In part one I eluded to the qualifications of a pastor and how the words
overseer, bishop, and elder all refer to the same office, that of pastor, the
leader of a church. Not only does the senior pastor lead and shepherd his
congregation, his decisions and lifestyle can impact an entire community
and sometimes all of Christianity. Unfortunately what the media
reports are news stories about pastors living in luxury, having
affairs, embezzling money, pornography, or things of the like. There is even a
reality show called Pastors of LA which follows "so-called pastors"
around Los Angeles as they serve themselves and live in lavishness. Which begs
the question are the qualifications for a pastor?
In 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9, Paul provides these men clear
instructions of what qualifications future pastors should possess. Both Timothy
and Titus were missionaries, church planters, and pastors and also acted
as Paul's representatives on numerous occasions. In Timothy's case, he was
chosen by Paul to correct false doctrine in Ephesus and then equip it
with a qualified pastor (overseer) before moving on to his next assignment.
Here are the qualifications from 1 Timothy 3:1-7
1)
Blameless - this does not mean perfection, but that the
pastor is not guilty of any wrongdoing. This is a man who refrains from the
perception of evil and lives in a holy manner always seeking to correct areas
of his life that could damage his reputation and integrity.
2)
Husband of one wife - no matter how this verse is
interpreted, one thing is clear, the position of pastor is designed for a man
and men must love and respect their wives and never consider divorce as an
option. There is nothing discriminatory about this verse; women are simply
not qualified for the office of pastor, because God has designed it for a man
or a "husband of one wife." Every Christian must come to the
understanding that God doesn't care what we think is best, He has already told
us what He expects and wants through the pages of the Bible.
3)
Temperate, sober minded, of good behavior - these words
mean watchful, being able to think clearly and orderly. These qualities
demonstrate that the pastor is able to bring order to the church.
4)
Hospitable - the Greek understanding is "love
for strangers." Pastors must be welcoming and friendly. There is nothing
more damaging than when a pastor is rude to outsiders. What a poor witness
for the Christian faith.
5)
Able to teach - the pastor is to clearly teach the
Word of God with boldness, humility, and clarity
6)
Not given to wine - the Greek understanding for this is
simple, the Pastor is to practice abstinence from all alcohol and remain
in complete sobriety. The social stigma and the terrible social evils from
alcohol make it imperative that God's spiritual leaders abstain from alcohol,
to include wine. There are no exceptions, nor is there any way to justify
alcohol consumption for a pastor.
7)
Not violent, not quarrelsome - this is self-explanatory.
There is no room in the life of a pastor for violence or a quarrelsome
attitude.
8)
Not greedy, not covetous - this typically becomes an
issue once pastors have been in ministry for awhile. We have seen it
recently with Elevation Church pastor Steven Furtick and other mega-church
pastors who are exploiting the income they are reaping from book sales and
outlandish salaries. When pastors are living in mansions and compounds
with the rich of the rich, then there is clearly a problem and that problem is
that greed has taken root in their hearts. They have begun to build their own
kingdoms and are now using their income to serve themselves and to live in
luxury. The Geek understanding of the word greed literally means "not
eager for gain." Pastors must guard themselves against a desire for
material possessions, luxury automobiles, mansions, and being like the
world.
9)
Rules his own house well - a pastor's home life
"must" be exemplary. He is responsible to raise godly children and to
rule over his house as the spiritual leader and serve as "Christ" to
his family.
10)
Not a novice - finally, a pastor is to be a seasoned
believer. There is no set time limit placed on this in scripture, but a new believer
should never be placed in a position of leadership to quick, especially the
office of pastor. Why? Paul explains it well, because this person might become
conceited and proud.
The purpose of this post is to educate believers and non-believers alike on
the seriousness and qualifications of church leaders. Are these high
standards? Yes. Is everyone called to be a pastor? No. Are there people serving
as pastors that are not qualified? Yes. In fact, God will not call a person to
become a pastor who will not meet this qualifications. Whether you agree with
God's standards or not, God doesn't care. These are His standards. When a man
feels called to become a pastor its critical they and the ordaining church ensure
their lives meet the standards describe in 1 Timothy and Titus. It’s also
important to point out that most of the above qualities deal with
a person's character, not their spiritual gifts.
I believe there are two vital areas that will begin to turn our country
around, strong Christian families and strong Church leadership.
