Bonafide Elders

This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

When we delight in God, He gives us new desires — but desire alone was never meant to be the whole story.

What We Wanted to Be When We Grew Up

I'm sure you have similar memories as I do. Though with each passing year, more and more the memories seem to disappear, I still remember pretty clearly what I, as a little kid of 5 or 6 years old, wanted to be when I grew up. Honestly, it wasn't very original. I had a red jacket and a red hat and I wanted to be a firefighter. Like I said, not very original.

Our desires change with time. I went from wanting to be a firefighter at age 5 to wanting to be a pyro-technician at 14. If you don't know what that is, I basically went from wanting to put out fires to wanting to start them. We all had something we wanted to be when we grew up. Some of you made good on those desires, and you do today just what you wanted to do then. My wife is like that. From a fairly young age she desired to be a nurse, and today she's a nurse. But like I said, often times our desires change over time. And not only does time change our desires, but God changes our desires too.

God Gives the Desires of Your Heart

3,000 years ago a song writer (Psalmist) named David wrote…

Psalm 37:4 ~ Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Some of you know that lyric … it's one of your favorite verses (Psalm 37:4). In fact it's a favorite for a lot of people, and a lot of times you'll hear Bible teachers quote this one as an epic promise. If you "delight yourself in the LORD" (whatever that means exactly) then He will show up and give you whatever your heart desires.

Now that sounds like a really great promise, because my heart is like a desire factory. It wants things constantly. And it shifts between wants and desires about every 4 seconds. "I want a Tesla Model S." "I want an iPhone X." "I just want my kids to obey." "I want a Carmel Brûlée Latte." "I want a BMW Z4 hard-top convertible (right next to my Tesla Model S)." So, if I just take delight in God, then He's going to give everything I desire, right?

Wrong … That interpretation of Psalm 37:4 hasn't worked out in my life. Or your's either. Cause I don't think it's the right interpretation. The right way to interpret Psalm 37:4 is like this. As I begin to take delight in God, He gives new desires into my heart. That's been my experience. I shift the focus of my delights, and God shifts my desires.

In another place we read…

Philippians 2:13 NLT ~ For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

When we become followers of God, He begins working new desires in us. This is one of the earliest evidences of salvation. The Christian that is newly born-again has newly born desires given them by God.

Point 1 — God's saving power transforms our desires as well as our souls. So the born-again Christian, transformed by the saving power of God begins to say, "When I grow up (in Christ), I want to be and do something new with my life."

A Good and Noble Desire

1 Timothy 3:1 ~ This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.

This is a natural and good thing for a Christian (one who delights in God) to have a growing desire to serve God. Now listen, if you don't have that desire today, then you might be finding your delight in other things. And if that's the case, it might be a good thing to take that before God in prayer. And this is a desire that is experienced by both man and women in the church. You could say that the desire is universally experienced.

CSB ~ This saying is trustworthy: "If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work."

At this point you might say, "Hold up Pastor Miles. I'm totally not interested in being an overseer, or elder, or pastor or bishop. Not my desire." That's fine! You may not be interested (at this moment) in such a role, but it is natural and good to desire to serve God. And should you ever have the desire to be an overseer, elder, pastor or bishop, that's not a bad thing either! It's good to desire to grow into a leadership role in the church.

But, of course, just because I desired to be a firefighter when I was 5, or a fire starter when I was 14, did not immediately mean that I would be that.

Point 2 — Desire alone does not qualify for service. Desire is important and good, but it's not enough! Which is why Paul in 1 Timothy 3 gives us what have come to be known as the "Qualifications for Elders and Deacons." I believe that this is a significantly important section of Scripture. So much so that God saw to it that it was recorded twice for us in the Bible in both 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.

Why Paul Wrote This

Now of course it's important that we remember the context of Paul's instructions here. Why was Paul writing this? The answer is found at the end of this chapter…

1 Timothy 3:14-15 ~ These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

2,000 years ago Timothy was left by Paul in the City of Ephesus to be the pastor over a struggling church. He was ordained to the task of overseeing a church that was off course. And it was his job to get the church back on course. And apparently the church at Ephesus had a leadership problem. And frankly, many times, churches that are off course are off course because of a leadership problem.

There are all kinds of different leadership problems that can arise in churches (and other organizations). But one of the most common leadership problems I've observed happens when there's a person (or persons) who is seen as the leader or supposed to be the leader, but they're not exactly leading. I think that's probably what Paul found when he and Timothy visited the Ephesian church in 63/64 AD.

Calling and Created Order

This is really important and there's a valuable lesson here. Guys listen, when you're not doing the work that God has called you to as a leader in the home, and potentially in the church, you can be certain that your very capable wife will step up to try to fill the void you've left. And it seems that that's exactly what was happening at Ephesus. Or at least that's my speculation.

But of course there's a problem when this happens. Not because women are not apt or capable leaders. They definitely are! In fact there have been many times where women have shown themselves to be more capable than the guys around them. So it's not a problem of capability, it's an issue of calling and created order. God has established an order in His creation, and therefore He has called men to take the lead in the home and in the church.

But that evidently was not happening at Ephesus, which is why Paul said what he said at the end of Chapter 2, and why he now writes what he's writing here in Chapter 3… If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work. Anyone can desire (and many people do) the office or role of a leader and overseer within the church (or what we commonly refer to as Elders) … but the qualifications begin with this simple statement "If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work."

Yes, it is our doctrinal position at Cross Connection church that the role of an overseeing, leading, teaching elder is a role and calling for men within the church. Simple side-note … Just as godly women will willingly submit to a husband that is rightly living out his role as a godly husband. Godly women will also willingly accept male headship within a church where the elders are living (or seeking to live) according to the qualifications herein prescribed.

The Qualifications for Elders

1 Timothy 3:2-7 ~ A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Point 3 — The good work of elders requires qualified good workers. Now there are quite a few things listed here as qualifications for elders (overseers) within the church. And next to Elders there are Deacons (or servants) whom we'll address in the next section, next week. But though I know for certain I could take 2 or 3 weeks just on this section, digging into each and every qualification here mentioned, I'm not going to do that.

You see, I think you're reasonable people. I think you can figure these qualifications out. They're not rocket science or brain surgery. Elders must be…

Blameless or above reproach. Guzik — This word literally means, "Nothing to take hold upon." There must be nothing in his life that others can take hold of and attack the church. Temperate, or have a good temper. Sober, or of sound mind, not impulsive but self-controlled. Good behavior, or modest and together. Hospitable, or generous to guests.

The Fruit of the Spirit in an Elder's Life

Again, these things are basically character qualities that align with the fruit of the Spirit. Elders in the church should have the the Fruit of the Spirit evident in their lives!

Point 4 — Qualified elders must display the fruit of the Spirit. These things of course should be evident in all Christians as they grow in their walk with Christ. But it should be especially evident in the lives of those overseeing the work and mission of the church.

So, I'm not going to exhaustively hit on every one of these things in depth, I'm just going to hit on a few of them that might leave you asking some questions…

The Husband of One Wife

A bishop then must be … the husband of one wife.

It's not a requirement for elders in the church to be married, but if you are married, you need to be a one woman man. How do we know marriage is not a requirement of overseeing eldership in the church? Because Paul was not married and he certainly was a qualified overseer. Additionally I don't believe that the idea that leader could never remarry if his wife had passed away or was Biblically divorced.

The importance of this qualification has much to do with the idea of an elder being temperate, sober and well behaved. Does the man who would be an elder display fidelity (faithfulness) in his life by his self-controlled good behavior toward his wedded wife? If not, he is not qualified to be an elder!

Guzik — This means that the Biblical leader is not a playboy, an adulterer, a flirt, and does not show romantic or sexual interest in other women, including the depictions or images of women in pornography.

Of course, this (husband of one wife) qualification also emphasizes the idea that the role of an overseeing elder is a male leadership role.

Able to Teach

A bishop then must be … able to teach.

It is not a requirement of an elder to be a spectacular preacher or orator. Paul himself struggled sometimes with public oration.

1 Corinthians 2:1, 3-4 ~ And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

An overseeing elder simply needs to be able, by sound doctrine instruct others. In Titus we read…

Titus 1:9 ~ holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

This qualification is not one that is expected of deacons (servants). Because teaching is one of the distinctive tasks of overseeing elders.

Not Given to Wine

A bishop then must be … not given to wine.

It's not a requirement to never drink, but if you drink you cannot be an excessive drinker. And what's an excessive drinker? If you can't drink alcohol in moderation and not unto drunkenness, then you can't drink!

Why do I bring this up? Because many churches (among both of our tribes, Calvary Chapel and SBC) say that drinking alcohol is forbidden in the scriptures. Or forbidden for leaders. How do we know this isn't a complete restriction against alcohol?

First, the text is clear…

NLT ~ He must not be a heavy drinker > NIV ~ not given to drunkenness > ESV ~ not a drunkard > CSB ~ not an excessive drinker > NASB ~ not addicted to wine

Second, later in this same book Paul tells Timothy…

1 Timothy 5:23 ~ No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities.

Clearly he wouldn't counsel Timothy to drink wine if in his same letter he forbade it.

Third, nowhere (that I can think of) is wine (or alcohol) forbidden in the scriptures. Though drunkenness always is.

I'll simply finish this bit by saying this. Those who teach that alcohol is forbidden for Christians or just for church leaders, my position has been and will continue to be… I am theologically and practically opposed to any teaching that would disqualify Jesus and Paul from ministry. BUT … if you cannot drink alcohol because of conscience sake (i.e. you have a personal conviction as it relates to alcohol), or you cannot drink it in moderation (i.e. you've been addicted to it in the past), then you cannot drink alcohol!

His Children in Submission

A bishop then must … [have] his children in submission with all reverence.

It's not a requirement for elders to (1) have children or (2) have perfect children or (3) even have adult children who walk with Jesus. Rather this qualification has to do with an overseer of the church being a good overseer and father at home, seeking to train his Children as the scriptures instruct…

Ephesians 6:4 ~ And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Of course there is much more that I could say, but I think the rest is mostly self-explanatory. Let me conclude with this…

Conclusion: A Good and Noble Work

If there are qualifications for someone to become an elder we must understand and accept that…

Point 5 — By their conduct or misconduct, elders can be disqualified. And they certainly (and sadly) have. We've had elders here that have disqualified themselves, and sadly there's never a year that goes by that we do not hear of a pastor (elder) disqualified from the ministry by their sinful misconduct.

He who desires the office desires a good and noble work, and it should be held as good and noble work by those in the church, but especially by those who are ordained to do it.