’s Kids. Yet we do not hear of these. For that matter, we hear very little about the wives of the Apostles, including Peter’s wife whose mother Jesus healed.

    We hear little of the women of the church (only occasionally of a mother or sister of the church noted for her humble service and faithfulness). For that matter, we hear little of Simon Peter, Christ-appointed successor to unify the Apostles in the Gospel through the Holy Spirit. Without Peter’s approval, without Jesus’ brother James’ approval and without the approval of the risen Christ Himself and the Holy Spirit, Paul (Saul of Tarsus) would not have been preaching to the church and writing letters to the churches, as did the other Apostles.

    Without the leadership of the Spirit, Paul could not have instructed Timothy in the leadership of the church as the Gospel takes root in the adopted souls of the generations.

    Yet understand that some of Paul’s instructions for the church are cultural, while other instructions of leadership point to the most important character of the leadership and members of the body of Christ we call ‘the church’ or the ‘saints.’

    1 Timothy 1
    English Standard Version (ESV)

     … the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

    PK fishAgainst this contrast of sin and worldliness, Paul lays out examples of leadership and the character REQUIRED of leaders of the church under constant scrutiny by the congregation they lead; a pastor, elder, bishop or deacon watched closely by a world they would lead to Christ.

    Just imagine the lives of Peter’s kids or any Preacher’s Kids in the probing eyes of others as the child of witnesses for the Lord who said, “I will make you fishers of men.”

    We learned in Acts of the Apostles that Peter and the Disciples and appointed Deacons were first and foremost servants of the church and the body of believers. By the instructions of Christ our Lord they did not lord it over one another.

    Our Lord, Christ Jesus does not suggest any arch-Apostle or Bishop over bishops. We are instructed to love and serve one another, even as Christ humbled Himself to serve sinful man.

    Yet Paul emphasizes Christ-like requirements in the leaders of Christ’s church:

     1 Timothy 3

    Therefore an overseer [episkopos or Bishop] must be above reproach,

    the husband of one wife, [Note that an unmarried man would NOT qualify; nor a woman: married or unmarried]

    sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

    • not a drunkard,
    • not violent but gentle,
    • not quarrelsome,
    • not a lover of money. [Preachers of prosperity wouldn’t qualify.]
    • He must manage his own household well…

    [The KJV states: ‘ruleth well his own house.’  We don’t cherish the idea of even a pastor ruling over us, do we?

    However as prerequisite he must rule also over his wife and his children with the love and charity of Christ Jesus. Any leader of Christ’s church must rule over people, priorities, time and money with maturity and discernment of the Spirit.]

    • … with all dignity keeping his children submissive, [Lookout, P.K’s: it means obedience.]

    for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?

    [An excellent point of the Apostle Paul.

    Do you want a man without such charitable rule over those under his care at home to have authority over your church?

    For that matter, should a ‘father’ with no children instruct you and your wife and your children how to live and witness as a family in Christ Jesus? {Controversial, in these later last centuries of a broken church body.}]

    Paul continues:

    He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.  Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

    Quite a list for a leader of the church, is it not?

    Can any Bishop or Elder of the church live up to this perfection without some failing of flesh? Certainly not in his own will; yet it is the standard to which our leaders are held accountable. Certainly the Preacher’s wife and Preacher’s Kids are also viewed in the spotlight of this higher standard. May God help them.

    To this Paul adds requirements for Deacons:

    Deacons likewise must be dignified,

    They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.  And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless.

    And now Paul reiterates requirements for wives of Deacons and requirements for Deacons the same as the high standard for Pastors and for Elders:

    11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things.

    Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well.

    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.

    To be continued…